June 24
Nativity of St. John the Baptist
With humility, John understood his role as the forerunner of Christ. Anticipating the coming of Christ, he states, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). The date that we celebrate John’s birth coincides with John’s statement. After the birth of Jesus, which is near the winter solstice, the days lengthen. With the celebration of John’s birth on June 24, close to the summer solstice, the days become shorter. Today’s Readings: Isaiah 49:1–6; Psalm 139:1b–3, 13–14ab, 14c–15; Acts 13:22–26; Luke 1:57–66, 80.
  
July 14
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
The first Native American saint, Kateri Tekakwitha survived the loss of her parents, disfigurement by small pox, and ridicule and bullying from two tribes. Her faith was her solace. She would walk through the woods, picking up twigs and binding them together as a small cross, and then stick them in the ground. When she returned, she would stop at each twig cross to say a prayer. Make twig crosses and use them to mark prayer stations in your home or on your property. Today’s Readings: Hosea 2:16bc, 17cd, 21–22; Psalm 148:1bc–2, 11–12, 13, 14; Luke 10:38–42.
 
July 18
St. Camillus de Lellis, Priest
Dedicated to caring for the sick, Camillus de Lellis (d. 1614) not only built hospitals and cared for the ill himself, he founded his own congregation, the Ministers of the Sick, whom he trained and inspired to care for those who are ill, and to treat them with great care and love. Today’s Readings: 1 John 3:14–18; Psalm 112:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, 9; John 15:9–17.
 
July 25
St. James, Apostle
Often referred to as St. James the Greater, and brother of John the evangelist, this Apostle is considered to have been part of Jesus’ inner circle. In Spain, his name has become well known as people travel the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, to the Shrine of St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims worldwide claim St. James as their patron. Today’s Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:7–15; Psalm 126:1bc–2ab, 2cd–3, 4–5, 6; Matthew 20:20–28.
 
August 6
Transfiguration of the Lord
The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord unites the Old and New Testaments in a particular way. Not only is Jesus truly transfigured but Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, are also transfigured. It is not lost on us that Jesus has given new meaning to all that Moses and the Law, or Elijah and all prophets, have supplied up to that time. We can be transfigured as well, as we find new meaning through Jesus Christ in what we say, learn, do, and offer today. Today’s Readings: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 97:1–2, 5–6, 9; 2 Peter 1:16–19; Matthew 17:1–9.
 

© 2017 Liturgy Training Publications. 1-800-933-1800. Written by Anne C. McGuire. Scripture quotations are from The New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright ©1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago, on July 12, 2016.

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