It’s the Feast of BVM on Saturdays, comm. St Saturninus, 4th Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: “The Suffering of Souls in Hell in their Mental Faculties”, today’s news from the Church: “120th Anniversary of the Birth of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Ignatian Retreats in the US District”, and today’s thought from the Archbishop.
Saint Saturninus, also known as Sernin, is remembered as one of the earliest missionaries to Gaul and the first bishop of Toulouse. He lived in the third century, during a time when Christianity was still spreading quietly across the Roman Empire. Tradition tells us that he was sent from Rome—possibly by Pope Fabian himself—to bring the Gospel to southern France. The work was slow and difficult. The people of Toulouse worshipped pagan gods, and Saturninus’ preaching often met with anger and suspicion. Still, he continued to proclaim Christ with courage and gentleness, winning over a small group of converts.
Each day, he would pass through the city’s main square, where a great pagan temple stood. The priests of the idols began to notice that their sacrifices seemed to fail whenever Saturninus walked by. Convinced he had offended their gods, they accused him of sorcery. One day, as he crossed the square, they seized him and demanded that he offer incense to Jupiter. When he refused, professing that he would worship only the one true God, the crowd became violent. They tied him by the feet to a bull that had been prepared for sacrifice. The animal, terrified and enraged, dragged the saint through the streets until the rope snapped and his body lay lifeless at the base of the hill now called the Montmartre of Toulouse.
His followers buried him quietly and later built a chapel on the site of his martyrdom. That place would grow into the great Basilica of St. Sernin, one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in France and a beloved stop for pilgrims traveling to Compostela. For centuries, his courage inspired missionaries and martyrs across Europe to preach the Gospel without fear.
Saint Saturninus, pray for us!
Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls.
Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it.
