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The Quiet Constant Voice of Roman Catholicism for 59 Years

Founded in 1965, the Bellarmine Forum (Wanderer Forum Foundation) is a public charity dedicated to helping you find the true Catholic faith, enjoy it, and prosper in your life with God, His angels, and His saints.


DAILY MEDITATIONS ON THE MARY'S LIFE

Discover the timeless beauty of Maria Magnificata: Short Meditations for May, the Month on Our Lady’s Life on the Bellarmine Forum. These daily reflections, rooted in Scripture and tradition, invite you to journey through the key moments of Mary’s life—from her Immaculate Conception to her glorious Coronation as Queen of Heaven. Perfect for May or October devotions, or alongside the Thirty Days’ Prayer, each meditation offers three practical points to inspire your faith and deepen your love for Our Lady. Whether you seek quiet meditation or a quick, heartfelt read, these concise reflections honor Mary’s role as our spiritual mother and guide. Let her example of obedience, charity, and trust lead you closer to Christ. Visit the Bellarmine Forum to explore these daily meditations and enrich your spiritual life with Mary’s grace.


Embrace this opportunity to grow in devotion and discover why Mary’s life continues to inspire and help Catholics become saints

 

A woman in historical attire kneels before an altar, praying over a book. The scene is set in a dimly lit church with religious icons and candles, emphasizing Catholic themes.

JULY 8, 2025 – ST. ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL.


  • St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1336). (Traditional) Queen
  • St. Grimbald (903). Bishop. (Historical) Archbishop of Newminster
  • St. Kilian (689). Bishop, Martyr. (Historical)

ELIZABETH was born in 1271. She was daughter of Pedro III of Arragon, being named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At twelve years of age, she was given in marriage to Denis, King of Portugal, and from a holy child became a saintly wife. She heard Mass and recited the Divine Office daily, but her devotions were arranged with such prudence that they interfered with no duty of her state. She prepared for her frequent communions by severe austerities, fasting thrice a week, and by heroic works of charity. She was several times called on to make peace between her husband and her son Alphonso, who had taken up arms against him. Her husband tried her much, both by his unfounded jealousy and by his infidelity to herself. A slander affecting Elizabeth and one of her pages made the king determine to slay the youth, and he told a lime-burner to cast into his kiln the first page who should arrive with a royal message. On the day fixed the page was sent; but the boy, who was in the habit of hearing Mass daily, stopped on his way to do so. The king, in suspense, sent a second page, the very originator of the calumny, who, coming first to the kiln, was at once cast into the furnace and burned. Shortly after, the first page arrived from the church, and took back to the king the lime-burner’s reply that his orders had been fulfilled. Thus hearing Mass saved the page’s life and proved the queen’s innocence. Her patience, and the wonderful sweetness with which she even cherished the children of her rivals, completely won the king from his evil ways, and he became a devoted husband and a truly Christian king. She built many charitable institutions and religious houses, among others a convent of Poor Clares. After her husband’s death, she wished to enter their order; but being dissuaded by her people, who could not do without her, she took the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, and spent the rest of her life in redoubled austerities and almsgiving. She died at the age of sixty-five, while in the act of making peace between her children.

A woman in historical attire kneels before an altar, praying over a book. The scene is set in a dimly lit church with religious icons and candles, emphasizing Catholic themes.

REFLECTION: In the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, St. Elizabeth daily found strength to bear with sweetness suspicion and cruelty; and by that same Holy Sacrifice her innocence was proved. What succor do we forfeit by neglect of daily Mass!


WORD OF THE DAY

PROPHECY. The certain prediction of future events that cannot be known by natural means. However, the biblical meaning of the Hebrew hozeh (prophecy) is more general, namely “vision or “revelation interpreted.” Those who were called upon to prophesy did, indeed, on occasion also foretell future events, but these predictions fulfilled were divine confirmations of an authentic vision rather than the vision itself. Prophecies as predictions are consequently part of God’s supernatural providence. God, in whose sight all things future are ever present, is able to communicate to his creatures the knowledge that he has. He alone finally has this power, because certain foreknowledge of the contingent future is possessed only by God. Prophecies are the words of his prescience, just as miracles are the work of his omnipotence. Hence a religion supported by prophecies must be divine. (Etym. Greek prophētēs, one who speaks for a god, interpreter, expounder, prophet; literally, one who speaks for another.)

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

July, Month of the Precious Blood

The Precious BIood of Jesus – Short Meditations for July. July 8th — Types of the Precious Blood: (5) The Holocaust. 


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