Saint of the Day for 4 April
Saint of the Day 4 April: Celebrating the Lives of the Church’s Saints
Every day, the Catholic Church honors a saint or blessed who stood out for their faith, dedication, and love for God. The Saint of the Day is an opportunity for the faithful to learn more about the history of the Church and be inspired by the witness of these men and women who lived according to Christ’s teachings.
The Meaning of the Saint of the Day
The celebration of the Saint of the Day is a Church tradition that helps us remember those who were examples of faith and holiness. Saints may have been martyrs who gave their lives defending their faith, missionaries who spread the Gospel, or ordinary people who lived in deep communion with God through simplicity.
Learning about each saint’s story inspires us to live with more love, patience, and hope. It also reminds us that we are all called to holiness.
Why Do We Celebrate the Saints?
Saints serve as models of Christian life. Their stories show us that, despite challenges, it is possible to live according to God’s will. Moreover, the faithful often seek the intercession of saints, believing that they are close to God and can pray for our needs.
Following the Saint of the Day is a way to strengthen our spiritual journey and learn from those who dedicated their lives to serving God. May we follow their examples and strive each day to live with greater love, faith, and hope!
🙏 May today’s Saint of the Day intercede for us and inspire us to live according to God’s will!
Born to African slaves descendants in Sicily in 1524, Benedict became known as “the holy Moor” for his dark skin and his many virtues. After the hermit community on Monte Pellegrino was disbanded, he joined the Friars Minor, starting as a cook and advancing to novice master.
Liturgical Calendar
4 April: Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Today's Readings and Gospel
Reading 1 :
Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
Verse Before the Gospel :
Matthew 4:4b
Gospel :
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Liturgical vestments: Purple
“To seek Jesus is often something good, for it is the same as to seek the Word, the truth and wisdom. So long as we keep the seed of truth that has been placed in our soul, and his commandments, the Word will not distance himself from us.” (Origen)
“Freedom is not the ability simply to do what I want. This makes us self-centred and aloof, and it prevents us from being open and sincere friends. Instead, freedom is the gift of being able to choose the good: this is true freedom.” (Francis)
“Like the prophets before him Jesus expressed the deepest respect for the Temple in Jerusalem. It was in the Temple that Joseph and Mary presented him forty days after his birth. At the age of twelve he decided to remain in the Temple to remind his parents that he must be about his Father's business. He went there each year during his hidden life at least for Passover. His public ministry itself was patterned by his pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the great Jewish feasts.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 583)
Today's Gospel is clear, no? Jesus hid, in those last days, because His hour had yet to come – but He knew what end he would make, and how He would make it. Jesus is persecuted from the beginning: when we remember the beginning of his preaching, He returns to His country, goes to the synagogue and preaches. After great adulation, the voices begin almost right away to murmur: ‘But, we know where He comes from… He is one of us… with that authority comes He to teach us? Where did He study?’ [Thus] they write Him off. It is the same old thing: ‘But we know where He is from! Christ, however, when He comes, no one will know where he is from. Write the Lord off, write off the prophet in order to take away his authority. (Santa Marta, 4 April 2014)