St. Emily de Vialar
Feastday: June 17
St. Emily de Vialar, Virgin, Foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph "of the Apparition"
Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emily de Vialar was the eldest child and only daughter of Baron James Augustine de Vialar and his wife Antoinette, daughter of that Baron de Portal who was physician-in-ordinary to Louis XVIII and Charles X of France. She was born at Gaillac in Languedoc in 1797. At the age of fifteen she was removed from school in Paris to be companion to her father, now a widower, at Gaillac; but unhappily, differences arose between them because of Emily's refusal to consider a suitable marriage.
For fifteen years, Emily was the good angel of Gaillac, devoting herself to the care of children neglected by their parents and to the help of the poor generally. In 1832, her maternal grandfather died, leaving her a share of his estate which was a quite considerable fortune. She bought a large house at Gaillac and took possession of it with three companions. Others joined them and three months later, the archbishop authorized the Abbe to clothe twelve postulants with the religious habit. They called themselves the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. Their work was to be the care of the needy, especially the sick, and the education of children. In 1835, she made her profession with seventeen other sisters, and received formal approval for the rule of the Congregation.
The foundress, in the course of twenty-two years, saw her Congregation grow from one to some forty houses, many of which she had founded in person. The physical energy and achievements of St. Emily de Vialar are the more remarkable in that from her youth she was troubled by hernia, contracted characteristically in doing a deed of charity. From 1850 this became more and more serious, and it hastened her end, which came on August 24, 1856. The burden of her last testament to her daughters was "Love one another". Her canonization took place in 1951; her feast is June 17th.
Emily de Vialar
Her Reliquary in Gaillac.
Emily de Vialar or Émilie de Vialar (1797–1856) was a French nun who founded the missionary congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. She is revered as a saint by the Catholic Church.
தூய எமிலி தே வியலர் (ஜூன் 17)
“ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் நான் ஆயிரமாயிரம் பிரச்சனைகளைச் சந்திக்கின்றேன். அப்படியிருந்தாலும் இறைவனுடைய அருட்கரம் என்னோடு இருப்பதால், நான் எதற்கும் அசையாமல் இருக்கின்றேன்” – எமிலி தே வியலர்.
வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு
இன்று நாம் நினைவுகூரும் எமிலி தே வியலர் 1779 ஆம் ஆண்டு, செப்டம்பர் திங்கள் 12 ஆம் நாள், தெற்கு பிரான்சில் உள்ள கெயிலாக் என்ற இடத்தில் பிறந்தார்.
எமிலியின் தாயார் பக்தியுள்ள பெண்மணி. எனவே இவர் தன்னுடைய ஒரே மகளான எமிலிக்கு பக்தி நெறியை ஊட்டி வளர்த்து வந்தார். தாயாரின் வளர்ப்பில் எமிலி நாளொரு மேனியும் பொழுதொரு வண்ணமுமாய் வளர்ந்து வந்தார். இப்படி வாழ்க்கையில் எல்லாமே நன்றாகப் போய்க்கொண்டிருந்த தருணத்தில், எமிலியின் தாயார் திடிரென இறந்துபோனார். அப்போது எமிலிக்கு வயது வெறும் 15 தான். தாயின் இழப்பை அவரால் தாங்கிக்கொள்ளவே முடியவில்லை.
இந்தச் சூழ்நிலையில் எமிலியின் தந்தை, அவருக்கு மணமுடித்துக் கொடுத்தால், தாயின் இழப்பை மறந்துவிட்டு அவர் சந்தோசமாக இருப்பார் என்று நினைத்துக்கொண்டு ஆடவன் ஒருவனை எமிலிக்கு மணமுடித்துக் கொடுக்க திட்டம் தீட்டினார். இதைக் கேள்விப்பட்ட எமிலி அதிர்ந்து போனார். ஏனென்றால் அவர் ஏற்கனவே தன்னை இறைவனுக்காக அர்ப்பணித்திருந்தார். தந்தை இவ்வாறு திட்டம் தீட்டுவதை அறிந்த எமிலி அவரிடத்தில் சென்று, “நான் ஏற்கனவே என்னை இறைவனுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்துவிட்டேன். அதனால் நான் யாரையும் மணமுடிக்கப் போவதில்லை” என்று மிக உறுதியாகச் சொன்னார். இதனால் எமிலியின் தந்தை மிகுந்த ஏமாற்றத்திற்கும் வருத்தத்திற்கும் உள்ளானார். தன் மகள் இப்படியோர் முடிவை எடுத்துவிட்டாளே என்று ஏமாற்றத்திற்கு உள்ளன எமிலியின் தந்தை அதனாலேயே நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டு படுத்தபடுக்கையானார்.
எமிலியின் கனவு, இலட்சியம் எல்லாம் பிரஞ்சுப் புரட்சியால் நிர்மூலமாகிப் போன கிறிஸ்தவக் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களுக்கு உயிர்கொடுப்பதும் ஏழை எளிய மக்களுக்கு சேவை செய்வதுதான். அதற்காகத்தான் அவர் எந்தவொரு ஆணையும் மணந்துகொள்ளாமல், நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டு கிடந்த தன் தந்தையைக் கவனித்துக்கொண்டு கன்னியாகவே இருந்தார். தந்தை நோய்முற்றி இறந்ததும் இறைப்பணிக்காக தன்னை முற்றிலும் அர்ப்பணிக்கத் தொடங்கினார்.
முதலில் தாய்வழி தாத்தாவின் சொத்துவழியாக ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட தொகை அவருக்குக் கிடைத்தது. அதைக்கொண்டு அவர் நகரில் ஒரு பெரிய கட்டடத்தைக் கட்டி, கல்விப்பணியையும், சமூகப் பணியையும் ஆன்மீகப் பணியையும் செய்யத் தொடங்கினார். இவர் ஆற்றிவந்த பணிகளைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு, முதலில் மூன்று பெண்களும், அவர்களைத் தொடர்ந்து எட்டுப் பெண்களும் அவரோடு சேர்ந்துகொண்டு பணி செய்யத் தொடங்கினார்கள்.
எமிலி செய்துவந்த சேவைகள் அனைத்தும் மக்களுடைய கவனத்தை ஈர்த்தன. அதனால் மக்கள் மத்தியில் அவருக்கும் அவர் ஏற்படுத்திய ‘The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition’ நல்ல மதிப்பு உண்டானது. கார்டினல் மெர்சியர் என்பவர் எமிலிக்கு ஓர் ஆன்மீக குருவாக இருந்து, எல்லாவிதத்திலும் உறுதுணை புரிந்துவந்தார்.
இப்படி பல்வேறு பணிகளைச் செய்துவந்த எமிலி திடிரென நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டு 1856 ஆம் ஆண்டு, ஆகஸ்டு திங்கள் 24 ஆம் நாள் இறையடி சேர்ந்தார். இவருக்கு 1951 ஆம் ஆண்டு புனிதர் கொடுக்கப்பட்டது.
St. Botulph
Feastday: June 17
Patron: of the patron saint of travellers and farming
Death: 680
Sts. Botulph and Adulph were two noble English brothers, who opened their eyes to the light of faith in the first dawning of the day of the gospel upon our ancestors. Astonished at the great truths which they had learned, and penetrated with the most profound sentiments which religion inspires, they traveled into the Belgic Gaul, there to find some religious houses and schools of virtue, which were then scarce in England. Such was the progress of these holy men that they soon were judged fit to be themselves masters. Nor was it long before Adulph was advanced to the bishopric of Maestricht, which he administered in so holy a manner, that he is honored in France among the saints on the 17th of June. St. Botulph returned to England to bring to his own country the treasure he had found. Addressing himself to king Ethelmund, he begged some barren spot of ground to found a monastery. The king gave him the wilderness of Ikanho where he built an abbey, and taught the brethren whom he assembled there the rules of Christian perfection, and the institutes of the holy fathers. He was beloved by everyone, being humble, mild, and affable. All his discourse was on things which tended to edification, and his example was still far more efficacious to instill the true spirit of every virtue. When he was oppressed with any sickness he never ceased thanking and praising God with holy Job. Thus he persevered to a good old age. He was purified by a long illness before his happy death, which happened in the same year with that of St. Hilda, 655. His monastery having been destroyed by the Danes, his relics were part carried to the monastery of Ely, and part to that of Thorney. St. Edward the Confessor afterwards bestowed some portion of them on his own abbey of Westminster. Few English saints have been more honored by our ancestors. Four parishes in London, and innumerable others throughout the country, bear his name. Botulph's town, now Boston, in Lincolnshire and Botulph's bridge, now Bottle-bride, in Huntingdonshire, are so called from him. Leland and Bale will have his monastery of Ikanho to have been in one of those two places; Hickes says at Boston; others think it was towards Sussex; for Ethelmund seems to have been king of the South -Saxons. Thorney abbey was situated in Cambridgeshire, and was one of those whose abbots sat in parliament. It was founded in 972, in honor of St. Mary and St. Botulph. In its church lay interred St. Botulph, St. Athulf, St. Huna, St. Tancred, St. Tothred, St. Hereferth, St. Cissa, St. Bennet, St. Tova, or Towa, to whose memory a fair chapel called Thoueham, half a mile off in the wood, was consecrated. Thorney was anciently called Ancarig, that is, the Isle of Anchorets. Part of the relics of St. Botulph was kept at Medesham, afterwards called Peterburgh. See Dr. Brown Willis, on mitered Abbeys, t. 1, p. 187, and the life of St. Botulph publisher! by Mabillon, Act. Ben. t. 3, p. 1, and by Papebroke, t. 3, Junij, p. 398. The anonymous author of this piece declares he had received some things which he relates from the disciples of the saint who had lived under his direction. There is also in the Cottonian library, n. l l l, a MS. life of Saint Botulph compiled by Folcard, first a monk of St. Bertin's at St. Omer, afterwards made by the conqueror abbot of Thorney in 1068. See also Narratio de Sanctis qui in Anglia quiescunt, translated from the English-Saxon into Latin by Francis Junius, and published by Dr. Hickes, Diss. Epist. pp. 118, l l 9. Thesauri
Little is known about Botwulf's life, other than doubtful details in an account written four hundred years after his death by the 11th-century monk Folcard. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records for the year 653:1 "The Middle Angles, under earldorman Peada, received the true faith. King Anna was killed and Botwulf began to build the church at Ikanho". Botwulf founded the monastery of Icanho in Suffolk. Icanho, which means 'ox hill', has been identified as Iken, located by the estuary of the River Alde in Suffolk; a church still remains on top of an isolated hill in the parish.2 The Life of St Ceolfrith, written around the time of Bede by an unknown author, mentions an abbot named Botolphus in East Anglia, "a man of remarkable life and learning, full of the grace of the Holy Spirit".3
Botwulf is supposed to have been buried originally at his foundation of Icanho, but in 970 Edgar I of England gave permission for Botwulf's remains to be transferred to Burgh, near Woodbridge, where they remained for some fifty years before being transferred to their own tomb at Bury St Edmunds Abbey on the instructions of Cnut. The saint's relics were later transferred again, along with those of his brother Adulph, to Thorney Abbey, although his head was transferred to Ely Abbey and various body parts to other houses, including Westminster Abbey.
புனிதர் போட்வுல்ஃப்
மடாதிபதி:
பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 7ம் நூற்றாண்டு
இறப்பு: கி.பி. 680
ஏற்கும் சமயம்:
ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை
ஆங்கிலிக்கன் சமூகம்
மரபுவழி திருச்சபை
லூதரன் திருச்சபை (குறிப்பாக, டென்மார்க் மற்றும் ஸ்வீடன் ஆகிய நாடுகளில்)
நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஜூன் 17
பாதுகாவல்: பயணிகள் மற்றும் விவசாயம்
புனிதர் போட்வுல்ஃப், ஒரு ஆங்கிலேய மடாதிபதியும் கிறிஸ்தவ புனிதரும் ஆவார். இவர் பயணிகள் மற்றும் விவசாயிகளின் பாதுகாவலருமாவார்.
சந்தேகமான விவரங்களைத் தவிர்த்து, புனிதர் போட்வுல்ஃப் அவர்களின் வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு பற்றின விவரங்கள் சிறிதளவே இருந்தன. அவர் மரணமடைந்து நானூறு வருடங்களின் பின்னர் “ஃபோல்கார்ட்” என்ற துறவி எழுதிய சரித்திர விவரங்களே இருந்தன.
கி. பி. ஐந்தாம் நூற்றாண்டில் ஜெர்மனியிலிருந்து இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டுக்கு புலம்பெயர்ந்து சென்ற மக்கள் “ஏங்கில்ஸ்” என்றழைக்கப்பட்டனர். இவர்கள் “மெர்சியா”, “நார்த்ஊம்ப்ரியா” மற்றும் “கிழக்கு ஏங்க்ளியா” ஆகிய அரசுகளை நிறுவி அதற்கு இங்கிலாந்து மற்றும் ஆங்கிலேய பெயர்களை அளித்தனர்.
காலக்கிரமமாகத் தொகுக்கப்பட்ட 653ம் வருடத்தின் ஆங்கிலோ-சாக்சன் நிகழ்ச்சிக் குறிப்புகள் மேற்சொன்ன மத்திய “ஏங்கில்ஸ்” “எர்ல்டோர்மன் பீடா” என்பவரின் வழிகாட்டுதலில் உண்மையான விசுவாசத்தைப் பெற்றதாக குறிப்புகள் உள்ளன.
அரசன் “அன்னா” கொல்லப்பட்டான். போட்வுல்ஃப் “இகான்ஹோவில்” தேவாலயமொன்றினை கட்டியெழுப்ப தொடங்கினார். “ஸஃப்போல்க்” என்னுமிடத்தில் துறவு மடமொன்றை நிறுவினார்.
“இகான்ஹோவில்” அவர் கட்டிய ஆலயத்தின் அஸ்திவாரத்தினருகே அவர் நல்லடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார். பல ஆங்கிலேய தேவாலயங்கள் அவர் பெயரில் அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்டன. பண்டைய “புனிதர்களின் ஆக்ஸ்ஃபோர்ட் அதிகாரத்தில்” அவர் பெயரில் அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்ட பழமையான ஆலயங்களின் எண்ணிக்கை 64 என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருந்தது. ஆனால், பிந்தைய ஆய்வுகள், அவர் பெயரில் அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்ட ஆலயங்களின் எண்ணிக்கை 71 என்றது.
St. Rainbold
Feastday: June 17
Death: 1001
Benedictine abbot also called Rainnold. He was a monk of St Maximinus at Trier, Germany, and became abbot of St. Emmeram. St. Wolfgang appointed him to the post. He was reputedly extremely long lived, reportedly dying at the age of one hundred.
புனித ராம்வோல்டு (St.Ramwold)
துறவி
பிறப்பு
901
செயிண்ட் எம்மரெம்(St.Emmeram), ட்ரியர்(Trier), ஜெர்மனி
இறப்பு
17 ஜூன் 1000
செயிண்ட் எம்மரெம், ட்ரியர்
இவர் செயிண்ட் எம்மரெம் என்ற தான் பிறந்த ஊரிலிலேயே தன்னை இறைவனுக்கு அர்ப்பணமாக்கிய முதல் துறவி என்ற பெயர் பெற்றார். துறவியான 25 ஆண்டுகளில் தன் இரத்தத்தை ஈந்து, பல துறவிகளை உருவாக்கினார். துறவிகளுக்கென்று செயிண்ட் எம்மரெமில் ஓர் இல்லத்தையும் தொடங்கினார். பின்னர் பல துறவறமடங்களையும், பல ஆன்மீக வழிகாட்டும் இல்லங்களையும் தொடங்கினார். பின்னர் 739 ஆம் ஆண்டு ரேகன்ஸ்பூர்க்கில்(Regensburg) ஆயராக இருந்த வோல்ப்காங்க்(Wolfgang) அவர்களால் ராம்வோல்டு அவர்கள் தொடங்கிய துறவற இல்லம் "புனித பெனடிக்ட் துறவற சபை" என்ற பெயர் வழங்கப்பட்டது. அதன்பிறகு 975ல் ரேகன்ஸ்பூர்க்கிலும் புனித ராம்வோல்டு புனித பெனடிக்ட் சபையை தொடங்கினார்.
பல ஆண்டுகள் ராம்வோல்டு ரேகன்ஸ்பூர்க்கிலிருந்த துறவற இல்லத்தில் தன் இறுதி நாட்களை கழித்து காலமானார். இவரின் கல்லறை அத்துறவற இல்லத்திலேயே அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டது. சில வருடங்கள் கழித்து அவரின் கல்லறைமேல் ரிங் வடிவத்தில் ஒரு கெபி கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவருக்கென்று செயிண்ட் எம்மரெமில் ஓர் பேராலயமும் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. செயிண்ட் எம்மரெம்மில் இவரின் வழியாகத்தான் துறவிகளும், துறவற சபைகளும் தோன்றியது.
Saint Albert Chmielowski
Also known as
• Adam Chmielowski
• Adam Hilary Bernard Chmielowski
• Brat Albert
• Brother Albert
• Brother of Our Lord
• Brother of Our God
• Our God's Brother
Profile
Born to a wealthy aristocratic family, he initially studied agriculture in order to manage the family estate. Involved in politics from his youth, he lost a leg at age 17 when injured while fighting in an insurrection. In Krakow, he became a popular, well-known and well-liked artist. His interest in politics and art made him keenly aware of the human misery around him. A gentle and compassionate soul, he felt called to help those in need. After years of reflection, he understood that this desire was how God was calling him to service and Himself.
Franciscan tertiary, taking the name Albert. He abandoned painting, and began a life of working with and for the poorest of Krakow. In 1887 he founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants of the Poor, known as the Albertines (named for him) or the Gray Brothers (after their rough gray habits). In 1891 he founded the women's congregation of the Order (Gray Sisters). The Albertines organized food and shelter for the poor and homeless.
Albert preached that the great calamity of our time was that so many refused to see and voluntarily relieve the suffering of their miserable brothers and sisters. The "haves" lived away from the "have-nots" in order to ignore them and leave their care to others.
In 1949, Pope John Paul II wrote a well-received play about Albert; the work was filmed in 1997, released as Brother of Our God. Albert was the spiritual teacher of Blessed Maria Bernardina Jablonska.
Born
20 August 1845 at Igoalomia (Aigolonija), Poland as Adam Hilary Bernard Chmielowski
Died
25 December 1916 at Krakow, Poland, of natural causes
Canonized
12 November 1989 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Square, Rome
Blessed Ranieri Scacceri
Also known as
• Ranieri of Pisa
• Ranieri de Aqua
• Rainer, Rainerius, Rainier, Raniero, Raynerius, Regnier
Profile
Son of a wealthy merchant, he spent a wild and sinful youth as a wandering minstrel and musician, partying all night, sleeping by day if at all. One evening, while performing for a merry crowd in a castle, he met a holy man whose name has not come down to us. Ranieri felt drawn to the man, talked with him, and asked that the man pray for him. Whatever the man told him, Ranieri had a conversion experience, burned his fiddle, and gave up the life of a minstrel.
Falling back on what he learned from his father, Ranier became a merchant, trading with sailors and travelling from port to port. He was very successful, and while he lived a better life, it was still a worldly life. He built up quite a fortune, but one day found that his money gave off an evil stench. Ranieri took it as a sign, gave away his forture, and became a poor and penitential monk.
He made several penitential pilgrimages to Jerusalem and assorted holy shrines. Conventual oblate in the Benedictine abbey of Saint Andrew in Pisa, Italy in 1153. Oblate at the abbey of San Vito (Saint Guy) in Pisa. There he became known as a serious Bible student and sometime preacher, bringing to the pulpit his experience of working in front of an audience. An excellent speaker, he was a popular and romantic figure as the troubadour who traded his music for God, and was known for healing the sick with holy water.
Born
1117 in Pisa, Italy
Died
• 1161 at the abbey of Saint Vito, Pisa, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the Pisa Cathedral
Beatified
by Pope Alexander III (cultus confirmation)
Patronage
Pisa, Italy
Blessed Pierre-Joseph Cassant
Also known as
Marie-Joseph Cassant
Profile
A pious youth, Pierre-Joseph early felt a call to the priesthood, but after months of tutoring by his parish priest, it was obvious that Pierre-Joseph would not be able to master diocesan seminary studies. Instead, on 5 December 1894 he was sent to the Abbey of Sainte-Marie-du-Désert where the studies were simpler since there were no pastoral responsibilities, but where it was still an academic struggle. Benedictine Cisterian Trappist monk, taking the name Marie-Joseph. Member of the Association of Victim Souls. Ordained on 12 October 1902 after eight years of study; he lived nine months as a priest. Having developed tuberculosis, his health was already failing by the time of his ordination. He was sent home to his family for seven weeks to rest, but continued to decline and asked to return to the abbey where he spent his remaining time working in the infirmary.
Born
6 March 1878 in Casseneuil, Lot-et-Garonne, France as Pierre-Joseph Cassant
Died
17 June 1903 in Abbey of Sainte-Marie-du-Désert, Lévignac, Haute Garonne, France of tuberculosis
Beatified
3 October 2004 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized
over 2200 people from 30 countries claim to have received blessings thorugh Blessed Jean's intercession
Saint Herve
Also known as
Erveo, Harvey, Herveus, Hervues, Hervé, Houarniaule, Huva
Profile
Son of the bard Hyvarnion, Herve was born blind. His father died when Herve was an infant, his mother, Rivanone, became an anchoress, and the boy was entrusted to the care of his uncles and a renowned holy man with whom he stayed until his teenage years. He lived for a while as a hermit and bard, then joined a monastic school at Plouvien, France which had been founded by his uncle. Abbot at Plouvien. He migrated with part of his community to found a new house in Lanhouarneau. Singer. Minstrel. Teacher. Miracle worker. One of the most popular saints in Brittany, he figures in the area's folklore. Reported to have a special ministry of healing animals, and to have a domesticated wolf as a companion. Legend says that the wolf killed and ate the ox that Herve used to plow his fields; Herve then preached such a moving sermon the wolf repented his ways, moved to Herve's hermitage, and ploughed Herve's fields in place of the ox.
Born
Guimiliau, Brittany, France or unknown location in Wales (sources vary)
Died
• c.556 to c.575 (sources vary) of natural causes
• interred at Lanhouarneau, Brittany, France
Patronage
• against eye disease or eye problems
• blind people
Blessed Paul Burali d'Arezzo
Also known as
• Paolo Burali d'Arezzo
• Scipione
Profile
Graduated from the University of Salerno in 1525, and then from the University of Bologna in 1536; the future Pope Gregory XIII was one of his teachers. Layman civil and canon lawyer in Naples, Italy for twelve years. Royal counsellor to Emperor Charles V in 1549. Auditor general of the army under Ferdinand of Toledo. Joined the Theatines on 25 January 1557, taking the name Paolo. Spiritual student of Blessed Giovanni Marinoni. Ordained on 26 March 1558. Papal ambassador to the court of Spain for Pope Pius IV in 1564. Superior of the Theatine house of Naples. Superior of the Theatine house of Rome, Italy. Worked with Saint Andrew Avellino. Bishop of Piacenza, Italy on 23 July 1568. Created cardinal on 15 May 1570 by Pope Saint Pius V. Archbishop of Naples, Italy on 19 September 1576. Implemented the decrees of the Council of Trent. Published a catechism for priests in 1577.
Born
1511 in Itri, diocese of Gaeta, Italy as Scipione
Died
• 17 June 1578 at Torre del Greco, on the side of Mount Vesuvius, kingdom of Naples, Italy of natural causes
• interred in the crypt in the basilica of Saint Paul Maggiore, Naples
Beatified
8 June 1772 by Pope Clement XIV
Saint Theresa of Portugal
Also known as
Tarasia, Teresa
Profile
Born a princess, the oldest daughter of King Sancho I. Married to King Alfonso IX of Leon, Spain; northern Portugal formed part of her dowry. Mother of three children. Several years into the marriage it was dissolved by the Vatican upon the revelation that Theresa and Alfonso were cousins. Single again, Theresa returned to Portugal where she converted the Benedictine monastery at Lorvão into a convent for 300 Cistercian nuns. Theresa then moved into the convent, though she did not take vows. In 1231 she left to settle a bitter succession dispute between her children over the throne of Leon. With peace between them, she returned to the convent, took vows, and remained there as a nun for the rest of her life.
Born
4 October 1178 in Coimbra, Portugal
Died
18 June 1250 at Lorvão Abbey, Portugal of natural causes
Canonized
20 May 1705 by Pope Clement XI (cultus confirmed)
Blessed Peter Gambacorta
Also known as
Peter of Pisa
Profile
Son of a government official and brother of Blessed Clara Gambacorta. At age 25, after a mis-spent youth and life at court, he left the world to become a beggar and hermit on Montebello in Umbria, Italy. Converted a band of thieves and bandits not just to Christianity but to religious life; he founded the Hermits of Saint Jerome with them. They were an ascetic group, observing fasts several days a week and a Lent each season of they year; the group soon built a church with hermit cells around it where they were all known for their piety and Peter as a miracle worker.
Born
15 February 1355 in Pisa, Italy
Died
17 June 1435 in Venice, Italy of natural causes
Beatified
9 December 1693 by Pope Innocent XII
Saint Hypatius of Chalcedon
Also known as
• Hypatius of Bithynia
• Hypatius of The Oak
• the Scholar of Christ
Profile
Monk. Following a vision, he became a hermit at age 19 in Thrace, then Constantinople, and then Chalcedon, Bithynia with a friend and fellow hermit named Jason. Abbot at Chalcedon. Fierce opponent of Nestorianism. Sheltered Saint Alexander Akimetes and others at his hermitage near Chalcedon when their lives were threatened by Nestorian heretics. Hypatius is credited with halting a revival of the Olympic games because of their pagan origins. Prophet and miracle worker.
Born
at Phrygia
Died
c.450 of natural causes
Blessed Philippe Papon
Profile
Priest of the diocese of Moulins, France. Imprisoned on a ship in the harbor of Rochefort, France and left to die during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the French Revolution. One of the Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort.
Born
5 October 1744 in Saint-Pourçain, Allier, France
Died
17 June 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France of general abuse a few moments after hearing the confession of another dying prisoner
Beatified
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
Martyrs of Chalcedon
Profile
Three well-educated Christian men who were sent as ambassadors from King Baltan of Persia to the court of emperor Julian the Apostate to negotiate peace between the two states, and an end of Julian’s persecutions of Christians. Instead of negotiating, Julian imprisoned them, ordered them to make a sacrifice to pagan idols, and when they refused, had them executed. Martyrs. Their names were Manuel, Sabel and Ismael.
Born
Persian
Died
• beheaded in 362 in Chalcedon (part of modern Istanbul, Turkey)
• bodies burned and no relics survive
Saint Phêrô Ða
Also known as
• Peter Da
• Peter Dja
Profile
Married layman in the apostolic vicariate of Central Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Carpenter by trade, he served as sacristan at his parish. Imprisoned, tortured and executed in the persecutions of emperor Tu Duc. Martyr.
Born
c.1802 in Ngoc Cuc, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam
Died
burned at the stake on 17 June 1862 in Nam Ðinh, Vietnam
Canonized
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
Maria in the Forest
Also known as
• Holy Mary in the Forest
• Maria im Walde
Location
wooded area near Dolina, Grafenstein, Carinthia, Austria
Dates
17, 18 and 19 June 1849
Profile
An apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three young shepherdesses in which Mary appeared as the Immaculate Conception.
Saint Avitus of Perche
Also known as
Avit, Avy
Profile
Monk at the Menat monastery in Auvergne, France. Abbot of the Micy monastery near Orleans, France. Hermit in area of Perche, France. His reputation for holiness led to would-be spiritual students to gather around his shack. Eventually there were so many that they were led to build a new monastery where Avitus served as abbot.
Died
c.530
Saint Himerius of Amelia
Profile
Monk at Amelia, Umbria, Italy. Bishop of Ameila.
Born
at Calabria, southern Italy
Died
• c.560 of natural causes
• relics translated to Cremona, Italy in 995
Patronage
Cremona, Italy
Saint Antidius of Besançon
Also known as
Antel, Antible, Antidio, Tude
Profile
Spiritual student of Saint Froninus of Besançon. Bishop of Besançon, France. Martyred by Arian Vandals.
Died
c.265 in Ruffey, France
Saint Adolph of Utrecht
Also known as
• Adolph of Maastricht
• Adulf, Adulphus
Profile
Brother of Saint Botulph of Ikanhoe. Seventh-century monk. Missionary bishop to Saxony. Miracle worker.
Born
early 7th century England
Saint Molling of Wexford
Also known as
Dairchilla, Molignus, Moling, Mullins, Myllin
Profile
Monk at Glendalough. Abbot of Aghacainid. Bishop of Ferns, Ireland.
Born
Wexford, Ireland
Died
697 of natural causes
Saint David of Bourges
Profile
Archbishop of Bourges, France in 785 where he served the remaining 30 years of his life.
Died
• 815 of natural causes
• interred in the church of the Saint-Laurent abbey in Bourges, France
Saint Diogenes of Rome
Profile
Martyr.
Died
• on the Via Salaria Vecchia, Rome, Italy
• buried in the Saint John the Martyr, Via Salaria, Rome
• relics moved to the Basilica of Santa Praxedes by Pope Paschal I
Saint Blasto of Rome
Profile
Martyr.
Died
• on the Via Salaria Vecchia, Rome, Italy
• buried in the Saint John the Martyr, Via Salaria, Rome
• relics moved to the Basilica of Santa Praxedes by Pope Paschal I
Saint Dignamerita of Brescia
Profile
Lay woman martyred with her two sons, whose names have not come down to us, in the persecutions of emperor Hadrian.
Died
beheaded the early 1st century in Brescia, Italy
Blessed Arnaldo of Foligno
Also known as
Arnold
Profile
Franciscan friar. Confessor, spiritual director and biographer of Blessed Angela of Foligno.
Died
1313
Saint Montanus of Gaeta
Profile
Soldier. Martyr.
Died
• drowned in the sea with a stone tied around his neck c.300 on Ponza, Italy
• relics translated to Gaeta, Italy
Saint Briavel of Gloucestershire
Also known as
Brevile
Profile
Sixth century hermit in Gloucestershire, England, and area now known as Saint Briavels.
Saint Nectan of Hartland
Also known as
Nighton
Profile
Sixth-century hermit in Hartland, Devon, England.
Born
Wales
Patronage
Hartland, England
Saint Prior
Profile
Early spiritual student of Saint Anthony the Abbot. Monk. Hermit. Lived to nearly 100 years of age.
Born
late 3rd century Egypt
Died
late 4th century of natural causes
Saint Gundulphus
Also known as
Gundulfus, Gondulf, Gondon, Gondulphus
Profile
Sixth century bishop in Gaul.
Died
at Bourges, France of natural causes
Saint Agrippinus of Como
Profile
Bishop of Como, Italy.
Died
615 of natural causes
Martyrs of Apollonia
Profile
A group of Christians who fled to a cave near Apollonia, Macedonia to escape persecution for his faith, but were caught and executed. Martyrs. The names we know are - Basil, Ermia, Felix, Innocent, Isaurus, Jeremias and Peregrinus.
Died
beheaded at Apollonia, Macedonia
Martyrs of Aquileia
Profile
Four Christian martyrs memorialized together. No details about them have survived, not even if they died together - Ciria, Maria, Musca and Valerian.
Died
c.100 in Aquileia, Italy
Martyrs of Chalcedon
Profile
Three well-educated Christian men who were sent as ambassadors from King Baltan of Persia to the court of emperor Julian the Apostate to negotiate peace between the two states, and an end of Julian's persecutions of Christians. Instead of negotiating, Julian imprisoned them, ordered them to make a sacrifice to pagan idols, and when they refused, had them executed. Martyrs. Their names were Manuel, Sabel and Ismael.
Born
Persian
Died
• beheaded in 362 in Chalcedon (part of modern Istanbul, Turkey)
• bodies burned and no relics survive
Martyrs of Fez
Profile
A group of Mercedarians sent to Fez, Morocco to ransom Christians imprisoned and enslaved by Muslims. For being openly Christian they were imprisoned, tortured, mutilated and executed. Martyrs - Egidio, John, Louis and Paul.
Died
beheaded in Fez, Morocco
Martyrs of Rome
Profile
A group of 262 Christians martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Died
• c.303 in Rome, Italy
• buried on the old Via Salaria in Rome
Martyrs of Venafro
Profile
Three Christian lay people, two of them imperial Roman soldiers, who were converts to Christianity and were martyred together in the persecutions of Maximian and Diocletian - Daria, Marcian and Nicander.
Died
• beheaded c.303 in Venafro, Italy
• by 313 a basilica had been built over their graves
• grave and relics re-discovered in 1930
Patronage
Venafro, Italy
