June 22: St. Alban

SPECIAL NOTE: Today is the U.S. celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is all about the Holy Eucharist. The actual feast day is June 19 (last Thursday), but the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops moved the feast to today. You'll note the priests will wear white vestments at Mass, and special hymns will be sung. In many communities, there will be a Corpus Christi procession, so look for one nearby and take your family. Often, people bring flower petals from their gardens to scatter along the path of the procession. 

History 

There was a time in England where it was illegal to be Christian. Alban was not Catholic, but he thought the government was wrong to arrest and kill Christians. So, he allowed a priest to hide in his house. The priest loved Jesus so much, Alban became a Christian himself. The governor found out that Alban was hiding a priest, so he sent soldiers to his home. Alban gave the priest his own clothing and put on the priest’s robes, because he wanted the priest to be free to teach other people about Jesus. The judge found out what Alban had done and threatened to have him killed unless he worshiped idols. Alban refused and he became the first martyr of England.

Activity

Jesus said there was no greater love than to lay down your life for somebody else. That’s what Saint Alban did when he traded his clothes with the priest so the priest could get away. Gather up some action figures, dolls or stuffed animals that have clothing and play Saint Alban’s Hide-and-Seek. One child hides his or her eyes, while the other(s) switch the clothing on two toys and sets them in a line. The first child has to guess which two characters have exchanged clothes. Then it’s somebody else’s turn. 

St. Alban, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

Catholic Online