Blessed Michael Giedroyc

A life of physical pain and mental torment didn’t prevent Michael Giedroyc from achieving holiness.

Born near Vilnius, Lithuania, Michael suffered from physical and permanent handicaps from birth. He was a dwarf who had the use of only one foot. Because of his delicate physical condition, his formal education was frequently interrupted. But over time, Michael showed special skills at metalwork. Working with bronze and silver, he created sacred vessels, including chalices.

He traveled to Cracow Poland, where he joined the Augustinians. He received permission to live the life of a hermit in a cell adjoining the monastery. There Michael spent his days in prayer, fasted and abstained from all meat and lived to an old age. Though he knew the meaning of suffering throughout his years, his rich spiritual life brought him consolation. Michael’s long life ended in 1485 in Cracow.

Five hundred years later, Pope John Paul II visited the city and spoke to the faculty of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. The 15th century in Cracow, the pope said, was “the century of saints.” Among those he cited was Blessed Michael Giedroyc. (http://www.beliefnet.com)

St. Philip and St. James

Why do we celebrate the feasts of St. Philip and St. James the Less on the same day? Because they were both apostles? No, we celebrate them on the same day because their relics were brought to Rome together on the same day in early May. They rest there still, in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles.

You may be wondering why this apostle James is called “the Lesser.” It is to distinguish him from the other apostle, James, the son of Zebedee, the brother of John, and the one known as “James the Greater,” whose feast day is July 25. It’s not meant to belittle or deride. James the lesser was, after all, chosen by Jesus Christ to be one of the twelve pillars of the Church. It’s a bit like calling one James “Jamie” to distinguish him from another James in the household. We find him listed in the gospels as James the son of Alphaeus.

James was martyred in Jerusalem around Passover during the time Nero was Emperor of Rome. He was arrested and ordered to stand atop a wall in Jerusalem and preach against Christ. James climbed the wall as ordered and then preached the death and resurrection of Christ. Soldiers threw him off the wall. When the fall did not kill him, they began to stone him until he died, a faithful follower of the Christ who called him.

We know Philip best from the Gospel of John, chapter one. Jesus himself calls Philip, saying, “Follow me.” And Philip did follow. He heard the call Jesus issues to each of us and followed. Then Philip began to call others. He told Nathanael, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets. Jesus son of Joseph from Galilee.” Nathanael is underwhelmed. He asks, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip doesn’t argue or try to top his friend’s flippant remark. He simply says, “Come and see,” trusting that all who come and see will discover the Lord.

Philip was killed in Greece under the reign of the Roman emperor, Domitian. Tradition says he was crucified upside down, like James, a faithful follower of the One who called him.

Saints Philip and James, pray for us.


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