இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 4

 St. Isidore of Seville

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(ஏப்ரல் 4)

✠ செவில் நகர புனிதர் இசிடோர் ✠

(St. Isidore of Seville)

பேராயர், ஒப்புரவாளர் & மறைவல்லுநர்:

(Arch Bishop, Confessor & Doctor of the Church)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 560 

கார்ட்டஜெனா, ஸ்பெயின்

(Cartagena, Spain)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 4, 636

செவில், ஸ்பெயின்

(Seville, Spain)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1598 

திருத்தந்தை எட்டாம் கிளமெண்ட் 

( Pope Clement VIII )

மறைவல்லுநர் பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1722

திருத்தந்தை பதின்மூன்றாம் பெனடிக்ட் 

( Pope Benedict XIII )

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 4

பாதுகாவல்:

இணையதளம் (The Internet),

கணினி உபயோகிப்போர் (Computer users), 

கணினி தொழில்நுட்ப வல்லுநர் (Computer Technicians), 

கணினி செயல்முறைத் திட்டம் வகுப்போர் (Programmers), 

மாணவர்கள் (Students)

புனிதர் இசிடோர் ஒரு தலைசிறந்த அறிஞரும், முப்பது வருடங்களுக்கும் மேலாக "செவில்" (Seville) உயர்மறை மாவட்டத்தின் பேராயராக சேவையாற்றியவருமாவார். இவர் திருச்சபையின் கடைசித் தந்தையர் என பரவலாக போற்றப்படுபவர் ஆவார். பத்தொன்பதாம் நூற்றாண்டின் வரலாற்றாசிரியர் "மொண்டலேம்பர்ட்" (Montalembert) என்பவர், இவரை "பண்டைய உலகின் இறுதி அறிஞர்" என்று போற்றுகின்றார்.

இசிடோரின் வாழ்க்கையின் 76 வருட காலம் ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டின் திருச்சபையின் போராட்டங்களும் வளர்ச்சியும் மிகுந்த காலம் எனலாம். சுமார் ஒன்றரை நூற்றாண்டு காலமாக காலூன்றியிருந்த "விஸிகோதிக்" இனத்தவர்கள் இசிடோர் பிறப்பதற்கு சிறிது காலத்துக்கு முன்னேதான் தமது தலைநகரை அங்கே அமைத்திருந்தனர். அவர்கள் கிறிஸ்துவை கடவுளாக ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவில்லை. அதனால் கிறிஸ்துதாம் கடவுள் எனும் கத்தோலிக்கர்கள் ஒருபுறமும் கிறிஸ்து கடவுள் அல்லர் எனும் ஆரிய விஸிகோதிக் இனத்தவர் ஒருபுறமுமாக நாடு இரண்டுபட்டது. இசிடோர் இரண்டுபட்ட ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டை ஒன்றுபடுத்தினார்.

பண்டைய கிரேக்க இலத்தீன் கலை மற்றும் கலாச்சாரத்தின் சிதைவு, கல்வியறிவின்மை மற்றும் உயர்குடியினரின் வன்முறை ஆகியன நிகழ்ந்த காலகட்டத்தில் இவர் "விஸிகோதிக் ஆரிய" (Visigothic Arians) அரசகுல வம்சத்தினரை கத்தோலிக்கத்திற்கு மனம் மாற்றுவதில் தமது சகோதரரான புனிதர் லியாண்டருக்கு (Leander of Seville) உதவுவதில் ஈடுபட்டார். பின்னர், தமது சகோதரரின் மரணத்தின் பின்னரும் அதனைத் தொடர்ந்தார்.

ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டின் "கார்ட்டஜெனா" (Cartagena) என்ற இடத்தில் "செவரியனஸ்" மற்றும் "தியோடரா" (Severianus and Theodora) ஆகிய பெற்றோருக்கு பிறந்த இசிடோர், குறிப்பிடத்தக்க ஹிஸ்பானோ-ரோமன் (Hispano-Roman) குடும்பங்களைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ஆவார். பெற்றோர் இவரை பக்தியிலும், ஆன்மீகத்திலும் சிறப்பாக வளர்த்தார்கள். 

இயற்கையிலேயே இவர் பிறந்தது ஒரு புனிதர்களின் குடும்பம் எனலாம். இவரது மூத்த சகோதரர் "லியாண்டர்" (Leander of Seville), இளைய சகோதரர் "ஃபல்ஜென்ஷியஸ்" (Fulgentius of Cartagena) மற்றும் சகோதரி "ஃப்ளோரென்டினா" (Florentina) ஆகிய மூவருமே ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டின் நன்கு அறியப்பட்ட புனிதர்கள் ஆவர். ஆனால், இவை யாவையுமே இவருக்கு வாழ்வை இலகுவாக்கிவிடவில்லை. மாறாக கடினமாக்கி விட்டது. 

இசிடோர் தமது ஆரம்பக் கல்வியை "செவில்" நகரின் பேராலய பள்ளியில் (Cathedral school of Seville) கற்றார். தன்னிச்சையாகவே கல்வியில் சிறந்து விளங்கிய இவர், விரைவில் லத்தின், கிரேக்கம் மற்றும் ஹீப்ரு ஆகிய மொழிகளைக் கற்று தேர்ந்தார்.

லத்தின் மொழியின் வல்லுனர்களில் இவரும் ஒருவராக இருந்தார். "The Etymologies" (சொற்தோற்றங்கள்) எனும் புத்தகம், ஒன்பதாம் நூற்றாண்டின் அவரது தலை சிறந்த புத்தகமாகும். இலக்கணம், வானியல், புவியியல், வரலாறு, சுயசரிதை, இறையியல் ஆகியவற்றில் தலை சிறந்த புத்தகங்களை எழுதினர்.

இவர் பல புத்தகங்களை வாசிப்பதிலும், செபிப்பதிலும், தன் நேரங்களை செலவழித்து, தான் படித்தவைகளை வாழ்வாக வாழ்ந்தார். இதனால் இறைவனோடும், மக்களோடும் அதிக தொடர்பு கொண்டிருந்தார். மறைநூல் வாசிக்கும்போது, நாம் இதுவரை பெற்றுக்கொள்ளாத வரங்களையும், அறிவையும், உறவையும் பெறுகிறோம் என்பதை மற்றவர்களுக்கு போதித்தார். 

இவரால் பல காரியங்கள் ஒழுங்குப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. 200 ஆண்டுகள் ஆரியபதிதத்தில் (Arianism) ஊறிக்கிடந்த ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டினை ஆட்டிப்படைத்த விசிகாத் என்ற மக்களை முற்றிலும் மனம்மாற்றினார். 

32 ஆண்டு காலம் செவில் நகர பேராயராக சேவை புரிந்த இவர் 636ம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் மாதம், 4ம் நாளன்று இறந்தார். இவர் சிறந்த மறைவல்லுநராகவும், திருச்சபையின் ஒளி விளக்காகவும், கடவுளின் திட்டத்தை அன்பு செய்து நிறைவேற்றுபவராகவும் தம் வாழ்நாளின் இறுதிவரை வாழ்ந்தார். செபத்தின் வழியாக, நாம் கற்காததையெல்லாம் கற்றுக்கொள்கிறோம் என்பதனை இவ்வுலக மக்களுக்கு வலியுறுத்திச் சென்றார்.

Feastday: April 4

Death: 636

Isidore was literally born into a family of saints in sixth century Spain. Two of his brothers, Leander and Fulgentius, and one of his sisters, Florentina, are revered as saints in Spain. It was also a family of leaders and strong minds with Leander and Fulgentius serving as bishops and Florentina as abbess.

This didn't make life easier for Isidore. To the contrary, Leander may have been holy in many ways, but his treatment of his little brother shocked many even at the time. Leander, who was much older than Isidore, took over Isidore's education and his pedagogical theory involved force and punishment. We know from Isidore's later accomplishments that he was intelligent and hard-working so it is hard to understand why Leander thought abuse would work instead of patience.

One day, the young boy couldn't take any more. Frustrated by his inability to learn as fast as his brother wanted and hurt by his brother's treatment, Isidore ran away. But though he could escape his brother's hand and words, he couldn't escape his own feeling of failure and rejection. When he finally let the outside world catch his attention, he noticed water dripping on the rock near where he sat. The drops of water that fell repeatedly carried no force and seemed to have no effect on the solid stone. And yet he saw that over time, the water drops had worn holes in the rock.

Isidore realized that if he kept working at his studies, his seemingly small efforts would eventually pay off in great learning. He also may have hoped that his efforts would also wear down the rock of his brother's heart.

When he returned home, however, his brother in exasperation confined him to a cell (probably in a monastery) to complete his studies, not believing that he wouldn't run away again.

Either there must have been a loving side to this relationship or Isidore was remarkably forgiving even for a saint, because later he would work side by side with his brother and after Leander's death, Isidore would complete many of the projects he began including a missal and breviary.

In a time where it's fashionable to blame the past for our present and future problems, Isidore was able to separate the abusive way he was taught from the joy of learning. He didn't run from learning after he left his brother but embraced education and made it his life's work. Isidore rose above his past to become known as the greatest teacher in Spain.

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His love of learning made him promote the establishment of a seminary in every diocese of Spain. He didn't limit his own studies and didn't want others to as well. In a unique move, he made sure that all branches of knowledge including the arts and medicine were taught in the seminaries.

His encyclopedia of knowledge, the Etymologies, was a popular textbook for nine centuries. He also wrote books on grammar, astronomy, geography, history, and biography as well as theology. When the Arabs brought study of Aristotle back to Europe, this was nothing new to Spain because Isidore's open mind had already reintroduced the philosopher to students there.

As bishop of Seville for 37 years, succeeding Leander, he set a model for representative government in Europe. Under his direction, and perhaps remembering the tyrannies of his brother, he rejected autocratic decision- making and organized synods to discuss government of the Spanish Church.

Still trying to wear away rock with water, he helped convert the barbarian Visigoths from Arianism to Christianity.

He lived until almost 80. As he was dying his house was filled with crowds of poor he was giving aid and alms to. One of his last acts was to give all his possessions to the poor.

When he died in 636, this Doctor of the Church had done more than his brother had ever hoped; the light of his learning caught fire in Spanish minds and held back the Dark Ages of barbarism from Spain. But even greater than his outstanding mind must have been the genius of his heart that allowed him to see beyond rejection and discouragement to joy and possibility.

This article is about the Archbishop of Seville. For the Spanish peasant and patron saint of Madrid, see Isidore the Laborer.

Isidore of Seville (/ˈɪzɪdɔːr/; Latin: Isidorus Hispalensis; c. 560 – 4 April 636) was a Spanish scholar and cleric. For over three decades, he was Archbishop of Seville. He is widely regarded, in the words of 19th-century historian Montalembert, as "the last scholar of the ancient world".[2]

At a time of disintegration of classical culture,[3] aristocratic violence and widespread illiteracy, Isidore was involved in the conversion of the Arian Visigothic kings to Catholicism, both assisting his brother Leander of Seville and continuing after his brother's death. He was influential in the inner circle of Sisebut, Visigothic king of Hispania. Like Leander, he played a prominent role in the Councils of Toledo and Seville. The Visigothic legislation that resulted from these councils influenced the beginnings of representative government.[citation needed]

His fame after his death was based on his Etymologiae, an etymological encyclopedia that assembled extracts of many books from classical antiquity that would have otherwise been lost. He also invented the period (full stop), comma, and colon.[4]

Life

Childhood and education

Isidore was born in Cartagena, Spain, a former Carthaginian colony, to Severianus and Theodora. Both Severianus and Theodora belonged to notable Hispano-Roman families of high social rank.[5] His parents were members of an influential family who were instrumental in the political-religious manoeuvring that converted the Visigothic kings from Arianism to Catholicism. The Catholic Church celebrates him and all his siblings as known saints:

An elder brother, Leander of Seville, immediately preceded Isidore as Archbishop of Seville and, while in office, opposed King Liuvigild.

A younger brother, Fulgentius of Cartagena, served as the Bishop of Astigi at the start of the new reign of the Catholic King Reccared.

His sister, Florentina of Cartagena, was a nun who allegedly ruled over forty convents and one thousand consecrated religious. This claim seems unlikely, however, given the few functioning monastic institutions in Iberia during her lifetime.[6]

Isidore received his elementary education in the Cathedral school of Seville. In this institution, the first of its kind in Iberia, a body of learned men including Archbishop Leander of Seville taught the trivium and quadrivium, the classic liberal arts. Isidore applied himself to study diligently enough that he quickly mastered classical Latin,[7] and acquired some Greek and Hebrew.

Two centuries of Gothic control of Iberia incrementally suppressed the ancient institutions, classical learning, and manners of the Roman Empire. The associated culture entered a period of long-term decline. The ruling Visigoths nevertheless showed some respect for the outward trappings of Roman culture. Arianism meanwhile took deep root among the Visigoths as the form of Christianity that they received.

Scholars may debate whether Isidore ever personally embraced monastic life or affiliated with any religious order, but he undoubtedly esteemed the monks highly.

Bishop of Seville

A statue of Isidore of Seville by José Alcoverro, 1892, outside the Biblioteca Nacional de España, in Madrid

Seville Cathedral. Sculpture by Lorenzo Mercadante de Bretaña

After the death of Leander of Seville on 13 March 600 or 601, Isidore succeeded to the See of Seville. On his elevation to the episcopate, he immediately constituted himself as the protector of monks.

Recognizing that the spiritual and material welfare of the people of his See depended on the assimilation of remnant Roman and ruling barbarian cultures, Isidore attempted to weld the peoples and subcultures of the Visigothic kingdom into a united nation. He used all available religious resources toward this end and succeeded. Isidore practically eradicated the heresy of Arianism and completely stifled the new heresy of Acephali at its outset. Archbishop Isidore strengthened religious discipline throughout his See.

Archbishop Isidore also used resources of education to counteract increasingly influential Gothic barbarism throughout his episcopal jurisdiction. His quickening spirit animated the educational movement centered on Seville. Isidore introduced his countrymen to Aristotle long before the Arabs studied Greek philosophy extensively.

In 619, Isidore of Seville pronounced anathema against any ecclesiastic who in any way should molest the monasteries.

Second Synod of Seville (November 619)

Main article: Second Synod of Seville

Isidore presided over the Second Council of Seville, begun on 13 November 619 in the reign of King Sisebut, a provincial council attended by eight other bishops, all from the ecclesiastical province of Baetica in southern Spain. The Acts of the Council fully set forth the nature of Christ, countering the conceptions of Gregory, a Syrian representing the heretical Acephali.

Third Synod of Seville (624)

Main article: Third Synod of Seville

Based on a few surviving canons found in the Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals, Isidore is known to have presided over an additional provincial council around 624.

The council dealt with a conflict over the See of Écija and wrongfully stripped bishop Martianus of his see, a situation that was rectified by the Fourth Council of Toledo. It also addressed a concern over Jews who had been forced to convert to Christianity,.

The records of the council, unlike the First and Second Councils of Seville, were not preserved in the Hispana, a collection of canons and decretals likely edited by Isidore himself.[8]

Fourth National Council of Toledo

Main article: Fourth Council of Toledo

All bishops of Hispania attended the Fourth National Council of Toledo, begun on 5 December 633. The aged Archbishop Isidore presided over its deliberations and originated most enactments of the council.

Through Isidore's influence, this Council of Toledo promulgated a decree commanding all bishops to establish seminaries in their cathedral cities along the lines of the cathedral school at Seville, which had educated Isidore decades earlier. The decree prescribed the study of Greek, Hebrew, and the liberal arts and encouraged interest in law and medicine.[9] The authority of the council made this education policy obligatory upon all bishops of the Kingdom of the Visigoths. The council granted remarkable position and deference to the king of the Visigoths. The independent Church bound itself in allegiance to the acknowledged king; it said nothing of allegiance to the Bishop of Rome.

Death

Isidore of Seville died on 4 April 636 after serving more than 32 years as archbishop of Seville.

Work

Isidore's Latin style in the Etymologiae and elsewhere, though simple and lucid, reveals increasing local Visigothic traditions.

St. Guier

Feastday: April 4

Hermit priest of Cornwall, England. A local church bears his name. 

St. Ageranus

Feastday: April 4

Death: 303

Martyr, caught up in the Norman invasion of his era. A Benedictine monk in the monastery of the Order of Beze Côte-d'Or, France, Ageranus chose to defend the sacred precincts of the monastery when a Norman army arrived on the scene. He was accompanied by four other monks, Gerard, Genesius, Rodron, and Silfrard, and by a young lad, probably a novice, named AdaIric. The other monks had fled the monastery. All of the remaining custodians were murdered defending the altars.

St. Tigernach

Feastday: April 4

St. Tigernach died 549, bishop . Said to have been the godchild of St. Brigid, and educated in Scotland, he may have been a monk at Clones as well as a bishop of Clogher, but accounts are not too clear. He also is called Tierney and Tierry. Feast Day April 4.

Tigernach mac Coirpri (d. 549) was an early Irish saint, patron saint of Clones (Co. Monaghan) in the province of Ulster.

Background

Tigernach of Clones is located in Northern IrelandClonesClonesClogherClogherDevenish IslandDevenish IslandArmaghArmaghBangorBangor

Some places mentioned in the article, here shown on a modern map for Northern Ireland

Tigernach (anglicised Tierney) was one of the pre-eminent saints of the territory ruled by the Uí Chremthainn dynasty, together with Mac Caírthinn of Clogher and Mo Laisse of Devenish. His principal foundation is Clones, which lay in the western part of Fernmag, a kingdom ruled by the Uí Chremthainn branch Uí Nad Sluaig. The first foundation by Tigernach, in about the same area, is Gabáil-liúin, now Galloon Island, Upper Lough Erne (Co. Fermanagh), on the border of that kingdom.[1]

Life

Tigernach’s Life depicts an early stage when the Uí Chremthainn had not yet branched off but had a single royal seat near Clogher. Tigernach was born out of an illicit union between a king's daughter and an alien warrior: his mother, Der Fraích, was a daughter of Eochaid, king of the Uí Chremthainn, while his father, Coirpre, was a Leinsterman in Eochaid's service, the Irish genealogies specifying that Coirpre belonged to the Uí Briúin branch of the Uí Bairrche. Soon after his birth, he was brought to Leinster. Brigit of Kildare named the child Tigernach, meaning "princely". According to Butler, Tigernach was baptized by Conleth, bishop of Kildare with Brigid as godmother.[2] Tigernach's maternal uncle was Cairpre Daim Argat, King of Airgíalla who died in 514. His maternal aunt was Cinnia of Druim Dubhain (Feast Day 1 February). His maternal 1st cousin once removed was Damhnat of Slieve Betha (Feast Day 13 June). His maternal second cousin was Enda of Aran (Feast Day 21 March). His fourth cousins were Saints Dallán Forgaill and Mogue.[1]

The Life goes on to describe a number of experiences in preparation for his career in Ulster: he was educated in Rosnat in Britain. Lanigan identifies Rosnat with Candida Casa, established by Ninian some time before.[3] However, David Dumville does not find that credible and notes that St. Davids's in Dyfed has also been proposed.[4] Having heard his teacher prophesy the foundation of a prominent church, Tigernach went to Rome to obtain relics and returned to Brigit in Leinster, who urged him to become bishop.[5]

Tigernach then travelled to his birth land, but is not shown founding any church before relations with the ruling dynasty and the churches of the area are put in order. Eochaid welcomed Tigernach as a dear kinsman and offered to install him as bishop in Clogher. Since, however, this involved ejecting the bishop then in office, Tigernach refused and retreated to a minor church on a mountain slope. However, he earned a good reputation for his ascetic lifestyle and for a miracle by which he raised Doach, the archbishop of Armagh, from the dead. An angel appeared to him and following his directions, Tigernach sought out the boundary of the kingdom to make his first foundation, namely Galloon. Inspired by God, he offered it to Comgall of Bangor and moved a little further east to found Clones. There he is said to have lived like a hermit and died of plague.[5]

His festival is 4 April.

History of the abbey

Main article: Clones Abbey

Medieval stone sarcophagus of Tigernach, with a modern inscribed slab giving details of his life. In the grave yard by the round tower at Clones.

Medieval stone sarcophagus of St. Tigernach, with a modern inscribed slab giving details of his life. In the grave yard by the round tower at Clones.

Clones Abbey, the abbey founded by Tigernach in the 6th century, was dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul. It was still active before the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, but it had experienced a number of misfortunes. The abbey was destroyed by fire in 836, 1095, and in 1184. In 1207, Hugh de Lacy destroyed the abbey and town; but five years after they were rebuilt by the English, who also erected a castle here. The ruins of a 12th-century abbey building can still be found in the town, along with a sarcophagus reputed to have been built to house Tigernach's remains, and a 9th-century round tower and high cross.

Saint Plato

Also known as

Platon

Profile

Plato's wealthy parents died of disease before he was 13. Raised and educated by an uncle who was a treasurer, and Plato soon handled much of his uncle's business. Excellent student. Pious from youth, he turned away from the world of the royal court, freed his slaves, sold his estates, gave the money to his sisters and the poor, and at age 24 he moved to the monastery at Symbolean on Mount Olympus, though he never took holy orders and remained a layman. He spent his days in prayer, menial labour, and copying holy books. Abbot in 770. Given to severe fasts and self-deprivation.

In 775 Plato made a journey to Constantinople on business, and managed to inspire many of the citizens of all stations to better, more pious lives. The patriarch Paul tried to make him bishop of Nicomedia, but Plato retreated to his monastery.

His sister Theoctista's entire family embraced a religious state, founded a monastery of Saccudion, near Constantinople, and prevailed upon Plato to direct it in 782. In 794 he turned it over to his nephew, Saint Theodorus.

The emperor Constantine repudiated his empress, Mary, and married Theodota, a relative of Plato; Plato and Theodorus published a sentence of excommunication against him. Joseph, the treasurer of the church, and several other mercenary priests and monks, tried to convince Plato to approve the emperor's divorce, but he refused, scolded the emperor to his face, and was imprisoned until Constantine's death in 797.

In the face of the Saracen invasions, the monks of Saccudion abandoned their settlement for Studius where Plato vowed obedience to his nephew Theodorus, and lived as a recluse in a narrow cell, in perpetual prayer and manual labor, one foot fastened to the ground with a heavy iron chain which he hid with his cloak when anyone came to see him.

In 807, Joseph, the priest who had presided at the wedding of Constantine and Theodoat, was restored to his position and made treasurer of the church by order of emperor Nicephorus. Plato considered this scandalous, and loudly condemned it. The emperor had him guarded for a year by a troop of insolent soldiers and false monks after which Plato was unjustly condemned by a council of court bishops, then banished to be conducted from place to place in the isles of Bosphorus for four years until freed in 811 by the new emperor Michael I. Plato then returned to his cell and his life of prayer.

In 813, Plato saw that his end was near, directed his grave be dug, had himself carried to it, lived laying in it, spending his last days in prayer and receiving guests from his grave including his former enemy, the priest Joseph who came to ask for Plato's prayers.

Born

c.734

Died

• 19 March 813 of natural causes

• funeral obsequies were performed by Saint Nicephorus

Saint Gaetano Catanoso

Also known as

Cajetan Catanoso

Additional Memorial

20 September

Profile

Born to a wealthy, pious family. Ordained on 20 September 1902, he served as a parish priest. Established a Confraternity of the Holy Face in his parish, which spread through a newsletter launched in 1920. Founded the Poor Clerics to encourage priestly vocations. Transferred to Santa Maria de la Candelaria parish in Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1921. There he revived Marian and Eucharistic devotions, improved catechesis, and worked for observance of liturgical feasts. Worked for cooperation among local priests to provide missions by preaching and hearing confessions in each others parishes. Spiritual director for several religious institutions, a prison, hospital and seminary for decades. Founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Veronica (Missionaries of the Holy Face) in 1935 to teach, offer perpetual prayers, and work with the poor; they received diocesan approval in 1958.

Born

14 February 1879 at Chorio di San Lorenzo, Reggio Calabria, Italy

Died

4 April 1953 in Reggio Calabria, Italy of natural causes

Canonized

23 October 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI at Rome, Italy

Patronage

Reggio Calabria, Italy (given on 10 March 2010)/

Saint Benedict the Black

Also known as

• Benedict of Palermo

• Benedict of San Philadelphio

• Benedict of Sanfratello

• Benedict the African

• Benedict the Moor

• il Moro

Profile

His parents, Christopher and Diana, were slaves who had been taken from Africa to Sicily. Benedict was granted his freedom at age 18, but remained as an employee of his former master. Scorned and mocked by others as poor as himself, due to his origin and skin, he retained a natural cheerfulness.

He met with, and became enamored of a group of Franciscan hermits near Palermo. Benedict sold what little he had, gave away the money to the poor, and joined this group. Novice master and reluctant superior of the friars in Palermo. When his term ended, he happily returned to working in the friary kitchen. Benedict never referred to possessions as "mine" but always "ours." He had gifts for prayer and the guidance of souls. His humility and cheerfulness set an example that helped reform his order. On his death, King Philip III of Spain paid for a special tomb for the simple friar.

Benedict was not a Moor, but the Italian "il Moro" for "the Black" has been misinterpreted as referring to a Moorish heritage.

Born

1526 at Messina, Italy on the estate of Chevalier de Lanza a San Fratello

Died

• 1589 of natural causes

• body reported incorrupt when exhumed several years later

Beatified

15 May 1743 by Pope Benedict XIV

Canonized

24 May 1807 by Pope Pius VIII

Patronage

• African missions

• African-Americans

• black people

• Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Blessed Giuseppe Benedetto Dusmet

Profile

Born to the Sicilian nobility, the son of Marquis Luigi Dusmet. Educated at the abbey of San Martino delle Scales when he was five years old. Benedictine monk, making his formal vows on 13 August 1840 at the abbey of Monte Cassino. Teacher of philosophy and theology in Benedictine houses. Priest. Prior of the monastery of San Severino, Naples on 12 June 1850. Prior of the monastery of San Flavio, Caltanissetta, Sicily in 1852. Abbot of the monastery of San Nicolo l'Arena, Catania, Sicily in 1858. The monastery was later confiscated by the state soon after the founding of the kingdom of Italy. Archbishop of Catania, Sicily on 22 February 1867. Cardinal-priest of San Pudenziana on 11 February 1889.

Born

15 August 1818 at Palermo, Sicily

Died

• 4 April 1894 at Catania, Sicily of natural causes

• buried in the chapel of the Confraternity dei Bianchi

• relics translated to the metropolitan cathedral of Catania in May 1904

Beatified

25 September 1988 by Pope John Paul II

Blessed Ndue Serreqi

Also known as

Karl

Profile

Educated by Franciscan friars, he joined the Order as a young man. Seminarian in Brescia, Italy, he was ordained a priest in June 1936, taking the name Father Karl, and serving parishes in the mountain villages of Albania. He was arrested on 9 October 1946 by Communist authorities who wanted him to tell them details of the confessions of some of the anti–Communist rebels; he was imprisoned and tortured, but refused to break the seal of the Confessional and on 18 January 1947 he was sentenced to death. This was later changed to life imprisonment and he spent the next seven years being abused and neglected to death. Martyr.

Born

26 February 1911 in Shkodrë, Albania

Died

4 April 1954 in Burrel, Shkodrë, Albania from abuse in prison

Beatified

• 5 November 2016 by Pope Francis

• beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

Saint Francisco Marto

Also known as

Franz Marto

Profile

One of the child visionaries of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 in Portugal.

Born

11 June 1908 at Aljustrel, Portugal

Died

• 4 April 1919 at Aljustrel, Portugal of influenza

• relics translated on 13 March 1952 to the basilica at Cova da Iria

Canonized

13 May 2017 by Pope Francis

Blessed Abraham of Strelna

Profile

Like his three brothers, he became a Premonstratensian monk at the monastery in Hradisko, Moravia (in modern Slovakia). He withdrew from the monastery to live for 30 years as a hermit, but was eventually ordered back to the monastery in 1229 and was soon after elected abbot. He agreed on the condition that he would only serve for three years and could then return to his hermit's shack.

Born

late 11th-century in Strelna, Moravia (modern Czech Republic)

Died

• 4 April 1232 in his hermitage in Hradisko, Moravia (in modern Slovakia) of natural causes

• buried alongside his three brothers in Hradisko in the Church of the Mother of God and Saint George, a structure all the brothers had worked to build

Saint Tigernach of Clogher

Also known as

Tigernake, Tierney, Tierry, Terry

Profile

Son of Dearfraych, daughter of the Irish king Eochod, and a famous general named Corbre. Baptized by Bishop Saint Conleth of Kildare, Ireland. God-son of Saint Brigid of Ireland. Captured by pirates as a child, given to the British king, who placed him in the monastery of Rosnat. Friend of Saint Eoghan. He was a natural, and grew to be a monk whose life was exemplified by an intense love for God, and a penchant for constant work. Upon his he return to Ireland, he was made abbot of Cluanois Abbey in Monaghan. Bishop of Clogher, Ireland.

Died

549

Saint Aleth of Dijon

Also known as

• Aleth of Montbard

• Aleth of Zélie

• Adèle, Aleidis, Alèthe, Aletta, Alette, Alice, Alix, Aliz, Alyette, Elisabeth, Ethle

Profile

Daughter of the lord of Montbard. Lay woman, married to a man named Tecolin. Mother of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and other holy children.

Died

• 1105

• relics at Clairvaux, France

Representation

• Christ appearing to Aleth as she receives viaticum

• standing with Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint Zosimus of Palestine

Profile

Fifth century hermit on the banks of the Jordan River. Discovered Saint Mary of Egypt, brought her the Eucharist one Easter, found her dead the next, and reportedly wrote a biography of her.

Representation

• monk bringing the Eucharist to Saint Mary of Egypt

• talking to Saint Mary of Egypt across the River Jordan

Blessed Thomas of Naples

Profile

Mercedian friar. Well educated and a Biblical scholar, he was sent from the area of Naples, Italy, to France to work against the rise of Protestantism. His preaching was so zealous and effective that he was murdered by Huguenots. Martyr.

Died

stabbed to death in 1540 at the Saint Eulalia convent in Montpellier, France

Saint Gonval of Scotland

Also known as

Conval, Conwall

Profile

King an area of Scotland, noted for his personal piety, his promotion of the faith, and his refusal to use his civil power to meddle in Church affairs. Noted for his piety by Saint Columba, and mentioned in the ancient Dunkeld Litany.

Born

late 8th century Scotland

Died

824 of natural causes

Saint Theonas of Egypt

Profile

Monk at Theibaid, Egypt and el-Bahnasa, Egypt.

Died

395

Representation

writing near a well with a pitcher and bucket close and assorted wild animals watching from a distance, referring to a story that he watered and cared for wild animals

Saint Agathopus the Deacon

Also known as

• Agathopus of Thessalonica

• Agathopedes, Agatopodo

Profile

Deacon. Marytred with Saint Theodulus during the persecution of Maximinian Herculius for refusing to surrender holy books.

Died

drowned in the sea with a stone around his neck in 303 in Thessalonica

Saint Theodulus the Lector

Also known as

• Theodolus of Thessalonica

• Teodulo...

Profile

Lector. Martyred with Saint Agathopus for refusing to surrender holy books during the persecutions of Emperor Maximian Herculeus.

Died

drowned in the sea with a stone around his neck in 303 in Thessalonica

Saint Peter of Poitiers

Profile

Bishop of Poitiers, France, from 1087 till 1115. Publicly denounced the sacrilegious tyranny and license of King Philip I and William VI, count of Poitiers and duke of Aquitaine. Helped Blessed Robert d'Arbriselle found the abbey of Fontrevault.

Died

1115 of natural causes

Saint Gwerir of Liskeard

Also known as

Guier

Profile

Ninth century monk and hermit in Liskeard, Cornwall, England. King Alfred said to have been cured of a serious illness at Gwerir's grave. After his death, the saint's monastery cell was next occupied by Saint Neot.

Blessed François de la Terre de Labour

Also known as

François of Cairo

Profile

Franciscan Friar Minor. Martyred for trying to bring apostates back to the faith.

Died

c.1358 in Cairo, Egypt

Blessed Nicolas of Montecorpino

Also known as

Nicolas of Cairo

Profile

Franciscan Friar Minor. Martyred for trying to bring apostates back to the faith.

Died

c.1358 in Cairo, Egypt

Saint Hildebert of Ghent

Also known as

Emebert

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot of Saint Peter's in Ghent. Martyr, killed for his defense of icons.

Died

752

Saint Victor of Barcelona

Also known as

Vittore

Profile

Priest. Bishop of Barcelona, Spain. Martyr.

Saint Henry of Gheest

Profile

Cistercian monk.

Died

c.1190 of natural causes

Martyrs of Thessalonica

Profile

Fourteen Christians who were martyred together, date unknown. No other information, except the names of 12 of them, has survived - Ingenuus, Julianus, Julius, Matutinus, Orbanus, Palatinus, Paulus, Publius, Quinilianus, Saturninus, Successus, Victor and two whose names have not come down to us.

Died

Thessalonica, Greece