Golden Tongue

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. John Chrysostom. He was born in Antioch around 344. His father died when he was a baby. His mother chose not to marry again. She gave all her attention to bringing up her son and daughter. She made many sacrifices so that John could have the best teachers. He was very intelligent and could have become a great man in the world. When he gave speeches everyone loved to listen to him. In fact, the name Chrysostom means “Golden-mouthed.” Yet John wanted to give himself to God. He became a priest and later was made bishop of the great city of Constantinople. St. John was a wonderful bishop and accomplished a tremendous amount of good. He preached once or twice every day, fed the poor, and took care of orphans. He corrected sinful customs and stopped bad plays from being performed. He loved everyone, but he was not afraid to tell even the empress when she did something wrong. Because he fought sin, St. John had enemies, even the empress herself. She had him sent away from Constantinople. On the trip he suffered greatly from fever and from lack of food and sleep. Yet, he was happy to suffer for Jesus. Just before he died, he cried out, “Glory be to God!” St. John died in Turkey on September 14, 407. A terrible hailstorm fell on Constantinople when he died. Four days later, the empress died, too. Her son honored St. John’s body and showed how sorry he was for the harm his mother had done. St. John Chrysostom is the patron saint of orators, preachers, and speakers. (iMissal, Saint a Day)

God knows us better than we know ourselves. If we do everything as well as we can for him, then we don’t have to be afraid of what others say or do against us. We can ask St. John Chrysostom to give us courage. As we commemorate St. John Chrysostom heroic life, let us take time to reflect on his wisdom that might help us grow in holiness.

+ “Let us always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper time.”--Saint John Chrysostom
+ “Why not learn to enjoy the little things-there are so many of them.”― St. John Chrysostom
+ “The rich man is not one who is in possession of much, but one who gives much.”― St. John Chrysostom
 + “Sin is followed by shame. Repentance is followed by boldness.”― St. John Chrysostom
+ “The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together.”--Saint John Chrysostom
+ “God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves.”-- Saint John Chrysostom
+ “When we teach our children to be good, to be gentle, to be forgiving (all these are attributes of God), to be generous, to love their follow men, to regard this present age as nothing, we instill virtue in their souls, and reveal the image of God within them.”--Saint John Chrysostom
+ “It is impossible to be saved without the help of the Most Blessed Virgin, because those who are not saved by the justice of God are saved by the intercession of Mary.”--Saint John Chrysostom
+ “There is nothing colder than a Christian who does not seek to save others.”--Saint John Chrysostom
+ “Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.”--Saint John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom, Pray for us
O Blessed Mother Mary, intercede for us all. Hail Mary full of grace…

Peace in Christ,
Father Vincent Nguyen