THE FEAST OF ST STEPHEN OF HUNGARY.
THE FEAST OF ST STEPHEN OF HUNGARY.
“Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away." (Matthew 19: 13 - 15).
Saturday August 16th 2025 in the 19th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Stephen of Hungary.
St Stephen of Hungary was born in 969 and died on August 15th 1038). He was a monarch.
St Stephen was crowned king of Hungary on Christmas day 1001 by Emperor Otto III by the permission of Pope Sylvester II.
Stephen earned his greatness in Christian history by founding monasteries and organizing dioceses thereby transforming Hungary into a Christian nation.
St Stephen and his wife Blessed Gisela were the parents of St. Emeric.
St Stephen is the patron saint of: Hungary, kings, bricklayers and masons.
In the Gospel for today the disciples rebuked children and their mothers who prayed that Jesus might lay His hands on them. But Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Have you ever been annoyed by unrestrained and noisy children during Mass?
I discovered something curious and very beautiful about this recently.
Little children love the house of God in a natural way.
At first, I thought that little children might mistake the holy Sanctuary for a supermarket like Walmart.
A little reflection convinced me that this is not the case. There is something about the solemnity of the assembly gathered for Mass that gets even to little children.
They see something in the House of God that we distracted adults don't see. Do little children see the angels and saints that attend Mass with us?
After one Sunday Mass, I saw a young child suddenly detached himself from the gripping hold of the mother and ran to the side Altar, the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He gazed at the beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin.
I have learned to leave the little ones alone in the Sanctuary.
"Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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