Saint Pedro de San Jose Betancur
Also known as
• Pedro Betancur
• Peter Betancur
• Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur
• Saint Francis of the Americas
Profile
Born a poor shepherd, Pedro devoted his time with the flocks to prayer. At age thirty-one, he journeyed to Guatemala City in hopes of a job away from the sheep. Befriended by the Jesuits and Franciscans of the area, he enrolled in the Jesuit College of San Borgia in hopes of becoming a priest. However, with little background education he was unable to master the material, and withdrew. He then took private vows, and became a Franciscan tertiary, taking the name Peter of Saint Joseph.
Three years later he opened Our Lady of Bethlehem, a hospital for the convalescent poor. Soon after there was a shelter for the homeless, schools for the poor, and an oratory. Not to neglect the rich of Guatemala City, Pedro walked through their part of town, ringing a bell, begging support for the poor, and inviting the wealthy to repent. Other men were drawn to Pedro's work, and they formed the foundation of the Bethlehemite Congregation or Hospitalers Bethlehemite, which earned papal approval after Pedro's death. He is the first canonized Guatemalan native.
Pedro built chapels and shrines in the poor sections of the city, and promoted the ministry of intercessory prayer among those who had nothing except their time. He is sometimes credited with originating the Christmas Eve posadas procession in which people representing Mary and Joseph seek a night's lodging from their neighbors. The custom soon spread to Mexico and other Central American countries. Legend says that petitioners need only tap gently on Peter's stone tomb in order to have their prayers fulfilled. Stone tablets scratched with thank-you notes are often left on the tomb afterwards.
Born
16 May 1619 at Villaflores, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands, Spain
Died
25 April 1667 at Guatemala City, Guatemala of natural causes
Canonized
30 July 2002 in Guatemala City, Guatemala by Pope John Paul II
Saint Mark the Evangelist
† இன்றைய புனிதர் †
(ஏப்ரல் 25)
✠ புனிதர் மாற்கு ✠
(St. Mark the Evangelist)
நற்செய்தியாளர், மறைசாட்சி:
(Evangelist, Martyr)
பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 1ம் நூற்றாண்டு
காப்டிக் மரபுப்படி, வட ஆபிரிக்காவில் உள்ள செரின், பென்டபோலிஸ்
(Cyrene, Pentapolis of North Africa, (According to Coptic tradition)
இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 25, 68
செரின், லிபியா, பென்டபோலிஸ் (வட ஆபிரிக்கா) தற்போது ஷஹத், ஜபல் அல் அக்தர், லிபியா
(Cyrene, Libya, Pentapolis (North Africa), now Shahhat, Jabal al Akhdar, Libya)
ஏற்கும் சபை/ சமயம்:
அனைத்து கிறிஸ்தவ சபைகளும்
(All Christian Churches)
நினைவுத் திருவிழா: ஏப்ரல் 25
சித்தரிக்கப்படும் வகை:
பாலைவனத்தில் சிங்கம்; சிங்கங்கள் சூழ்ந்த அரியணையில் ஆயர் உடையில்; வெனிசு நகரின் மாலுமிகளைக் காப்பது போல; "pax tibi Marce" என்னும் எழுத்துக்களை தாங்கிய புத்தகத்தோடு; இரு இரக்கைகள் உடைய சிங்கம்;
பாதுகாவல்:
பார் அட் லா (Bar at Law), வெனிஸ் (Venice), எகிப்து (Egypt)
நற்செய்தியாளரான புனிதர் மாற்கு, பாரம்பரியப்படி மாற்கு நற்செய்தியின் ஆசிரியராகக் கருதப்படுபவர் ஆவார். மேலும், இவர் கிறிஸ்தவத்தின் மிகவும் பழைமையான நான்கு ஆயர்பீடங்களுல் ஒன்றான அலெக்சாந்திரியா திருச்சபையின் (Church of Alexandria) நிறுவனராகவும் கருதப்படுகின்றார்.
வரலாற்றாசிரியரான யூசெபியஸ் (Eusebius of Caesarea) என்பவரின் கூற்றின்படி, மாற்கு அனனியாசு என்பவருக்குப் பின்பு, நீரோ மன்னனின் ஆட்சியின் எட்டாம் ஆண்டில் (62/63) அலெக்சாந்திரியாவின் ஆயரானார். பாரம்பரியப்படி கி.பி. 68ம் ஆண்டு, இவர் மறைசாட்சியாக மரித்தார் என்பர்.
மாற்கு நற்செய்தி 14:51-52ல் கெத்சமனித் தோட்டத்தில் இயேசு கைதுசெய்யப்பட்ட பின்பு அவர் பின்னே சென்ற இளைஞர் இவர் என்பது மரபு; இயேசுவை கைது செய்தவர்கள் இவரைப் பிடித்தபோது, தம் வெறும் உடம்பின் மீது இருந்த நார்ப்பட்டுத் துணியைப் விட்டு விட்டு இவர் ஆடையின்றித் தப்பி ஓடினார்.
கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையின் பொது நாள்காட்டியில் இவரின் விழா ஏப்ரல் 25ல் கொண்டாடப்படுகின்றது. இவரை பொதுவாக இரண்டு இறக்கைகளை உடைய சிங்கத்தைக்கொண்டு கலைகளில் சித்தரிப்பர்.
திருத்தூதர் பணியில் நாம் சந்திக்கும் ஜான் மாற்கும், புனித பேதுரு தமது முதல் திருமுகம் 5:13 -ல் குறிப்பிடும் மாற்கும் ஒருவரே.
புனித பவுல் (கொலோ 4:10, 2 தீமோத்தேயு 4:11, பிலோமோனுக்கு எழுதிய திருமுகம் 2:4) இவற்றில் குறிப்பிடும் மாற்கும் இவரே.
இவர் பர்னபாவுக்கு நெருங்கிய உறவினர். திருத்தூதரான புனித பவுலின் முதல் பயணத்தில் அவரோடு கூட சென்றவர். மூன்றாம் பயணத்தில் உரோமை வரை பின் தொடர்ந்தவர். பேதுருடைய சீடரும், அவருடைய மொழி பெயர்ப்பாளருமாக மாற்கு தமது நற்செய்தியில் காணப்படுகின்றனர்.
எகிப்தில் உள்ள அலெக்சாந்திரியா நகர் திருச்சபையை நிறுவியவராகக் கருதப்படுகிறார். எருசலேம் திருச்சபையில் புனித பேதுருவுக்கு மிக உதவியாகவும், புதுக் கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் தமது வீட்டில் வந்து தங்கிப்போக உதவியாகவும், இருந்த மரியா என்பவர் மாற்கின் தாய்.
முதன் முறையாகப் பவுல் சைப்ரஸ் நாட்டிற்கு போகும் போது இவரை உடன் அழைத்துச் சென்றார். அவர்கள் பம்பிலியா நாட்டில் பெர்கா என்ற இடத்தில் தங்கியிருந்தபோது, மாற்கு அவர்களை விட்டுப் பிரிந்துவிடுவார் என்று அச்சம் கொண்ட பவுல், சிலிசியா, சிறிய ஆசியாவிலிருந்த திருச்சபைகளை சந்திக்க சென்றபோது, பர்ணபாஸ் பரிந்துரைத்ததால், பவுல் மாற்கை அழைத்து செல்லவில்லை. இதனால் பர்ணபாவும் பவுலை விட்டுப் பிரிந்தார்.
ரோம் நகரில் பவுல் சிறைப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருந்தபோது, மாற்கு பவுலுக்கு உதவி செய்தார். பவுல், தான் இறக்கும்முன்பு, ரோம் சிறையில் இருந்தார். அப்போது எபேசு நகரிலிருந்த திமோத்தேயுவுக்கு எழுதிய கடிதத்தில் மாற்கு தன்னோடு இருப்பார் என்று எழுதியுள்ளார்.
பின்னர் மாற்கு, புனித பேதுருவின் நண்பனானார். அலெக்சாண்டிரியா நகர் கிளமெண்ட், இரனேயுஸ், பாப்பியாஸ் ஆகியோர் மாற்கைப் பேதுருவின் விளக்கவுரையாளர் என்று காட்டுகிறார்கள்.
மாற்கு இயேசுவை சந்திக்காதவர் என்று பாப்பியஸ் கூறுகிறார். இன்று விரிவுரையாளர் பலர் மாற்கு நற்செய்தியில் நாம் சந்திக்கும் இளைஞன் ஆண்டவர் கைதியாக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் அவரைப் தொடர்ந்தவர் இதே மாற்குதான் என்று ஏற்றுக் கொள்கின்றனர்.
பேதுரு தாம் எழுதிய முதல் திருமுகத்தில் (1 பேதுரு 5:13) "என் மைந்தன் மாற்கு" என்று குறிப்பிடுவதன் மூலம் மாற்கு பேதுருவுடைய மிக நெருக்கமான நண்பர் என்பதை இவர்களால் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியவில்லை.
மாற்கு, அலெக்சாண்டிரியா நகரின் முதல் ஆயர். இவர் ஆயராக இருக்கும்போது அலெக்சாண்டிரியா நகரில் இறந்தார். இவரது உடல் 830ம் ஆண்டில் அங்கிருந்து கொண்டுவரப்பட்டு வெனிஸ் நகரிலுள்ள மாற்கு பேராலயத்தில் வைக்கப்பட்டது என்று கூறப்படுகின்றது. மாற்கு வெனிஸ் நகரின் பாதுகாவலர் என்று போற்றப்படுகின்றார்.
இறக்கையுள்ள சிங்கம் மாற்குவின் சின்னமாக உள்ளது. "பாலைவனத்தில் ஒலிக்கும் குரலொலி" (மாற்கு 1:3) எனப் புனித திருமுழுக்கு யோவானை இவர் குறிப்பிடுகின்றார். எனவே ஓவியர்கள் இவ்வாறு வரைந்துள்ளனர்.
நற்செய்தியில் காணப்படும் "எப்பேத்தா" என்ற சொல் இவருக்கே உரியது. புதிதாக மனந்திரும்பிய ரோமப் புற இனத்தவர்க்கு இவரது நற்செய்தி எழுதப்பட்டது. மாற்கு நற்செய்தி கி.பி. 60 - 70 க்குள் எழுதப்பட்டிருக்கலாம். என்று வரலாறு கூறுகின்றது.
ஒரு நிகழ்வை கண்ணால் காண்பதுபோல் சித்தரிப்பதில் இவர் வல்லவராக இருந்தார். "இயேசு கிறிஸ்து கடவுளின் மகன் என்ற நற்செய்தியை புறவினத்தார்க்கு அறிக்கையிடுவதே இவரது நற்செய்தியின் குறிக்கோள். கோப்த்து, பிசாந்தின் வழிபாட்டு முறையாளர் புனித மாற்குவின் திருவிழாவை ஏப்ரல் 25 ஆம் நாளன்று கொண்டாடுகின்றனர்.
Also known as
John Mark
Much of what we know about St. Mark, the author of the Second Gospel, comes largely from the New Testament and early Christian traditions. Mark the Evangelist is believed to be the 'John Mark' referred to in the Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early Church found in the Canon of the New Testament.
He was the son of Mary of Jerusalem (Acts 12:12) whose home became a meeting place for the apostles. He is also the cousin of St. Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), a Levite and a Cypriot.
Mark joined St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first missionary journey to Antioch in 44 A.D. When the group reached Cyprus, Christian tradition holds that Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem, possibly because he was missing his home (Acts 13:13). This incident may have caused Paul to question whether Mark could be a reliable missionary. This created a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas and led Paul to refuse Mark's accompaniment on their second journey to the churches of Cilicia and the rest of Asia Minor.
However, it can be assumed the troubles between Paul and Mark did not last long, because when Paul was first imprisoned, Mark, who was at the time in Rome with plans of visiting Asia Minor, visited him as one of his trusted companions (Col 4:10).
Mark's hopes to visit Asia Minor were most likely carried out, because during Paul's second captivity and just before his martyrdom, Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus advising him to "take Mark and bring him with you [to Rome], for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). If Mark returned to Rome at this time, he was probably there when Paul was martyred.
According to Christian tradition, Mark also held a close relationship with St. Peter, who referred to Mark has 'his son' in his letter addressed to a number of churches in Asia Minor (1 Peter 5:13). Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus and Papias all indicate that Mark was an interpreter for Peter.
Although Papias states Mark had not personally heard the Lord speak firsthand and, like Luke, Mark was not one of the twelve apostles, some believe Mark was likely speaking of himself when he wrote the description of Jesus' arrest in Gethsemani. "Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked" (Mark 14:51-52).
St. Mark lived for years in Alexandria, where he died as a martyr while being dragged through the streets.
Mark's Gospel was probably written between 60 and 70 A.D., and was based upon the teachings of St. Peter. It is believed Mark provided both Luke and Matthew with basic sources for their Gospel's.
He was probably the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, although he is not mentioned in connection to the city by either Clement of Alexandria nor by Origen.
In 828, relics of St. Mark were stolen from Alexandria and taken to Venice, Italy. There they are enshrined in a beautiful cathedral dedicated to the saint.
St. Mark's symbol is a winged lion. This is believed to be derived from his description of St. John the Baptist, as "a voice of one crying out in the desert" (Mark 1:3). The wings come from Ezekiel's vision of four winged creatures as the evangelists.
He is often depicted as writing or holding his Gospel. He is sometimes shown as a bishop on a throne or as a man helping Venetian sailors.
St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice. His feast day is celebrated on April 25.
"Saint Mark" redirects here. For other uses, see Saint Mark (disambiguation).
Mark the Evangelist (Latin: Marcus; Greek: Μᾶρκος, romanized: Mârkos; Aramaic: ܡܪܩܘܣ; Armenian: Մարկոս Margos;[3] Coptic: Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ Markos; Hebrew: מרקוס[citation needed] Marqos; Arabic: مَرْقُس[citation needed] Marqus; Ge'ez: ማርቆስ[citation needed] Marḳos; Berber languages: ⵎⴰⵔⵇⵓⵙ[citation needed]) is the traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark. Mark is said to have founded the Church of Alexandria, one of the most important episcopal sees of early Christianity. His feast day is celebrated on April 25, and his symbol is the winged lion.[4]
Mark's identity
See also: Four Evangelists
Mark the Evangelist's symbol is the winged lion, the Lion of Saint Mark. Inscription: PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEVS ("peace be upon you, Mark, my evangelist"). The same lion is also symbol of Venice (on illustration)
According to William Lane (1974), an "unbroken tradition" identifies Mark the Evangelist with John Mark,[5] and John Mark as the cousin of Barnabas.[6] However, Hippolytus of Rome in On the Seventy Apostles distinguishes Mark the Evangelist (2 Tim 4:11), John Mark (Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37), and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10; Phlm 1:24).[7] According to Hippolytus, they all belonged to the "Seventy Disciples" who were sent out by Jesus to disseminate the gospel (Luke 10:1ff.) in Judea.
According to Eusebius of Caesarea (Eccl. Hist. 2.9.1–4), Herod Agrippa I, in his first year of reign over the whole of Judea (AD 41), killed James, son of Zebedee and arrested Peter, planning to kill him after the Passover. Peter was saved miraculously by angels, and escaped out of the realm of Herod (Acts 12:1–19). Peter went to Antioch, then through Asia Minor (visiting the churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1), and arrived in Rome in the second year of Emperor Claudius (AD 42; Eusebius, Eccl, Hist. 2.14.6). Somewhere on the way, Peter encountered Mark and took him as travel companion and interpreter. Mark the Evangelist wrote down the sermons of Peter, thus composing the Gospel according to Mark (Eccl. Hist. 15–16), before he left for Alexandria in the third year of Claudius (AD 43).[8]
According to the Acts 15:39, Mark went to Cyprus with Barnabas after the Council of Jerusalem.
According to tradition, in AD 49, about 19 years after the Ascension of Jesus, Mark travelled to Alexandria and founded the Church of Alexandria – today, the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and the Coptic Catholic Church trace their origins to this original community.[9] Aspects of the Coptic liturgy can be traced back to Mark himself.[10] He became the first bishop of Alexandria and he is honored as the founder of Christianity in Africa.[11]
According to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. 2.24.1), Mark was succeeded by Anianus as the bishop of Alexandria in the eighth year of Nero (62/63), probably, but not definitely, due to his coming death. Later Coptic tradition says that he was martyred in 68.[1][12][13][14][15]
Modern mainstream Bible scholars argue the Gospel of Mark was written by an anonymous author, rather than direct witnesses to the reported events.[16][17][18][19][20]
Biblical and traditional information
St Mark in the Nuremberg Chronicle
Evidence for Mark the Evangelist's authorship of the Gospel that bears his name originates with Papias.[21][22] Scholars of the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School are "almost certain" that Papias is referencing John Mark.[23] Modern mainstream Bible scholars discard Papias's information as unreliable.[24] Eusebius had a "low esteem of Papias' intellect".[25]
Identifying Mark the Evangelist with John Mark also led to identifying him as the man who carried water to the house where the Last Supper took place (Mark 14:13),[26] or as the young man who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51–52).[27]
The Coptic Church accords with identifying Mark the Evangelist with John Mark, as well as that he was one of the Seventy Disciples sent out by Christ (Luke 10:1), as Hippolytus confirmed.[28] Coptic tradition also holds that Mark the Evangelist hosted the disciples in his house after Jesus's death, that the resurrected Jesus Christ came to Mark's house (John 20), and that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples at Pentecost in the same house.[28] Furthermore, Mark is also believed to have been among the servants at the Marriage at Cana who poured out the water that Jesus turned to wine (John 2:1–11).[28]
According to the Coptic tradition, Mark was born in Cyrene, a city in the Pentapolis of North Africa (now Libya). This tradition adds that Mark returned to Pentapolis later in life, after being sent by Paul to Colossae (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24. Some, however, think these actually refer to Mark the Cousin of Barnabas), and serving with him in Rome (2 Tim 4:11); from Pentapolis he made his way to Alexandria.[29][30] When Mark returned to Alexandria, the pagans of the city resented his efforts to turn the Alexandrians away from the worship of their traditional gods.[citation needed] In AD 68, they placed a rope around his neck and dragged him through the streets until he was dead.[31]
Veneration
Festa del bocoło (rosebud festival) in St Mark's Square, Venice (Italy)
The Feast of St Mark is observed on April 25 by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. For those Churches still using the Julian Calendar, April 25 according to it aligns with May 8 on the Gregorian Calendar until the year 2099. The Coptic Orthodox Church observes the Feast of St Mark on Parmouti 30 according to the Coptic Calendar which always aligns with April 25 on the Julian Calendar or May 8 on the Gregorian Calendar.
Where John Mark is distinguished from Mark the Evangelist, John Mark is celebrated on September 27 (as in the Roman Martyrology) and Mark the Evangelist on April 25.
Mark is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival on 24 April.[32]
Relics of Saint Mark
A mosaic of St Marks body welcomed into Venice, at St Mark's Basilica, Venice.
Saint Mark, 1411–1413, by Donatello (Orsanmichele, Florence).
In 828, relics believed to be the body of Saint Mark were stolen from Alexandria (at the time controlled by the Abbasid Caliphate) by two Venetian merchants with the help of two Greek monks and taken to Venice.[33] A mosaic in St Mark's Basilica depicts sailors covering the relics with a layer of pork and cabbage leaves. Since Muslims are not permitted to eat pork, this was done to prevent the guards from inspecting the ship's cargo too closely.[34]
Donald Nicol explained this act as "motivated as much by politics as by piety", and "a calculated stab at the pretensions of the Patriarchate of Aquileia." Instead of being used to adorn the church of Grado, which claimed to possess the throne of Saint Mark, it was kept secretly by Doge Giustiniano Participazio in his modest palace. Possession of Saint Mark's remains was, in Nicol's words, "the symbol not of the Patriarchate of Grado, nor of the bishopric of Olivolo, but of the city of Venice." In his will, Doge Giustiniano asked his widow to build a basilica dedicated to Saint Mark, which was erected between the palace and the chapel of Saint Theodore Stratelates, who until then had been patron saint of Venice.[35]
In 1063, during the construction of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Saint Mark's relics could not be found. However, according to tradition, in 1094, the saint himself revealed the location of his remains by extending an arm from a pillar.[36] The newfound remains were placed in a sarcophagus in the basilica.[37]
Copts believe that the head of Saint Mark remains in a church named after him in Alexandria, and parts of his relics are in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo. The rest of his relics are in Venice.[1] Every year, on the 30th day of the month of Paopi, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the commemoration of the consecration of the church of Saint Mark, and the appearance of the head of the saint in the city of Alexandria. This takes place inside St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria.[38]
In June 1968, Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria sent an official delegation to Rome to receive a relic of Saint Mark from Pope Paul VI. The delegation consisted of ten metropolitans and bishops, seven of whom were Coptic and three Ethiopian, and three prominent Coptic lay leaders.
The relic was said to be a small piece of bone that had been given to the Roman pope by Giovanni Cardinal Urbani, Patriarch of Venice. Pope Paul, in an address to the delegation, said that the rest of the relics of the saint remained in Venice.
The delegation received the relic on June 22, 1968. The next day, the delegation celebrated a pontifical liturgy in the Church of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic in Rome. The metropolitans, bishops, and priests of the delegation all served in the liturgy. Members of the Roman papal delegation, Copts who lived in Rome, newspaper and news agency reporters, and many foreign dignitaries attended the liturgy.
In art
Mark the Evangelist is most often depicted writing or holding his gospel.[39] In Christian tradition, Mark the Evangelist is symbolized by a lion.[40]
Mark the Evangelist attributes are the lion in the desert; he can be depicted as a bishop on a throne decorated with lions; as a man helping Venetian sailors. He is often depicted holding a book with pax tibi Marce written on it or holding a palm and book. Other depictions of Mark show him as a man with a book or scroll, accompanied by a winged lion. The lion might also be associated with Jesus' Resurrection because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, thus a comparison with Christ in his tomb, and Christ as king.
Mark the Evangelist can be depicted as a man with a halter around his neck and as rescuing Christian slaves from Saracens.
Profile
Believed to be the young man who ran away when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52), and the "John whose other name was Mark" (Acts 12:25). Disciple of Saint Peter the Apostle who travelled with him to Rome, and was referred to as "my son Mark" by the first Pope. Travelled with his cousin Saint Barnabas, and with Saint Paul through Cyprus. Evangelized in Alexandria, Egypt, established the Church there, served as its first bishop, and founded the first famous Christian school. Author of the earliest canonical Gospel.
Died
• martyred 25 April 68 at Alexandria, Egypt
• relics at Venice, Italy
Patronage
• against impenitence
• against insect bites
• against scrofulous diseases
• against struma
• struma patients
• attorneys, lawyers, barristers
• captives
• imprisoned people
• glaziers
• lions
• notaries
• prisoners
• stained glass workers
• Egypt
• Ionian Islands
• Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro, Italy, diocese of
• Arica, Chile, diocese of
• Cortona, Italy, diocese of
• Infanta, Philippines, prelature of
• Venice, Florida, diocese of
• 45 cities
Saint Giovanni Battista Piamarta
Also known as
• Johnannes Baptist Piamarta
• John the Baptist Piamarta
Profile
Born to a poor family, Giovanni's mother died when the boy was nine years old, and the boy grew up in the slums, indifferently educated, but mentored part of the time by his religious maternal grandfather. As a young man he discovered a call to the priesthood, and he was ordained on 24 December 1865; assigned to the parish of Saint Alexander, Carzago Riviera, Bedizzole, Italy. Worked with poor youth and young factory workers in the Brescia region. On 3 December 1866, he and Father Pietro Capretti founded the Workman's Institute to provide support and help keep Christianity in the lives of young people moving to the city for work. With Father Giovanni Bonsignori he founded Agricultural Colony of Remedello to provide similar services to farm workers. Religious brothers and sisters were drawn to the work Father Giovanni was doing, and in March 1900 he founded the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth and the Congregation of the Sisters, Humble Servants of the Lord as formal religious congregations for them. His foundations and congregations continue today, furthering Father Giovanni's dedication to young people.
Born
26 November 1841 in Brescia, Italy
Died
• 25 April 1913 in Remedello, Brescia, Italy of natural causes
• interred in the Workman's Institute church in Remedello
Canonized
21 October 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI
Saint Franca Visalta
Also known as
• Franca of Piacenza
• Francesca da Vitalta
Profile
Placed in the Benedictine convent of Saint Syrus at Piacenza, Italy in 1177 at age seven, she joined the Order at age 14. Abbess while still young, but removed from the office due to the severe austerities she imposed, and she became isolated from most of her sisters.
However, one of the sisters, Carentia, agreed with her discipline. When Carentia entered the Cistercian noviate at Rapallo, Italy, Franca persuaded her parents to build a Cistercian house at Montelana, Italy which they both then entered. Franca became abbess of the community, which later moved to Pittoli, Italy. Franca always maintained the strict austerities she imposed on herself, even in the face of failing health, and spent most nights in chapel, praying for hours.
Born
1170 at Piacenza, Italy
Died
• 1218 of natural causes
• relics transferred to Piacenza, Italy
Canonized
• by Pope Gregory X (cultus confirmed)
• early 17th century by Pope Paul V
Blessed Robert Anderton
Additional Memorials
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Profile
Graduated from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1578, and continued his studies abroad. Converted to Catholicism, and entered the English College at Rheims, France in 1580. Ordained at Rheims with his friend and co-worker Blessed William Marsden. Sailed for England as a home missioner, but their ship was driven off course, and wrecked on the Isle of Wight. Arrested soon after, they were charged with being priests on English soil. They argued that they had been shipwrecked, and had no choice about being there; due to the appeal, they were sent to London for further interrogation. There they acknowledged Elizabeth as their lawful queen in temporal matters, but would not not in matters spiritual. Martyred.
Born
c.1560 at Lancashire, England
Died
hanged, drawn, and quartered on 25 April 1586 on the beach of the Isle of Wight, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed José Trinidad Rangel y Montaño
Profile
Parish priest in Silao, Mexico noted for his zeal as a pastor to his parishioners. During the Mexican Revolution, laws were enacted that required priests to register with the government; Jose did not register, and in 1927 went into hiding in León. In April 1927 Father Rangel went to secretly celebrate Holy Week with the Minims in San Francisco del Rincón where he administered the sacraments and visisted the sick in hospital. Discovered by authorities on 22 April 1927, Father Jose admitted to being a priest; he was arrested, interrogated, tortured, and shot. Martyr.
Born
4 June 1887 in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico
Died
shot on 25 April 1927 in Rancho de San Joaquín, Jalisco, Mexico
Beatified
• 20 November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated by Cardinal Saraiva Martins in Guadalajara, Mexico
Blessed Mario Borzaga
Profile
Joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate at age 20. Ordained at 25. Missionary to Laos in 1957, caring for the sick, ministering to people suffering from the persecutions of the communist guerilla group Pathet Lao; he wrote a diary of his experiences, later published as To Be a Happy Man. Martyr.
Born
27 August 1932 in Trent, Italy
Died
murdered on or about 25 April 1960 in Kiukatiam, Luang Prabang, Laos by Pathet Lao troops
Beatification
• 10 December 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at Vientiane, Laos on 11 December 2016
Readings
What a joy it is to be simmering saints, simmering apostles, simmering martyrs. – Father Mario
Every instant is a step toward sainthood or a step backwards. – Father Mario
Blessed William Marsden
Additional Memorial
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Profile
Convert to Catholicism; entered the English College at Rheims, France in 1580. Ordained at Rheims with his friend and co-worker Blessed Robert Anderton. Sailed for England as a home missioner, but their ship was driven off course, and wrecked on the Isle of Wight. Arrested soon after, they were charged with being priests on English soil. They argued that they had been shipwrecked, and had no choice about being there; due to the appeal, they were sent to London for further interrogation. There they acknowledged Elizabeth as their lawful queen in temporal matters, but would not not in matters spiritual. Martyred.
Born
c.1560 at Lancashire, England
Died
hanged, drawn, and quartered on 25 April 1586 on the beach of the Isle of Wight, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Rogation Day
Derivation
Latin: rogare, to ask
Also known as
• Gang Days
• Cross Week
Additional Dates
the three days before the Ascension
Article
A devotion observed to appease God's wrath, ask protection, and invoke a blessing on the harvest. The Litany of the Saints is chanted in the procession, and the Rogation Mass follows. The older procession of 25 April, called therefore Major Litany, Christianized a pagan procession in honour of the god Robigus. The institution of the others, adopted in Rome under Pope Leo III as Minor Litanies, is ascribed to Saint Mamertus of Vienne who, c.475, ordered processions with special prayers because of calamities which were afflicting the country. Rogation days were dropped from the Church's calendar in the reform of 1970, but since 1988 have been revived.
Saint Ermin of Lobbes
Also known as
Erminus, Ermino, Erminon, Erwin, Erminius, Ermenus, Erminio
Profile
Studied at the Cathedral School of Laon, France. Priest. Monk at the Benedictine abbey at Lobbes, Belgium. Spiritual student of Saint Ursmar. Bishop of Lobbes in 711. Second abbot of Lobbes in 718. Supported missionaries, known for wisdom and personal holiness, and the gift of prophecy.
Born
Herly, Laon region of France
Died
• 25 April 737 in Lobbes, Hainaut, Belgium of natural causes
• buried in the crypt at the church of Our Lady at Lobbes abbey
• relics transferred to Saint-Ursmer in 1409
Patronage
Lobbes, Belgium
Blessed Andrés Solá Molist
Profile
Born to a large and pious farm family. Entered the Claretians in 1914, making his perpetual vows in 1917. Ordained in 1922. Home missioner in Mexico. Martyred during the Mexican Revolution for being a priest who did not submit to government control.
Born
7 October 1895 in Taradell, Barcelona, Spain
Died
shot on 25 April 1927 in Rancho de San Joaquín, Jalisco, Mexico
Beatified
• 20 November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins in the soccer stadium at Guadalajara, Mexico
Blessed Antonio Pérez Lários
Profile
Layman. Martyred in the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Mexican Revolution.
Born
28 November 1883 in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico
Died
shot on 25 April 1927 in Rancho de San Joaquín, Jalisco, Mexico
Beatified
• 20 November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins in the soccer stadium at Guadalajara, Mexico
Blessed Paul Thoj Xyooj
Also known as
Thoj Xyooj Paj Lug
Profile
Young lay catechist in the apostolic vicariate of Luang Prabang, Laos. Martyr.
Born
1941 in Kiukatiam, Luang Prabang, Laos
Died
murdered on or about 25 April 1960 in Kiukatiam, Luang Prabang, Laos by Pathet Lao troops
Beatification
• 10 December 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at Vientiane, Laos on 11 December 2016
Saint Phaebadius of Agen
Also known as
Faebadius, Febadio, Foebadius, Febadius, Fiari, Phébade, Phébadius, Phoebadius
Profile
Priest. Fourth-century bishop of Agen, France. Presided over several Councils including Rimini in 359, Valence in 374, and Zaragoza in 380. Friend of Saint Hilary of Poitiers with whom he waged a successful fight against Arianism in Gaul; his only surviving writing is Contra Arianos (Against Arianism).
Died
c.392 in Agen, Aquitaine (in modern France) of natural causes
Saint Anianus of Alexandria
Also known as
Anian, Annianus
Profile
Shoemaker. Converted by Saint Mark the Evangelist, worked with him to evangelize Alexandria, Egypt, and succeeded him as bishop there.
Died
c.86
Patronage
cobblers
Saint Agathopodes of Antioch
Profile
Deacon from Antioch, Syria. Travelled with Saint Ignatius to Rome, Italy, and after his martyrdom brought his relics back to Antioch and wrote about him.
Died
c.150
Saint Stefano of Antioch
Also known as
Stephen
Profile
Bishop. Abused by heretic protesters at the Council of Chalcedon. Martyr.
Died
drowned in the Orontes River, Antioch, Syria
Saint Philo of Antioch
Profile
Deacon from Antioch, Syria. Travelled with Saint Ignatius to Rome, Italy, and after his martyrdom brought his relics back to Antioch and wrote about him.
Died
c.150
Saint Heribaldus of Auxerre
Also known as
Héribald
Profile
Benedictine monk. Abbot at Saint Germanus, Auxerre, France. Bishop of Auxerre.
Died
c.857
Saint Macaille
Profile
Spiritual student of Saint Mel of Ardagh. Bishop of Croghan, Offaly, Ireland. Helped preside at the ceremony where Saint Brigid of Ireland took her vows.
Died
c.489
Saint Macedonius
Profile
Patriarch of Constantinople. Exiled by Arians for defending the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon.
Died
516 of natural causes
Saint Clarentius of Vienne
Also known as
Clarence, Clarenzio
Profile
Bishop of Vienne, France.
Died
c.620
Saint Callista of Syracuse
Also known as
Callistus
Profile
Martyr.
Died
at Syracuse, Sicily
Saint Kebius
Also known as
Keby
Profile
Fourth century travelling bishop. Ordained by Saint Hilary of Poitiers. Evangelized Cornwall.
Saint Robert of Syracuse
Profile
Abbot of a monastery in Syracuse, Sicily.
Died
c.1000
Saint Hermogenes of Syracuse
Profile
Martyr.
Died
at Syracuse, Sicily
Saint Pasicrate of Mesia
Profile
Martyr.
Died
beheaded in Mesia, Spain
Saint Evodius of Syracuse
Profile
Martyr.
Died
at Syracuse, Sicily
Saint Valenzio of Mesia
Profile
Martyr.
Died
beheaded in Mesia, Spain
Martyrs of Yeoju
Additional Memorial
20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea
Profile
Three Christian laymen martyred together in the apostolic vicariate of Korea.
• Ioannes Won Gyeong-do
• Marcellinus Choe Chang-ju
• Martinus Yi Jung-bae
Died
25 April 1801 in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Beatified
15 August 2014 by Pope Francis
St. Mella
Feastday: April 25
Death: 780
Widow and abbess. She was the mother of St. Cannech and Tigernach, and lived in Connaught, Ireland. She became the abbess of DoireMelle, Leitrim
St. Phaebadius
Feastday: April 25
Death: 392
Also called Fiari, bishop of Agen in Southern Gaul. He was a very well known bishop and was termed by St. Jerome one of "the illustrious men" of the Church. With his friend St. Hilary of Poitiers, he worked to extirpate the heresy of Arianism in the West.
