Thursday, June 4, 2009

June 5 — St Boniface, Apostle of Germany

Here's the Wiki article. More is available at Google.

I've been to Fulda twice and both times visited his tomb in the cathedral and prayed for Germany. It's a pleasant enough city.

10 comments:

Mr. Urs said...

First I thought "what, that day was in May", but I confused him with another Boniface and that one was obviously dropped out of the calendar a while ago. Thanks for the update.

Pilgrim said...

Oops Joe, today is only the day, when St. Bonifatius was killed by the frisians. His actual day is in late may.Read the catholic calendar online for Namedays, given rememberance, high feasts of the church et. alt. Propz Pilgrm

naturgesetz said...

Sorry Pilgrim, but the General Roman Calendar printed in the Sacramentary of the Roman Missal (in the English translation approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship on March 26, 1970) shows on p. 74* for June 5, "Boniface, bishop and martyr."

In the "Kleines Stundenbuch" volume for "Die Gedenktage der Heiligen," there is "Der Regionalkalender für das deutsche Sprachgebiet," which lists, on p. 17, "Juni … 5 G* Bonifatius, Bischof, Glaubensbote in Deutschland, Märtyrer (754)" And the
"Schott-Meßbuch für die Wochentage" shows the liturgical celebration of St. Boniface on June 5 in exactly the same way.

None of these show anything for St. Boniface in May.

See also http://www.usccb.org/nab/saints/todaysaint.shtml

I decided to go back and see if Boniface had formerly had his feast day in May. In a missal I got in 1952, Boniface, bishop and martyr is celebrated on June 5. But there is another St. Boniface, a Roman who was martyred early in the fourth century. His feast, no longer included in the General Roman Calendar was on May 14. That must have been the source of your confusion.

Pilgrim said...

So might it be in America, but I know for sure, this St. Bonifatius has his day in Germany in en of may, two days ahead of Sta. Sophia as one of the "Eisheiligen".

MartininBroda said...

My dear brothers in Christ, although I’m not catholic, but German, today is his day.

“The church, particularly the Church in Germany, commemorate on June 5th 2004 that day in June 1250 years ago St. Boniface has suffered the martyrdom.” Pope John Paul II.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/2004/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20040607_san-bonifacio_ge.html

@ Joe Respect for your prayers in Fulda.

Pilgrim said...

P.S., the "Eisheiligen" are Mamertus, Pankratius, Seervatius, Boniifatius and the so called "kalte" Sophie. My late grandma teached us kids these days, even though she was lutheran. :-)

MartininBroda said...

Sorry Pilgrim, could it be indeed you mean Bonifatius of Tarsus (May 14), so you were both right, somehow.

Pilgrim said...

My late garndma was the only native german in my immediate family, so she knew. Martin, you might be right, but the "Eisheiliger" St. Bonifatius was actually from England.

Pilgrim said...

Sorry, Martin and Joe, I just googled Sait of the day, and today is a given feast in honor of St. Boniface, apostle of the germans and martyr.

naturgesetz said...

Alles klar.

Footnote: St. Pancras (= Pancratius) has an optional memorial on May 12.