St. Antoninus October 31

 St. Antoninus

Feastday: October 31

Death: 660

 

Archbishop of Milan, Italy, for one year. In 1581, his relics were enshrined in St. Simplician's church in Milan by St. Charles Borromeo.

St. Arnulf October 31

St. Arnulf

Feastday: October 31

Death: 840

Benedictine martyred by the Saracens.Arnulf was a monk at Novalese, in Piedmont, Italy. When the area was overrun by the Saracens, he was put to death.

St. Bega October 31

 St. Bega

Feastday: October 31

Death: 7th century

A princess of Ireland and hermitess-foundress, also listed as Bee. Bega fled the royal court rather than marry a prince from Norway. Tradition states that she was miraculously transported to Cumberland, in England.There St. Oswald counseled her in a hermitage, and St. Aidan received her vows as a nun. Bega founded St. Bee's Monastery. She served as abbess there until her death. She is also remembered in the village of Kilbees, in Scotland.

Not to be confused with Saint Begga or Begu.

Saint Bega was reputedly a saint of the Early Middle Ages; an Irish princess[1][2] who valued virginity. Promised in marriage to a Viking prince who, according to a medieval manuscript The Life of St Bega,[3] was "son of the king of Norway", Bega "fled across the Irish sea to land at St. Bees on the Cumbrian coast. There she settled for a time, leading a life of exemplary piety, then, fearing the raids of pirates which were starting along the coast, she moved over to Northumbria". The most likely time for this would have been after AD 850, when the Vikings were settling Ireland.[3]

The life of St. Bega

The account of Bega's flight from Ireland is found in the Life of St Bega,[4] part of a collection of various English saints' lives that belonged to Holmcultram Abbey and is dated to the mid-13th century. The Life continues:

Bega found the place covered with a thick forest, admirably adapted for a solitary life. Wishing to dedicate her life to God she built for herself a virgin cell in a grove near the seashore, where she remained for many years in strict seclusion. In the course of time the district began to be frequented by pirates. The good saint however dreaded not death, nor mutilation, nor the loss of temporal goods, of which she was destitute except her bracelet (armilla), but she feared the loss of her virginity, the most precious treasure with which heaven can endow her sex. By divine command Bega hastened her departure from the place, but she was induced to leave her bracelet behind her, that miracles in ages to come might be performed in that neighbourhood in testimony of her holy life.

— Victoria County History, Cumberland, ed. J. Wilson[5]

So the account has Bega living in seclusion, and after a time travelling to Northumbria, where she was admitted to sacred vows. It also states that she founded Hartlepool Abbey, a convent at Hartlepool, but modern historians believe the writer of the Life created a composite St Bega,[6] with events from the lives of Heui, who founded that convent, and Begu; who was mentioned in Bede's life of St Hilda of Whitby.[3] This confusion put Bega into the 7th century, which is clearly inconsistent, as the Vikings, whose raids supposedly led to her fleeing to St Bees, only appeared in the area and started raiding Ireland from Ca.795 onwards.[3]

The miracles

The 10th century cross at St Bees Priory, indicating a pre-Norman religious site.

Bega is associated in legend with a number of miracles, the most famous being the "Snow miracle", which is described in the Life of St Bega thus:

"Ranulf le Meschin (sic) had endowed the monastery with its lands, but a lawsuit later developed about their extent. The monks feared a miscarriage of justice. The day appointed for a perambulation of the boundaries arrived – and, lo and behold, there was a thick snowfall on all the surrounding lands but not a flake upon the lands of the priory."

This version describes it as happening long after her death and concerns the monks of the Norman Priory.

However, a version of the Snow Miracle is also found in the Sandford manuscript. This was written in English after the dissolution of the Benedictine Priory (after 1539), and was formerly in the Dean and Chapter archives at Carlisle Cathedral. This garbled account is a less probable version than that in the Life,[3] and sets the miracle in the days of St Bega herself.

The Life manuscript contains accounts of nine miracles brought about by the influence of St Bega.[3] They are earthy folk tales with miraculous interpretation. The first concerns a raider from Galloway, who set out to steal a horse. His mother warned him against theft on the land of St Bega, but her son was scornful and moving his hands to the private parts of his buttocks he tauntingly said, "what can that little old woman do to me?" As he escaped on the horse, arrows were fired after him as he crouched low, and the inevitable happened. The third concerns Godard of Millom, whose men would not remove their horses from the monks' pasture to which they had strayed. When the men came to saddle the horses, they found the hooves almost severed, and in penance Godard gave the field to the Monks. The seventh miracle tells of three men of Workington, who were imprisoned in Egremont Castle for killing a man in a drunken brawl, but having confessed their sins to St Bega, were rescued by her and found sanctuary at St Bees. The ninth miracle tells of two sick brothers who, after seeing a vision at Tynmouth, travelled to St Bees in a cart, and were healed; leaving the cart as thanks.

The register of St Bees Priory records several miracles by the power of prayer to St Bega. In 1310 "God worked many miracles by the prayers and merits of St Bega...to the edification of all the people with many eye-witnesses". In 1313 "A certain Irish boy received his sight in the chapel of St Bega through the merits and prayers of the said virgin, all the community seeing it".[3]

The cult

The "Vision of St. Bega", St Bees Priory, by Josefina de Vasconcellos

The name of the village Kirkeby Becok used in the charters of St Bees Priory from the times of Henry II and Richard I, and the phraseology of the early charters indicates a pre-Norman church at St Bees dedicated to St Bega.[6] At the granting of the first charter of the Benedictine priory one of the witnesses was Gillebecoc; meaning devotee of Beghoc, indicating a Bega cult already in existence.[3] The writer of the Life relates that St Bega was given a bracelet in Ireland by a heavenly being,[3] which she left behind in St Bees when she travelled to Northumberland. It was described as having a holy cross upon it, which fits a style of the 9th and 10th centuries. The bracelet is mentioned several times in the charters of St Bees Priory; one instance is in the middle of the 13th century, when an oath was taken by John of Hale "having touched the sacred things ... and upon the bracelet of St Bega".[3] An account roll from as late as 1516/1517 records offerings of 67s. 9d to the bracelet of St Bega;[3] so the cult and the relic were still a going concern at that late time.

Celebration

St Bega's Day

About 1400 it is recorded that St Bega's day was celebrated 'in albs' (for a lesser saint) at the mother house of St Mary's Abbey, York. A fifteenth-century Book of Hours in the Bodleian Library from St Mary's records the day as 7 November.[3] Since this discovery in the late 20th century, St Bega's day has been celebrated in St Bees on this date.[7]

Hymn to St Bega

The Hymn to St Bega, "Oracio ad Sanctam Begam", was discovered in the late 20th century in the 15th-century book of hours mentioned above.[3] It would undoubtedly have been sung on St Bega's day, and the full text is printed in John Todd's article reproduced on the St Bees website [1]. The Hymn received its first modern performance on St Bega's Day 1981 at St Bees Priory, using an original composition for orchestra, change ringing tower bells and choir by Hugh Turpin.

Cult or person?

Present day scholarship tends to treat St Bega not as a historical personage but a cult. As one scholar states; "The discovery of inconsistencies between these medieval texts, coupled with the significance attached to her jewellery (said to have been left in Cumbria on her departure for the north-east), now indicate that the abbess never existed. ... More plausible is the suggestion that St Bega was the personification of a Cumbrian cult centred on 'her' bracelet (Old English: beag)".[8] The 1999 edition of the Dictionary of National Biography includes an article (by Professor Robert Bartlett) that treats St Bega as a mythical figure. A 1980 paper by John Todd offers a comprehensive review of the historical references to that date, including a discussion on her existence. He finishes with the words "We must search for the historical St Bega, not in the glorious years of the Northumbrian Kingdom, but the dark years of its fall. But our search may well be disappointed".[3]

The modern legend

The 16th-century historian John Leland seems to have been responsible for starting the "convent" legend by reference to a "humble little monastery".[5] Unfortunately some 19th-century local historians unquestioningly accepted the pre-Viking era date given in the Life, and presumably prompted by Leland, they embellished the tale with the founding of a convent. In the words of John Todd writing in 1980, "Local historians in the last century had no doubt about the answer. She was an Irish saint who crossed the sea about 650 to found a convent at St Bees, which was destroyed in the Viking invasion. But there is no evidence in the Life or elsewhere that Bega's life at St Bees was other than solitary".[3] Regrettably, the very dubious 7th-century date and the imaginary convent are perpetuated today in many guidebooks, including the pages of Pevsner.[9]

St. Bega in modern writing

Melvyn Bragg wrote the long historical novel Credo,[10] with St Bega as the central character. He telescoped the events and dates of several centuries into the lifespan of the saint. However, this is freely admitted as an artistic device; unlike the medieval writer of the Life. The work re-awakened interest in St Bega.[citation needed]

In 2000, local author Jill Hudson was commissioned by St Bees Priory PCC to write a play about St Bega to celebrate the Millennium. This play, 'The Bracelet of St Bega' was staged in the Priory for three nights in November 2000. A fresh adaptation by Gus Kennedy was similarly staged in the Priory in November 2010 in the week of the feast of St Bega.

Lorna Goodison wrote a poem Across the fields to St Begas reprinted in The Guardian

Churches of St Bega

The parish church of Bassenthwaite, Cumbria, some distance south of the village near Bassenthwaite Lake, is dedicated to St Bega. It was built around 950AD and is still used for regular services and weddings; it is a graded II* listed building.[11][12]

The Roman Catholic 1860s church of St Begh in Whitehaven,[13] near St Bees, is dedicated to St Bega.

The Orthodox Parish, worshipping in Keswick and at Braithwaite Chapel, is dedicated to St Bega, St Mungo, and St Herbert.

புனித_நோட்பர்கா (1265-1313)அக்டோபர் 31

புனித_நோட்பர்கா (1265-1313)

அக்டோபர் 31

இவர் (#Notburga) ஜெர்மனியில் உள்ள ரோட்டன்பர்க்கைச் சார்ந்தவர்.

ரோட்டன்பர்க்கில் இருந்த ஹென்றி என்ற பிரபுவிடம் சமையல்காரராய்ப் பணிசெய்து வந்த இவர், அங்கு எஞ்சிய உணவை வறியவர்களுக்கும் ஏழைகளுக்கும் கொடுத்து வந்தார்.

இதை அறிந்த ஹென்றியின் மனைவியான ஒடிலியா இவரிடம் அவ்வாறு செய்யக் கூடாது என்று கட்டளையிட, இவர் ஒவ்வொரு வெள்ளிக்கிழமையும் நோன்பிருந்து, அப்பொழுது கிடைக்கிற உணவை ஏழைகளுக்கும் வறியவர்களுக்கும் பகிர்ந்து கொடுத்தார்.

அதுவும் ஒடிலியாவிற்குத் தெரியவர, அவர் இவரை வேலையிலிருந்து நீக்கினார். இதற்குப் பிறகு இவர் எபின் என்ற இடத்தில் இருந்த ஒரு விவசாயிடம், 'வாரத்தில் ஆறு நாள்கள் வேலை செய்வேன்; ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை கோவிலுக்குச் செல்வேன். அந்நாளில்  எனக்கு எந்தவொரு வேலையும் கொடுக்கக்கூடாது' என்ற நிபந்தனையோடு வேலை செய்தார்.

எல்லாம் நன்றாகப் போய்க்கொண்டிருந்த நேரத்தில், ஒரு நாள்  விவசாயி இவரிடம் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை வேலை பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்று கட்டாயப்படுத்தியபோது, அதெல்லாம் முடியாது என்று இவர் வேலையிலிருந்து விலகிக் கொண்டார்.

இதற்கிடையில் ஹென்றியின் மனைவியான ஒடிலியா இறந்துவிட, இவர் அவரிடம் வேலைக்குச் சேர்ந்து, அங்கு கிடைத்த உணவை வறியவர்களுக்கும் ஏழைகளுக்கும் பகிர்ந்து கொடுத்தார்.

இவர் தன்னுடைய இறப்பு நெருங்கி வருவதை உணர்ந்து, ஹென்றியிடம், "என்னுடைய உடலை ஒரு மாட்டு வண்டியில் வைத்து விடுங்கள். வண்டி எங்கே நிற்கிறதோ அங்கே என்னை அடக்கம் செய்து விடுங்கள்" என்று சொன்னார். அதன்படியே ஹென்றி செய்ய, மாட்டு வண்டி, எபின் என்ற இடத்தில் இருந்த புனித ரூபர்ட்  திருக்கோயிலுக்கு முன்பாக நின்றது. அங்கு இவர் நல்லடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார். 

இவருக்கு 1862 ஆம் ஆண்டு, திருத்தந்தை ஒன்பதாம் பயஸால் புனிதர் பட்டம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டது.

ரெகென்ஸ்பர்க் நகர் புனிதர் வோல்ஃப்காங்க் ✠(St. Wolfgang of Regensburg அக்டோபர் 31

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(அக்டோபர் 31)

✠ ரெகென்ஸ்பர்க் நகர் புனிதர் வோல்ஃப்காங்க் ✠

(St. Wolfgang of Regensburg)

தர்மம் செய்பவர் & ரேகன்ஸ்பர்க் நகர ஆயர்:

(The Almoner & Bishop of Regensburg)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 934

ஃபுல்லிங்கன், ரியுட்லின்ஜென், ஜெர்மனி

(Pfullingen, Reutlingen, Germany)

இறப்பு: அக்டோபர் 31, 994

புப்பிங், இஃபெர்டிங், ஆஸ்திரியா

(Pupping, Eferding. Austria)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: அக்டோபர் 8, 1051

திருத்தந்தை ஒன்பதாம் லியோ

(Pope Leo IX)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: அக்டோபர் 31

பாதுகாவல்: 

மூளை இரத்தக் கசிவு (Apoplexy), தச்சர்கள் மற்றும் மர வண்டிகள், பக்கவாதம், ரெகென்ஸ்பர்க் (Regensburg), ஜெர்மனி (Germany), வயிறு நோய்கள், பக்கவாதம்

புனிதர் வோல்ஃப்காங்க், கி.பி. 972ம் வருட கிறிஸ்துமஸ் தினம் தொடங்கி, மரிக்கும்வரை “பவேரியா’விலுள்ள” (Bavaria) “ரேகன்ஸ்பர்க்” (Regensburg) மறைமாவட்டத்தின் ஆயராக பணியாற்றியவர் ஆவார். இவர், ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்கம் மற்றும் கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபைகள் இவரை புனிதராக ஏற்கின்றன. பத்தாம் நூற்றாண்டில் ஜெர்மனியின் நன்கு அறியப்பட்ட மூன்று புனிதர்களில் இவர் ஒருவராவார்.

புனிதர் வோல்ஃப்காங்க், தென்மேற்கு ஜெர்மனியின் “ஸ்வாபியா” (Swabia) அமைப்பு குடும்பமொன்றினைச் சார்ந்தவர் ஆவார். “ரெய்செனவ்” (Reichenau Abbey) துறவற மடத்திற்கு சொந்தமான ஒரு பள்ளியில் தனது கல்வி கற்றார். இவர் இங்கே கற்கும்போதுதான், “ஹென்றி” (Henry of Babenberg) என்பவரின் நண்பரானார். 

பின்னர், கி.பி. 956ம் ஆண்டு, “டிரையர்” (Trier) உயர்மறைமாவட்ட பேராயராக ஹென்றி நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். பேராயர் ஹென்றியின் அழைப்பை ஏற்று டிரையரிலுள்ள பேராலயப் பள்ளிக்கு கி.பி. 964ம் ஆண்டு, ஆசிரியராக பணியாற்றும் பொறுப்பை ஏற்றார். அத்துடன், பல எதிர்ப்புகளுக்கிடையே உயர்மறைமாவட்டத்தின் சீர்திருத்தத்திற்காகவும் உழைத்தார். அச்சமயத்தில்தான், தானும் குருவாக வேண்டுமென்று விருப்பம் கொண்டார். 

கி.பி. 964ம் ஆண்டு, பேராயர் ஹென்றியின் மரணத்தின் பின்னர், வோல்ஃப்காங்க் “ஸ்விட்சர்லாந்து” (Switzerland) நாட்டின் “மரியா எய்ன்ஸியேடெல்ன்” (Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln) துறவு மடத்திலுள்ள “பெனடிக்டைன்” (Benedictine order) சபையில் இணைந்தார். அங்கு தனது விருப்பத்தை தெரிவித்து வார்த்தைப்பாடுகளை பெற்றார். 4 ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து “ஆக்ஸ்பர்க் ஆயர்” (Bishop of Augsburg) புனிதர் “உல்ரிச்” (St. Ulrich) அவர்களால் குருத்துவ அருட்பொழிவு பெற்றார்.

கி.பி. 955ம் ஆண்டு, நடந்த “லெக்ஃபீல்ட் போரில்” (Battle of Lechfeld) மோசமான தோல்வியை தழுவிய “ஹங்கேரியர்கள்” (Hungarians), பண்டைய ரோமப் பேரரசின் பிராந்தியமான “பன்னோனியா’வில்” (Pannonia) குடியேறியிருந்தனர். வெகு காலம் வரை கிறிஸ்தவ மதத்திற்கு மனம் மாறாத இவர்கள், பேரரசுக்கு ஒரு நிலையான அச்சுறுத்தலாகவே இருந்தனர். தூய ரோமப் பேரரசின் (Holy Roman Empire) பேரரசர் “முதலாம் ஒட்டோ’வின்” (Emperor Otto I) விருப்பத்தின்படி, ஆயர் “உல்ரிச்” (St. Ulrich) வோல்ஃப்காங்க்கை ஹன்கேரியர்களிடையே சென்று அவர்களுடைய மனமாற்றத்திற்காக மறை போதிக்க கேட்டுக்கொண்டார். ஹன்கேரியர்களிடையே செல்வது ஆபத்தான காரியம் என்று தெரிந்திருந்தும், வோல்ஃப்காங்கின் மறைபோதக திறமையின் மீது நம்பிக்கை வைத்திருந்தார். வோல்ஃப்காங்க், “பன்னோனியா” (Pannonia) சென்று, ஹங்கேரியர்களிடையே மறை போதனை செய்து அவர்களை கிறிஸ்தவர்களாக மனம் மாற்றி சாதனை புரிந்தார்.

கி.பி. 972ம் ஆண்டு, செப்டம்பர் மாதம், 23ம் தேதி, “ரேகன்ஸ்பர்க்” ஆயர், மிக்கேல்” (Bishop Michael of Regensburg) மரணமடைந்தார். பேரரசரிடமிருந்து ஆயர் நியமனம் பெற்ற வோல்ஃப்காங்க், கி.பி. 972ம் ஆண்டு, கிறிஸ்துமஸ் தினத்தன்று ஆயராக பதவியேற்றார்.

இவர் ஏறக்குறைய 22 ஆண்டுகள் ரேகன்ஸ்பர்க் மறைமாவட்டத்தில் ஆயராக இருந்தார். தன்னுடைய பதவி காலத்தில் மறைமாவட்டத்திற்கு ஏராளமான பணிகளை செய்தார். பல துறவற இல்லங்களை கட்டினார். பெண் துறவிகள் கற்பதற்கென்று சில துறவற மடப்பள்ளிகளையும் கட்டினார். ஏழைகளுக்கும், நோயாளிகளுக்கும் தேவையான வீடுகளையும், மருத்துவமனைகளையும் கட்டினார். இவர் வாழும்போதே மக்கள் இவரை புனிதர் என்று அழைத்தனர். 

வாழ்க்கையின் இறுதி காலத்தில் ஆயர் பதவியிலிருந்து ஒய்வு பெற்ற இவர், வெளிப்படையான ஒரு அரசியல் மோதல் காரணத்தால், “அப்பர் ஆஸ்திரியாவின்” (Upper Austria) பொழுதுபோக்கு பகுதியான “சல்ஸ்கம்மெர்கட்” (Salzkammergut) எனுமிடத்திலுள்ள “வொல்ப்காங்” (Lake Wolfgang) எரிப்பகுதியில் தனிமைத் துறவியாய்ப் போனார். ஒரு வேட்டைக்காரரால் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட இவர், மீண்டும் ரேகன்ஸ்பர்க் நகருக்கு கொண்டுவரப்பட்டார்.

ஒருமுறை, “லோவர் ஆஸ்திரியா’வின்” (Lower Austri) “மெல்க்” (Melk) மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள “போச்லர்ம்” (Pöchlarn) எனுமிடத்திற்கு “டனுப்” அல்லது “வோல்கா” (Danube or Volga River) நதியில் பயணிக்கையில் நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டு, “புப்பிங்” (Pupping) எனும் கிராமத்தில் வீழ்ந்தார். அவரது வேண்டுகோளின்படி “செயிண்ட் ஒத்மார் சிற்றாலயம்” (Chapel of Saint Othmar) கொண்டுவரப்பட்ட புனிதர் வோல்ஃப்காங்க், அங்கேயே மரித்தார்.

இவரது உடல் ரேகன்ஸ்பர்க்கில் உள்ள “புனிதர் எம்மரம்” (Crypt of St. Emmeram) நிலவறையில் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டது.

† Saint of the Day †

(October 31)

✠ St. Wolfgang of Regensburg ✠

The Almoner:

Born: 934 AD

Died: October 31, 994

Venerated in:

Roman Catholic Church

Eastern Orthodox Church

Canonized: October 8, 1051

Pope Leo IX

Feast: October 31

Patronage:

Apoplexy; Carpenters and Wood Carvers; Paralysis; Regensburg, Germany; Stomach Diseases; Strokes

Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg was bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria from Christmas 972 until his death. He is a saint of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. He is regarded as one of the three great German saints of the 10th century, the other two being Saint Ulrich and Saint Conrad of Constance.

We recognize at once that a St. Wolfgang must have been the patron saint of that great musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Not too many Americans, even those of German descent, have chosen to give their sons such a lupine baptismal name. Yet St. Wolfgang of Regensburg remains one of the truly great saints of medieval Germany, and the model of a reforming Bishop.

Wolfgang, the son of a nobleman, attended school first at the Benedictine monastery school of Reichenau, and then at the cathedral school of Wuerzburg. Because of his talent, he was then invited to teach in the cathedral school at Trier. Although still layman, he fell under the spell of the great local Benedictine monastery of St. Maximin and became a willing assistant to the reforming bishop of Trier.

After the death of this bishop, Wolfgang himself joined the Benedictines, although not at Trier but at Einsiedeln in Switzerland. Here he was ordained a priest in 968 by St. Ulrich, bishop of Augsburg.

Soon after ordination Father Wolfgang was sent to present Hungary to preach the gospel to the pagan Magyars, who had only lately settled there. He did his best, but without any visible success. In 972 he was brought back to Germany and named bishop of Regensburg. (The church authorities, in promoting his bishop after his Hungarian “failure” must have thought no less of him on account of his missionary unsuccess. For his part, the failure was probably an incentive to greater humility and stronger effort as he took over his episcopal duties.)

It seems that the diocese of Regensburg at that point needed a thorough reform, and Bishop Wolfgang was the man to accomplish it.

What do we mean by necessary reform? Well, we are human beings, and it is all too easy for us to become relaxed in Christian practices through one bad influence or another. Then it is hard to return to the straight and narrow path. Catholics begin to go downhill particularly when the members of their religious orders enter a decline, for the religious orders are normally a major inspiration to high standards. Wolfgang, therefore, focused his efforts particularly on jacking up two local monasteries of monks, that of St. Emmeram and that of Altach. There were also two monasteries of nuns that had become slipshod in observing the rule that was theoretically their key to holiness. These nuns he also brought back to good discipline.

Wolfgang’s method of reform was interesting. No doubt he lowered the boom when that was necessary. But he seems to have depended most on shaming people into better ways by a good example. When he became bishop he did not assume the princely ways of his fellow bishops in the Empire (although like them, he was a civil as well as it church ruler). No, he continued to wear his monk’s habit and to follow the monastic austerities, and he saw to it that his household was free of worldly lifestyle. Likewise, he corrected the nuns of the two rundown monasteries, less, it seems, by scolding them than by founding at Regensburg a convent that excelled in a good example through its careful observance of the rule.

We may be sure, nevertheless, that Bishop Wolfgang gained enemies among the monks and nuns that he felt obliged to correct, and among the clerics and laypeople to whom he laid down the law. No matter how highly placed a corrector, people who have fallen into waywardness of teaching or behaviour simply do not like to be corrected. We have seen examples of this all-too-human trait in our own day. I am sure that Wolfgang felt pain at their resistance. Maybe that was why, at one point, he fled his diocese and tried to set up as a hermit on the shores of what is now called Lake St. Wolfgang. His escape didn’t succeed. A hunter discovered him and brought him back home to face once more the unpopularity that is the occupational hazard of a bishop or any superior who has the duty of enforcing the law.

But opposition to him was in the short run. In the long run, the religious and laity of the diocese of Regensburg came to appreciate the idealism and courage and holiness of their bishop. When he died in 994 while on a trip down the Danube, his body was brought back and enshrined in Regensburg. It quickly became a centre of pilgrimage, and in 1054 the pope canonized St. Wolfgang as a model of the bishop who is ready to correct as well as direct the flock entrusted to him.

~ Father Robert F. McNamara

✠ ஃபுளோரன்ஸ் நகர் அருளாளர் தாமஸ் ✠(Blessed Thomas of Florence)அக்டோபர் 31

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(அக்டோபர் 31)

✠ ஃபுளோரன்ஸ் நகர் அருளாளர் தாமஸ் ✠

(Blessed Thomas of Florence)

மறைப்பணியாளர்:

(Religious)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 1370

ஃபுளோரன்ஸ், ஃபுளோரன்ஸ் குடியரசு

(Florence, Republic of Florence)

இறப்பு: அக்டோபர் 31, 1447 (வயது 77)

ரியேட்டி, திருத்தந்தையர் மாநிலங்கள்

(Rieti, Papal States)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

முக்திபேறு பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1771

திருத்தந்தை பதினைந்தாம் கிளமென்ட்

(Pope Clement XIV)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: அக்டோபர் 31

பாதுகாவல்:

மாமிசம் விற்பவர்கள் (Butchers),பாவ மன்னிப்புக் கோருபவர்கள் (Penitents), மறைப்பணியாளர்கள் (Missionaries)

அருளாளர் தாமஸ், இத்தாலி நாட்டின் ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையைச் சேர்ந்தவரும், புனிதர் ஃபிரான்ஸிசின் மூன்றாம் நிலை (Third Order of Saint Francis) சபையின் ஒப்புக்கொள்ளப்பட்ட உறுப்பினரும் (Professed Member) ஆவார். இவர், “டொம்மேசோ பெல்லாக்கி” (Tommaso Bellacci) எனும் பெயரிலும் அறியப்படுகிறார். ஆரம்பத்தில், மாமிசம் விற்கும் வியாபாரம் செய்துவந்த இவர், தாம் செய்த ஒரு பாவத்திற்காக மனம் வருந்தி, தமது வாழ்க்கையையே திருப்பி மறைப்பணியாளராக ஆனார்.

தாமஸ், தாம் ஒரு குருத்துவம் பெற்ற குருவாக இல்லாவிடினும், மத்திய கிழக்கு மற்றும் இத்தாலிய தீபகற்பம் முழுவதும் பயணம் செய்து, மக்களுக்குப் பயிற்சியளிக்கவும், மறையுரைகளாற்றவும் செய்தார்.

தாமஸ், கி.பி. 1370ம் ஆண்டு, மேற்கு மத்திய இத்தாலியின் (Western Central Italy) “டுஸ்கனி” (Tuscany) மாகாணத்தின் தலைநகரான ஃபுளோரன்ஸ் (Florence) நகரின் மாமிச வியாபாரி ஒருவரின் மகனாகப் பிறந்தார். தமது இளமையில் ஒரு காட்டுமிராண்டித்தனமாக நடந்து கொண்ட அவரிடமிருந்து தமது மகன்களை தூர விலகி இருக்குமாறு அக்கம்பக்கத்திலுள்ள பெற்றோர் எச்சரிக்கை செய்வது வழக்கமாயிருந்தது. அவர், தமது தந்தையைப் போலவே தாமும் ஒரு இறைச்சி வியாபாரி ஆனார். அவர் தனது குழந்தை பருவத்திலேயே பல்வேறு சந்தர்ப்பங்களில் நிறைய பிரச்சனைகளைச் சந்தித்தார்.

கி.பி. 1400ம் ஆண்டு, ஒரு தீவிரமான குற்றத்தை செய்ததாக தாமஸ் குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்டார். உண்மையில் அவர் அக்குற்றத்தைச் செய்திருக்கவில்லை. ஆகவே அவர் ஃபுளோரன்ஸ் நகர தெருக்களில் அலைந்து திரிந்தார். பின்னர், ஒரு கத்தோலிக்க குருவானவர் தாமசை சந்தித்தார். தாமஸ் கூறுவனவற்றை கருணையுடன் செவிமடுத்தார். பின்னர் தாமசின் பெயருக்கு ஏற்பட்ட களங்கத்தை நீக்க உதவினார். நடந்த அந்த சம்பவம் அவரை மிகவும் அதிர்ச்சிக்குள்ளாக்கியிருந்தது. குருவின் பாராட்டுதல்களால் கட்டுண்ட அவர், தமது பாவங்கள் நிறைந்த வாழ்க்கையை கொட்டித் தீர்த்தார். கடவுளுக்க சேவை செய்யக்கூடிய முழு தவ வாழ்க்கை வாழ தீர்மானித்தார். கி.பி. 1405ம் ஆண்டு, ஃபுளோரன்ஸ் பெருநகரிலுள்ள சிறிய நகரான “ஃபியசோல்” (Fiesole) நகரிலுள்ள புனிதர் ஃபிரான்ஸிசின் மூன்றாம் நிலை சபையில், குருத்துவம் பெறாத மறைப்பணியாளராக இணைந்தார். விழித்திருத்தல், தவம் மற்றும் உபவாசம் ஆகியவற்றில் குறிக்கப்படுமளவு முன்னேறினார். குருத்துவ அருட்பொழிவு பெற்ற குருவாக இல்லாதிருந்தும் புகுமுக துறவியரின் (Novice Master) தலைவரானார்.

தாமஸ், ஃபிரான்ஸ் (France) நாட்டின் கோர்சிகா தீவிலுள்ள (Island of Corsica) “கோர்சியா” (Corscia) நகரில் பல்வேறு துறவு மடங்களை நிறுவினார். இவரை அழைத்த திருத்தந்தை ஐந்தாம் மார்ட்டின் (Pope Martin V), ஃபிரான்சிஸ்கன் துறவியர்க்கெதிராக பிரச்சாரம் செய்யும் (Group of Heretical Franciscans) குழுவினருக்கு எதிராய் பிரச்சாரம் செய்ய அறிவுறுத்தினார். திருத்தந்தையின் கட்டளைப்படி அவரை தலைமை குருவாக (Vicar General) நியமித்தார். கி.பி. 1438ம் வருடம், திருத்தந்தை இவரையும், அருளாளர் “ஆல்பெர்ட் பெர்டினி” (Blessed Albert Berdini of Sarteano) ஆகிய இருவரையும் மத்திய கிழக்கு நாடுகளின் (Middle East) “டமாஸ்கஸ்” (Damascus) மற்றும் “கெய்ரோ” (Cairo) ஆகிய நகரங்களுக்கு, கிழக்கு மற்றும் மேற்கத்திய திருச்சபைகளை (Eastern and Western Churches) ஒருங்கிணைப்பதை ஊக்குவிப்பதற்காக அனுப்பினார். அப்போது, தாமசின் வயது எழுபது.

அவர் எத்தியோப்பியாவுக்குச் (Ethiopia) பயணம் செல்ல முயன்றார், ஆனால் துருக்கியர்கள் (Turks) அவரை மூன்று முறையும் பிடித்துச் சென்றனர். ஃ ப்ளோரன்ஸ் வியாபாரிகள் இரண்டு தடவை அவரை விடுவிக்க உதவினார்கள். மூன்றாம் முறை, அவர் துருக்கியர்களால் கொல்லப்படுவார் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்டதால், திருத்தந்தை நான்காம் யூஜின் (Pope Eugene IV) தலையிட்டு அவரை விடுவித்தார். கி.பி. 1444ம் ஆண்டு நாடு திரும்பிய தாமஸ், தெற்கு இத்தாலியின் “அப்ருஸ்ஸோ” (Abruzzo) பிராந்தியத்திலுள்ள பள்ளியில் கி.பி. 1446ம் ஆண்டு வரை தங்கினார். தாமஸ் வெறும் தண்ணீரையும் காய்கறிகளையுமே தமது உணவாக எடுத்துக்கொண்டார்.

ரோம் நகருக்கு திருத்தந்தையை காணச் செல்லும் வழியில், மத்திய இத்தாலியின் “லாஸியோ” (Lazio) பிராந்தியத்தின் “ரியேட்டி” (Rieti) எனும் நகரில் மரித்தார்.

† Saint of the Day †

(October 31)

✠ Blessed Thomas of Florence ✠

Religious:

Born: 1370 AD

Florence, Republic of Florence

Died: October 31, 1447 (Aged 77)

Rieti, Papal States

Venerated in: Roman Catholic Church

Beatified: 1771 AD

Pope Clement XIV

Feast: October 31

Patronage: Butchers, Penitents, Missionaries

Blessed Thomas of Florence or “Tommaso Bellucci” was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. Bellucci was a butcher and became religious after turning his life around from one of sin to one of penance and servitude to God. Bellucci travelled across the Middle East and the Italian peninsula to preach and administer to people despite not being an ordained priest.

The rite of beatification was celebrated in 1771.

Life:

Thomas of Florence was born in Florence in 1370 as the son of a butcher. His parents came from Castello di Linari in Val d'Elsa. He was born in a house that was situated on the Ponte Alle Grazie. He led a wild and dissolute life as an adolescent that parents warned their sons to keep their distance from him. He became a butcher like his father. He got into a lot of trouble on various occasions during his childhood.

Thomas was accused of having committed a serious crime in 1400 that he in fact did not do and so he wandered the streets of Florence until he met a priest who listened to Thomas and took him in and helped clear his name. The incident shocked him so much - coupled with his appreciation of the priest - that he shed his life of sin and decided to live a life of total penance and service to God. He joined the Third Order of Saint Francis in Fiesole in 1405 as a religious rather than a priest and became noted for keeping vigils and fasting. He also became a novice master despite not being a priest.

He founded friaries in Corsica Pope Martin V called him to preach in the northern cities against the "Fraticelli" who were a group of heretical Franciscans and was also made Vicar General at the pope's behest; he and Alberto da Sarteano in 1438 were later sent to the Middle East to cities such as Damascus and Cairo in order to promote the reunification of the Eastern and Western Churches when he was over 70. Alberto had to leave due for back home due to his ill health which left Thomas on his own.

He attempted to travel to Ethiopia but the Turks captured him three times. The Florentine merchants helped to secure his release the first two times while he was later imprisoned for his faith and work the third time and expected that he would be killed though Pope Eugene IV helped secure his release. He returned home in 1444 and spent his time in a convent in Abruzzo until 1446. He was known for his diet of water and vegetables.

Thomas died in Rieti while on a visit to Rome to visit the pontiff. He planned to ask him for permission to return to the Orient. His remains were relocated in 2006.

St. Zenobius & Zenobia October 30

 St. Zenobius & Zenobia

Feastday: October 30

Death: 3rd century

Zenobius and Zenobia (d. late third century) + Martyrs slain during the persecutions of co-Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305). Zenobius was a physician in the town of Aegae, in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and Zenobia was his sister. There is a strong possibility that Zenobius may have been a bishop or may be Zenobius of Antioch. Feast day: October 30.

St. Theonestus October 30

 St. Theonestus

Feastday: October 30

Death: 425

 

Bishop and martyr. He was supposedly the bishop of Philippi, Macedonia, and was forced to leave his see because of the threats and savagery of the Arians. Sent by the pope to help evangelize a part of Germany, he was again compelled to flee because of the peril of the invading Vandals. He may have been martyred on his return journey, in Veneto, northern Italy. It is possible that another saint, Theonestus of Veneto, may have been a local martyr merely confused with the bishop.

For the martyr of Vercelli, see Theonestus of Vercelli.

Saint Theonistus (Theonist, Teonesto, Thaumastus, Thaumastos, Theonestus, Thonistus, Onistus, Teonisto, Tonisto) is a saint venerated by the Catholic Church. Theonistus is venerated with two companions, Tabra and Tabratha (also Tabraham and Tubraham). Medieval documents give accounts of his life, which are contradictory and confused.[1]

His legend is very confused and complex. He may have been a martyr of the end of the 4th or end of the 5th century.[1] His legend is presented in a shorter, older version of the 10th century, which calls him a bishop of an island called Namsia or Namsis, and a longer version of the 11th century, which calls him a bishop of Philippi.[1]

According to the 11th-century account, Theonistus, along with Alban of Mainz, Tabra, Tabratha, and Ursus, attended a council in Carthage (the Council of Carthage of 670, but the chronology is confused[2]), and then went on a pilgrimage to Rome.[1] They then met Saint Ambrose at Milan, and were sent to serve as missionaries to Gallia.[1] Ursus was killed either at Aosta (according to the older account) or Augsburg (according to the 11th-century account).[1] Albinus was beheaded by the Arians at Mainz and was a cephalophore.[1] A miracle allowed Theonistus, Tabra, and Tabratha to escape from Mainz, and they managed to reach either Gothia (10th century version) or Gallia (11th century version), and then reached Otranto (10th century version) or Sicily (11th century version).[1] Finally, they were martyred at Roncade or Altino by beheading, and were also said to have been cephalophores.[1]

The chronological information in the sources is contradictory. Bede dates their martyrdom to the time of Diocletian (ca. 303), while Rabanus and Notker the Stammerer date their martyrdom to the time of Theodosius II.[1] However, their martyrdom may also date to the time of Hunneric (477-484).[1]

As evidenced by their African names, Tabra and Tabratha may have been African martyrs whose relics arrived at Altino or Treviso during the persecutions of the Arian Vandals.[1] Theonistus' cultus in Italy is attested by the foundation of a monastery dedicated to him in 710 (San Teonesto); the monastery's privileges were confirmed by Conrad II.[1]

At Treviso, Theonistus and his companions are first mentioned in a local calendar of 1184; Theonistus is venerated and depicted in local towns such as Possagno and Trevignano.[2]

Their association with Saint Alban may have come from confusion with Theonistus (or Theomastus, Thaumaustus), an early fifth century bishop of Mainz (feast day: January 1).[1][3] This figure is mentioned by Gregory of Tours: "Theomastus was noted for his holiness in accordance with the meaning of his name, and he is said to have been bishop of Mainz. For some unknown reason, he was expelled from Mainz and went to Poitiers. There he ended his present life by remaining in a pure confession.”[4] The grave of this Theonistus was attested to in 791 AD.[1] According to one scholar, “Albanus of Mentz, martyred at Mentz no one knows when, according to Baeda under Diocletian also, according to Sigebert (in Chron.), who says he had been driven from Philippi with Theonistus its bishop, in 425.”[5] This scholar goes on to write that Rabanus Maurus “goes so far abroad as to call [Alban] an African bishop flying from Hunneric...”[5]

There is another martyr by this name, Theonistus of Vercelli (feast day: November 20) (Vercelli has a church named Santi Tommaso e Teonesto in S. Paolo).[1][6] All three figures’ histories may have been confused.

The relics of Theonistus and his two companions may also have been enshrined with those associated with Liberalis of Treviso at the cathedral of Torcello after 639 AD.[7]

Theonistus' cultus remained strong. In the early 19th century, inhabitants of Trevignano hung a picture depicting St. Jerome at the feet of St. Theonistus. Villagers of Falzé, whose patron saint was St. Jerome, protested to the bishop about this "insolent picture."[8]

St. Talacrian October 30

 St. Talacrian

Feastday: October 30

Death: 6th century

Bishop of Scotland, also cal led Tarkin. He was probably of Pictish descent, serving as a bishop in Caledonia (Scotland). His name was listed in the Aberdeen Breviary.

St. Serapion of Antioch October 30

 St. Serapion of Antioch

Feastday: October 30

Death: 211

Bishop of Antioch and ecclesiastical writer. He was much praised by St. Jerome and Eusebius of Caesarea for his theological writings, and he was considered one of the chief theologians of his era. He became bishop of Antioch, Syria, in 190, and. was revered as a theologian. Only fragments of his work have survived. Among the extant writings are a letter to the Church of Rhossus forbidding the reading of the non-canonical Gospel of St. Peter and a letter against the heresy of Montanism.

Serapion was a Patriarch of Antioch (191–211). He is known primarily through his theological writings, although all but a few fragments of his works have perished.[1] His feast day is celebrated on October 30.[2]

Serapion was considered one of the chief theologians of his era. Eusebius refers to three works of Serapion in his history, but admits that others probably existed: first is a private letter addressed to Caricus and Pontius against Montanism, from which Eusebius quotes an extract (Historia ecclesiastica V, 19), as well as ascriptions showing that it was circulated amongst bishops in Asia and Thrace; next is a work addressed to a certain Domninus, who in time of persecution abandoned Christianity for the error of "Jewish will-worship" (Hist. Eccles, VI, 12).[2]

Lastly, Eusebius quotes (vi.12.2) from a pamphlet Serapion wrote concerning the Docetic Gospel of Peter, in which Serapion presents an argument to the Christian community of Rhossus in Syria against this gospel and condemns it.[2]

Eusebius also alludes to a number of personal letters Serapion wrote to Pontius, Caricus, and others about this Gospel of Peter.

Serapion also acted (Pantaenus supported him) against the influence of Gnosticism in Osroene by consecrating Palut as bishop of Edessa, where Palut addressed the increasingly Gnostic tendencies that the churchman Bardesanes was introducing to its Christian community. He ordained Pantaenus as a Priest or Bishop in Edessa.

Serapion was succeeded as bishop of Antioch by Asclepiades (Eusebius Historia ecclesiastica VI, 11, 4).

St. Saturninus October 30

 St. Saturninus

Feastday: October 30

Patron: of Cagliari

Death: 303

Martyr. He was put to death at Cagliari, Sardinia, during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. According to his unreliable Acts, he was beheaded during the festival of Jupiter.

Saint Saturninus of Cagliari (Italian: San Saturnino, Saturno) is venerated as the patron saint of Cagliari. According to Christian tradition, Saturninus was a local martyr –that is, he was killed at Cagliari by order of governor Barbarus.[1] The legend states that he was beheaded for refusing to offer sacrifices to Jupiter during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletian.[1]

However, some scholars have determined that this tradition was invented centuries after the supposed martyrdom, and that the legend was devised a posteriori to attach a story to the name to whom the local ancient basilica was dedicated.[2] But the name of the saint in Sardinian language, "Santu Sadurru" (Saint Saturnus) suggests that there really was the martyrdom of Saturnus, a young Christian by the pagans and the saint was exactly buried where the ancient church was erected.[3]

5th century basilica of San Saturnino, Cagliari.

Saint Saturninus was so confused with Saturninus of Toulouse (Sernin). "Saturninus" was the name of several other martyrs, including some belonging to the group of the Martyrs of Abitina, and close trading ties and communications between North Africa and Cagliari may have resulted in the cult of a North African saint becoming attached to this Sardinian location.[2]

St. Maximus October 30

 St. Maximus

Feastday: October 30

Death: 304

Martyr believed to have suffered at Apamea, Phrygia, in modem Turkey. He may have been martyred at Cuma, in Campania, Italy.

 

Bl. John Slade October 30

 Bl. John Slade

Feastday: October 30

Death: 1583

Martyr of England. He was a native of Manston, Dorchestershire, and was educated at Oxford. John denied King Henry Viii's supremacy in religious matters and was arrested and tried with Blessed John Bodey. They were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Winchester. He was beatified in 1929.

Blessed John Bodey (1549 – 2 November 1583)[1][2] was an English Roman Catholic academic jurist and lay theologian. He was martyred in 1583, and beatified in 1929

Bl. Jeremiah of Valachia October 30

 Bl. Jeremiah of Valachia

Feastday: October 30

Birth: 1556

Death: 1625

Beatified: Pope John Paul II

Jeremiah of Valachia was a member of the Franciscan Order

Bl. Jean-Michel Langevin October 30

 Bl. Jean-Michel Langevin

Feastday: October 30

Birth: 1731

Death: 1793

Beatified: 19 February 1984 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy

Jean-Michel Langevinwas a Priest in Angers, France. Martyred during the French Revolution.