இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 04

 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.

Saint Isidore of Seville

 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.

Also known as

• Isidore the Bishop

• Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages

Additional Memorial

15 December (translation of relics)

Profile

Son of Severianus and Theodora, people known for their piety. Brother of Saint Fulgentius of Ecija, Saint Florentina of Cartagena, and Saint Leander of Seville, who raised him after their father's death. Initially a poor student, he gave the problem over to God and became one of the most learned men of his time. Priest. Helped his brother Leander, archbishop of Seville, in the conversion the Visigoth Arians. Hermit.

Archbishop of Seville, Spain c.601, succeeding his brother to the position. Teacher, founder, reformer. Required seminaries in every diocese, and wrote a rule for religious orders. Prolific writer whose works include a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths, and a history of the world beginning with creation. Completed the Mozarabic liturgy which is still in use in Toledo, Spain. Presided at the Second Council of Seville, and the Fourth Council of Toledo. Introduced the works of Aristotle to Spain.

Proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1722, and became the leading candidate for patron of computer users and the internet in 1999.

Born

c.560 at Cartagena, Spain

Died

4 April 636 at Seville, Spain

Patronage

• computer technicians

• computer users

• computers

• the Internet

• schoolchildren, students

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

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

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

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 03

 St. Evagrius & Benignus

Feastday: April 3

Death: unknown

Martyrs at Tomi. Nothing is known of their martyrdom.

St. Agape

Feastday: April 3

Death: 304

Agape and her sisters Chionia and Irene, Christians of Thessalonica, Macedonia, were convicted of possessing texts of the Scriptures despite a decree issued in 303 by Emperor Diocletian naming such possessions a crime punishable by death. When they further refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, the governor, Dulcitius, had Agape and Chionia burned alive. When Irene still refused to recant, Dulcitius ordered her sent to a house of prostitution. There she was unmolested after being exposed naked and chained, she was put to death either by burning or by an arrow through her throat.

Agape, Chionia and Irene (Greek: Αγάπη, Χιονία και Ειρήνη) were sisters and Christian saints from Aquileia,[1] martyred at Thessalonica in 304 AD. Agape and Chionia were charged with refusing to eat sacrificial offerings, whilst Irene was killed for keeping Christian books in violation of existing law. All were condemned to be burned alive.

St. Nicetas

Feastday: April 3

Abbot From Caesarea, Bithynia, modern Turkey, he was raised in a monastery after his mother died and his father entered the religious life. Eventually becoming a monk in the monastery of Medikion, at the base of Mount Olympus in Bithynia, he received ordination in 790 and was elected abbot. When he and other abbots opposed the Iconoclast policies of Emperor Leo V the Armenian and the appointment of Theodotus as patriarch to replace the deposed St. Nicephorus, Nicetas was exiled to Anatolia where he suffered torments from his captors. Brought to Constantinople, he finally recog nized Theodotus as patriarch and was restored to his monastery. However, within a short time he recanted his acceptance, and in 813 was exiled to the island of Glyceria. Upon Leo's death in 820, Nicetas was returned and lived as a hermit near Constantinople until his death.

St. Irene

Feastday: April 3

Death: 304

Martyred virgin. She was the sister of Sts. Agape and Chionia.

Agape, Chionia and Irene (Greek: Αγάπη, Χιονία και Ειρήνη) were sisters and Christian saints from Aquileia,[1] martyred at Thessalonica in 304 AD. Agape and Chionia were charged with refusing to eat sacrificial offerings, whilst Irene was killed for keeping Christian books in violation of existing law. All were condemned to be burned alive.

St. Fara

புனித_ஃபரா (595-657)

ஏப்ரல் 03

இவர் (#StFara) பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டில் பிறந்தவர். இவரது தந்தை பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டை ஆண்ட இரண்டாம் தியோடபர்ட் என்பவருடைய அரசவையில் முக்கிய பணியாற்றி வந்தவர்.

சிறுவயது முதலே இறையன்பிலும் பிறரன்பிலும் சிறந்து விளங்கிவந்த இவரை இவரது தந்தை ஒருவருக்கு மணம் முடித்துக் கொடுக்க முடிவு செய்தார். அதற்கு இவர் மறுப்புத் தெரிவித்ததால் இவரது தந்தை இவரது விருப்பம் போன்றே ஒரு துறவியாக வாழ அனுமதித்தார்.

இதன்பிறகு இவர் 37 ஆண்டுகள் துறவியாக வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். இறைப்பற்றிற்கும்  நிர்வாகத் திறனுக்கும் பெயர்போன இவர் பல பெரிய ஆளுமைகளை உருவாக்கினார். அவர்களில் ஒருவர்தான் புனித எதல்பர்கா.

இவ்வாறு ஆண்டவருக்குத் தன்னை அர்ப்பணித்து வாழ்ந்த இவர் 657 ஆம் ஆண்டு இறையடி சேர்ந்தார்.

Feastday: April 3

Burgundofara (Fara) was the daughter of Count Agneric, courtier of King Theodebert II. She refused her father's demands that she marry, and became Abbess of a convent she convinced him to build, and ruled for thirty-seven years. Named Evoriacum, the convent was renamed for her after her death, and in time became the famous Benedictine Abbey of Faremoutiers. She is also known as Fare. Her feast day is April 3rd.

Burgundofara (died 643 or 655), also Saint Fara or Fare, was the founder and first Abbess of the Abbey of Faremoutiers. Her family is knowns as the Faronids, named after her brother Saint Faro. Her name may mean: 'She who moves the Burgundians'.

Colombanus blesses Burgundofara

Jonas of Bobbio's life of Columbanus reports that she was blessed by the Irish monk when a child:

Then Columban went to the city of Meaux. There he was received with great joy by a nobleman Hagneric (Chagneric, father of Burgundofara), who was a friend of Theudebert [King Theudebert II], a wise man, and a counsellor grateful to the king, and was fortified by nobility and wisdom. ... Columban blessed his house and consecrated to the Lord his daughter Burgundofara, who was still a child, and of whom we shall speak later.[2]

Jonas's life of Burgundofara picks up the tale. She is betrothed against her will, and against Columbanus' prediction, and straight away falls deathly sick. Her father Chagneric says to Eustasius of Luxeuil, who happens to be present, "Would that she might return to health and devote herself to divine service!" Burgundofara recovers, thanks to Eustasius's prayers, but her father goes back on his word and decides to give her away in marriage. She discovers this, and flees to the church of Saint Stephen in Meaux. There her brothers Faro and Chagnoald catch her, and are set on killing her for disobeying their father Chagneric, but the timely arrival of Eustasius settles matters.

With Eustasius's support, and the approval of Bishop Gundoald of Meaux, Burgundofara established an abbey on her father's lands. First called Evoriacum, it was later renamed Faremoutiers in her honour.

Studies of Burgundofara's life, and those of noble heiresses in similar situations, lead some writers to conclude that in fact the abbey was very likely established with her father's blessing,[3] and the supposed parental insistence upon her marriage may have been no more than a front, especially if the marriage was proposed by the King. An edict of King Chilperic I a generation earlier had favoured the claims of daughters in inheritance over those of uncles and nephews, making the marriage of an heiress of considerable importance to the wider family.

The feast of Saint Burgundofara is celebrated on 3 April, probably in error. At Faremoutiers, she was commemorated on 7 December.

Saint Luigi Scrosoppi of Udine

Also known as

Aloisius, Aloysius

Profile

Youngest of three brothers born to Domenico Scrosoppi, a jeweler, and Antonia Lazzarini; his brother Carlo was ordained when Luigi was six, and his brother Giovanni several years later. When Luigi was 11 or 12 years old, his home region was struck by drought, famine, typhus, and smallpox in quick succession; the sight of such misery, complete poverty, and the number of orphans had a lasting effect on the boy.

In his teens, Luigi felt a call to the priesthood, and he entered the same seminary as his brother Giovanni. Deacon in 1826; ordained on 31 March 1827 at the cathedral in Udine; he was assisted at his first Mass by his brothers.

Director of the Pious Union of the Heart of Jesus Christ. Helped manage the children's center run by his brother Carlo. Franciscan tertiary. Assistant director of Carlo's orphanage in 1829. The orphanage fell on harder times than usual; Luigi, in desperation, hit the streets to beg for their support, and the school soon had a great lesson in faith - and enough money to buy their building.

As there were more orphans than space, the brothers decided to enlarge the house; Luigi went through the countryside to beg building materials and labor. Work began in 1834 with Luigi coordinating, begging, supervising, and working construction; it was completed in 1836, and named the House for the Destitute. That year also saw another cholera epidemic, and the orphanages, again, were full.

The need of the orphans, and the constant work of the brother priests, attracted the attention of several area women who were also working with the poor and the abandoned. Among them were Felicita Calligaris, Rosa Molinis, Caterina Bros, Cristina and Amalia Borghese and Orsola Baldasso. These women, under the spiritual direction of Carlo and Luigi, founded what would become the Congregation of Sisters of Providence who taught basic academic subjects and needle crafts. Luigi placed them under the patronage of Saint Cajetan, and the Congregation received final approval from Pope Blessed Pius IX on 22 September 1871.

In 1846 Luigi joined the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, a congregation devoted to charity and learning; elected provost of the community on 9 November 1856. On 4 October 1854 he finished work on the Rescue Home for abandoned girls. On 7 March 1857 he opened the school and home for deaf-mute girls; sadly, it survived only 15 years. He opened Providence House for his unemployed former students, and he worked in hospitals with the sickest and poorest of patients.

In his later years, Luigi had to combat anti-clerical sentiments that swept through the Italian peninsula during the political unification of the country; many houses and groups, including the Oratory, were seized, closed, and their assets sold off. While he could not save the Oratory or parish property, Luigi did protect his charitable institutions, and saw the Congregation grow and spread.

Born

4 August 1804 at Udine Italy

Died

3 April 1884 at Udine Italy of fever and the postulant skin disease pemphigus

Canonized

• 10 June 2001 by Pope John Paul II

• his canonization miracle was the cure of a Zambian AIDS victim, Peter Changu Shitima in 1996

Blessed Maria Teresa Casini

Also known as

Sister Maria Serafina of the Heart of Jesus Pierced

Additional Memorial

29 October (Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; diocese of Frascati, Italy; based on the date of her baptism)

Profile

Born to a wealthy family, the eldest daughter of Tommaso Casini, an engineer, and Melania Rayner, she was baptized at the age of two days at the cathedral of Frascati, Italy. Her father died when Teresa was about ten years old, and she and her mother moved in with her maternal grandparents. In 1875 she began studying at the school at Santa Rufina in Rome, Italy, which was run by Society of the Sacred Heart nuns. Teresa early felt a call to religious life, and though she had a number of set-backs due to health problems, and faced some family opposition, she entered Poor Clare Sepolte Vive monastery in Rome on 2 February 1885, taking the name Sister Maria Serafina of the Heart of Jesus Pierced.

Poor health caused her to leave the cloister on 2 December 1886. She returned to her family, and spent as much time as she could in prayer in the chapel of the Sacred Heart in the parish church of San Rocco in Frascati. The church and chapel were badly neglected, and Sister Maria worked to restore them. All the while, she kept hearing in inner voice calling her to console the sufferings of the Heart of Jesus, particularly those caused by faithless or undisciplined priests. With this as her goal, and on the advice of her spiritual director, she became part of the community called True Lovers of the Heart of Jesus. When the group's leader died, Sister Maria gathered everal like-minded sisters, and using her inheritance, on 2 February 1894 she founded the Victims of the Sacred Heart as a cloistered community. They received diocesan approval on 1 April 1896.

With the encouragment of their bishop, Cardinal Francesco Satolli, in the early 20th century the Victims moved from being a clositered order to an active one, working to help priests in their parishes. They founded a school for girls in 1910. On 1 November 1916 changed its name to the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to better reflect their status and mission. In 1925 she starting working with the Little Friends of Jesus, which educated boys, helped support vocations, and later expanded to assist priests with health problems.

Late in 1925 Mother Maria's health collapsed completely, and she was eventually paralyzed for the final decade of her life. She never stopped working, running the Sisters from bed, meeting, teaching and consoling sisters, priests and seminarians until the end. The Oblate Sisters continue their good work today, assisting and supporting priests and vocations in Italy, the United States, Brazil, Peru and Guinea-Bissau.

Born

27 October 1864 in Frascati, Italy

Died

• around 5am on 3 April 1937 at Oblate monastery on the via del Casaletto in Grottaferrata, Rome, Italy of natural causes

• buried in the chapel of the Zealots of the Sacred Heart in a nearby cemetery

• re-interred at the Generalate of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart in Grottaferrata on 20 May 1965

Beatified

• 31 October 2015 by Pope Francis

• beatification recognition celebrated at the Piazza San Pietro at the cathedral in Frascati, Italy, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

• her beatification miracle involved the 25 – 27 June 2003 healing of the brain lesions and trauma of Jacob “Jack” Ronald Sebest, a five year old drowning victim in Youngstown, Ohio

Patronage

Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Saint Richard of Chichester

 சிச்செஸ்டர் நகர் புனிதர் ரிச்சர்ட் 

(St. Richard of Chichester)

சிச்செஸ்டர் ஆயர்:

(Bishop of Chichester)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 1197

ட்ராய்ட்விச், வொர்செஸ்டெர்ஷைர், இங்கிலாந்து

(Droitwich, Worcestershire, England)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 3, 1253 

டோவர், கென்ட், இங்கிலாந்து

(Dover, Kent, England)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: ஜனவரி 25, 1262

திருத்தந்தை நான்காம் அர்பன்

(Pope Urban IV)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 3

பாதுகாவல்:

குதிரை வண்டி ஓட்டுனர் (Coachmen), 

சிசெஸ்டர் மறைமாவட்டம் (Diocese of Chichester),

சஸ்செக்ஸ் (Sussex), இங்கிலாந்து (England)

புனிதர் ரிச்சர்ட், "சிசெஸ்டர்" மறை மாவட்ட (Bishop of Chichester) ஆயர் ஆவார். இவர் பெயரில் அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த "சிசெஸ்டர்" மறை மாவட்ட பேராலயம் ஒன்று மிகவும் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட திருத்தலமாக இருந்தது. கி.பி. 1538ம் ஆண்டு, அரசன் எட்டாம் ஹென்றியின் (Henry VIII) ஆட்சியின்போது, "தாமஸ் குரோம்வெல்" (Thomas Cromwell) என்பவனது உத்தரவின்பேரில் இத்திருத்தலம் சூறையாடி அழிக்கப்பட்டது.

இப்புனிதர், கி.பி. 1197ம் ஆண்டு, இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டில் உள்ள "வொர்செஸ்டெர்ஷைர்" (Worcestershire) என்ற இடத்தில் பிறந்தார். இவர் பிறந்த சிறிது காலத்திலேயே இவரது பெற்றோர் இறந்துவிட்டனர். இவரது தந்தையின் தோட்டங்கள், வாரிசான இவரது மூத்த சகோதரருக்கு போனது. ஆனால், தந்தையின் மரண அத்தாட்சி சான்றிதழுக்காக கட்ட வேண்டிய வரிப்பணம் இவர்களிடம் இல்லாததால் சொத்துக்கள் கைவிட்டுப் போயின. இவர்கள் வறியவர்கள் ஆனார்கள். ரிச்சர்ட் ஒரு தோட்டத்தில் பணியாற்றினார்.

ஆக்ஸ்ஃபோர்ட் (University of Oxford) பல்கலைகழகத்தில் கல்வி கற்ற ரிச்சர்ட், பின்னர் அதே பல்கலையிலேயே கற்பிக்கும் பணியும் செய்தார். அங்கிருந்து பாரிஸ் (Paris) நகருக்கும், பின்னர் "பொலொக்னா" (Bologna) நகருக்கும் சென்றார். அங்கே, தமது சமய சட்ட விதிமுறைகளின் திறமையால் மேன்மை பெற்றார். கி.பி. 1235ம் ஆண்டு இங்கிலாந்து திரும்பிய இவர் ஆக்ஸ்ஃபோர்ட் பல்கலைகழகத்தின் வேந்தராக தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டார்.

கி.பி. 1240ம் ஆண்டு, மதகுருவாக் முடிவெடுத்த ரிச்சர்ட், "ஒர்லியான்" (Orléans) மாநிலத்திலுள்ள "டோமினிக்கன்" (Dominicans) சபையில் இரண்டு வருடங்கள் இறையியல் கற்றார். இங்கிலாந்து திரும்பிய அவர், :சாரிங்" மற்றும் "டீல்" (Charing and at Deal) ஆகிய பங்குகளின் பங்குத்தந்தையாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். ஆனால், விரைவிலேயே "காண்டர்பரி'யின்" (Canterbury) வேந்தராக பேராயர் "போனிஃபேஸ்" (Boniface of Savoy) நியமிக்கப்பட்டார்.

கி.பி. 1244ம் ஆண்டு, ரிச்சர்ட் "சிசெஸ்டர்" மறைமாவட்டத்தின் ஆயராக (Bishop of Chichester) தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டார். திருத்தந்தை "நான்காம் இன்னொசென்ட்" (Innocent IV) அவருக்கு மார்ச் மாதம் கி.பி. 1245ம் ஆண்டு, "லியோன்ஸ்" (Lyons) நகரில் ஆயராக அருட்பொழிவு செய்வித்தார்.

ரிச்சர்டின் தனிப்பட்ட வாழ்க்கை மிகவும் கடினமானதாக இருந்தது. எளிமை, பணிவு, தாழ்ச்சி, அடிபணிதல் ஆகியவற்றின் எடுத்துக்காட்டாக வாழ்ந்தார். ஆடம்பரங்களை அறவே வெறுத்த அவர், தமது உணவு முறைகளைக்கூட மிகவும் எளிதானாதாகவே வைத்திருந்தார். புலால் உண்பதை முழுதும் தவிர்த்தார். காய்கறி வகைகளையே உண்டார்.

வட்டித்தொழில் செய்வோர், ஊழல் செய்யும் மறை பணியாளர்கள் மற்றும் தெளிவாக அல்லாது முணுமுணுப்பாக திருப்பலி நிறைவேற்றும் மதகுருமார் ஆகியோரை வெறுத்தார். அவர்கள்மீது இரக்கமற்ற விதமாக நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தார்.

56 வயதான ரிச்சர்ட், கி.பி. 1253ம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், மூன்றாம் நாளன்று, டோவர் (Dover) என்னுமிடத்திலுள்ள புனித எட்மண்ட் சிற்றாலயத்தை (St. Edmund's Chapel) அர்ச்சித்ததன் பின்னர், திருத்தந்தையின் உத்தரவின்படி, சிலுவைப்பாடுகளை பிரசங்கித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தார். பிரசங்கத்தின் இடையில் அவர் மரணமடைந்தார்.

Also known as

• Richard de Wych

• Richard Backedine

• Richard of Wich

Profile

Second son of Richard and Alice de Wych. His father died when the boy was young. The family fell upon hard times, but as soon as he became old enough, Richard took over management of their estates and brought them back to profit. Educated at Oxford, England, in Paris, France, and in Bologna, Italy. Chancellor of Oxford University. Legal advisor to Saint Edmund Rich and Saint Boniface of Savoy, the Archbishops of Canterbury. Priest. Bishop of Chichester. Miracles and cures occured at his shrine in Chichester. His patronage of coachmen began with the Milanese Guild of Coachmen, possibly because Richard drove carts and wagons on the family farm.

Born

c.1197 at Droitwich, Worcestershire, England as Richard de Wych

Died

3 April 1253 at Dover, Kent, England of natural causes

Canonized

1262 by Pope Urban IV at Viterbo, Papal States (part of modern Italy)

Patronage

• coachmen

• diocese of Chichester, England

• Sussex, England

Blessed Gandulphus of Binasco

Also known as

• Gandulphus Sacchi

• Gandulphus of Polizzi Generosa

• Gandulphus of Polizzo

• Gandolf, Gandolfo, Gandulf

Additional Memorial

relics processed in Polizzi Generosa, Italy on the 3rd Sunday of September

Profile

Born to the nobility, a member of the wealthy and powerful Sacchi family. He joined the Franciscans while Saint Francis was still alive, and made his final vows c.1224. Priest. Father Gandulphus spent his life praying and preaching throughout Sicily. Founded the Franciscan convent at Termini Imerese, Italy in 1256. He cured a young mute man outside Polizzi Generosa, Italy in 1260 which led to his preaching having great affect on the local people.

Born

c.1200 at Binasco, Lombardy, Italy

Died

• Holy Saturday 3 April 1260 at the San Nicolò Hospital in Polizzi Generosa, Sicily, Italy of natural causes

• legend says that birds gathered to sing in the church where his body was laid out

• relics enshrined in a wooden reliquary in Polizzi soon after his death

• relics re-enshrined in a marble ark in 1482

• relics re-enshrined and the reliquary covered in silver leaf in 1549

Beatified

10 March 1881 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmation)

Patronage

Polizzi Generosa, Italy (chosen by citizens and confirmed in 1320)

Blessed Juan Otazua y Madariaga

Also known as

Juan de Jesús y María

Profile

Member of the Trinitarians, beginning his novitiate at the Shrine of Bien Aparecida in Cantabria, Spain, and making his simple vows on 11 October 1914. He studied at several convents, and made his final profession on 17 May 1918 in Cordoba, Spain. Ordained a priest in Madrid, Spain on 23 October 1921, he began to serve at the church of Sant’Ignazio de Loyola dei vaschi. A musician familiar with several instruments, Father Juan was an excellent cello player.

On 13 March 1936, the church was burned by anti–Christian forces in the Spanish Civil War. The Trinitarians left their convent, sought shelter with locals, and Father Juan was assigned to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Cabeza. On 28 July 1936 the Trinitarians were expelled from the Sanctuary by Communist forces, and Juan found shelter with the Duke de la Quinteria in Andújar, Spain. In the spring of 1937, the Communists imprisoned him, tried him for the crime of being a priest, sentenced him to 20 years in prison, but decided instead to execute him for the offense of his vocation. Martyr.

Born

8 February 1895 in Rigoitia, Vizcaya, Spain

Died

shot at dawn on 3 April 1937 in the cemetery of Mancha Real, Jaén, Spain

Beatified

28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI

Saint Liutberga of Windenhausen

Also known as

• Liutberga of Michaëlstein

• Liutberga of Rosstreppe

• Liutberga of Thale

• Liutberga of Wendhausen

• Leutpurga, Liudbirg, Liutbirg, Liutbirga, Liutburga, Luitberga, Luitburg, Lutberga, Lutbirg

Profile

Born to the nobility, related to Duke Hessi of Ostfalen. Noted by the nobles for her exceptional skill at managing the estates and houses of her family, and by the poor for her almsgiving and care for the sick and dying as she travelled from estate to estate. She spent her days managing the estates and caring for the needy, and her nights in prayer. In her later years, she retired to the convent at Wendhausen, Germany and with the approval of Bishop Thiatgrim von Halberstadt, eventually was locked into a cell next to the church of the cloister, and lived the rest of her life as an anchoress, praying, doing penance, and giving wisdom and spiritual training to any who visited her, rich and poor, lay, ordained and consecrated. Reported to have had the gift of prophesy. A monk of her aquaintance was so impressed by her piety that he wrote a biography of her soon after her death.

Born

in Solszburg in the area of Sulzgau, Bavaria (in modern Germany)

Died

of natural causes in Thale near Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt (in modern Germany) on 3 April; the year is variously recorded as 863, 865, 876, 882 or sometimes just c.870

Blessed Francisco Solís Pedrajas

Profile

Born to a poor and pious family. Ordained a priest in the diocese of Jaén, Spain on 22 December 1900. Served six years in the parish of Santiago Apóstol in Valdepeñas de Jaén, Spain while earning a degree in theology. Known in all his postings as "a learned, zealous and pious pastor". Archpriest of Mancha Real, Spain in 1914. Founded a Catholic Union. Established men's and women's branches of Catholic Action. Imprisoned with other priests and parishioners at the outbreak of the anti–Christian persecutions of the Spanish Civil War, Father Francesco ministered as best he was allowed to the physical and spiritual needs of his fellow prisoners. Sentenced to death for the crime of being a priest, he was the last of his group of prisoners to be murdered as none of the men wanted to shoot him; he took advantage of this to hear confessions and give absolution to the other prisoners. Martyr.

Born

9 July 1877 in Marmolejo, Jaén, Spain

Died

• shot at dawn on 3 April 1937 in the parish cemetery of Mancha Real, Jaén, Spain

• body dumped into a common grave in the cemetery

Beatified

• 27 October 2013 by Pope Francis

• beatification recognition celebrated at Tarragona, Spain

Blessed Laurentius Pak Chwi-deuk

Also known as

Lorenzo Pak Chwi-deuk

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

Layman convert to Christianity in the apostolic vicariate of Korea. Zealous about his new found faith, he learned the catechism, then returned to his home village to try to convert his family and neighbors. When the anti–Christian Sinhae persecutions began in 1791, he protested the arrest of other Christians, and visited them in prison; for this, he was imprisoned for several weeks. When the anti–Christian Jeongsa persecutions began in 1797, Lawrence was ordered arrested; he went into hiding, but when the persecutors arrested his father in his place, Lawrence surrendered. He was imprisoned for two years and repeatedly tortured; records indicate that, along with other forms of torture, he received over 400 beatings. When the authorities questioned him, he would simply explain points of Catholic doctrine no matter what they had asked him. They finally gave up trying to break him, and simply killed him instead. Martyr.

Born

c.1769 in Myeoncheon, Chungcheong-do, South Korea

Died

hanged on 3 April 1799 in Hongju, Chungcheong-do, South Korea

Beatified

16 August 2014 by Pope Francis at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, South Korea

Pope Saint Sixtus I

Also known as

Xystus I

Profile

Little known about his life before he was chosen seventh pope in 116. He concerned himself with the liturgy, and instituted elements still in use today. He decreed that only priests may touch the sacred vessels, that bishops returning from the Apostolic See to their dioceses must present Apostolic letters, and that the priest shall recite the Sanctus with the people during the Mass. Reigned during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Trajan. Martyr.

Born

Rome, Italy

Papal Ascension

116

Died

125 in Rome, Italy

Patronage

• Alife-Caiazzo, Italy, diocese of

• Anagni-Alatri, Italy, diocese of

• Alatri, Italy

• Alife, Italy

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer

Also known as

Joseph of the Studium

Profile

Born to Christian parents. He fled Sicily in 830 due to Arab invasion, and became a monk in Thessalonica. He joined the monastery of the Studium in Constantinople, but was forced to flee Constantinople in 841 due to iconoclast persecution. On his way to Rome, Italy he was captured by pirates and spent several years as a slave in Crete. He ministered to his fellow slaves, converting many. He finally managed to escape and return to Constantinople where he founded a monastery. When he opposed the Iconoclast emperor Theophilus, Joseph was exiled to the Chersonese. Bishop of Salonica. One of the great liturgical poets and hymnists of the Byzantine Church, credited with approximately 1,000 works.

Born

c.810 in Sicily

Died

886 of natural causes

Blessed Piotr Edward Dankowski

Also known as

Peter Edward Dankowski

Additional Memorial

12 June as one of the 108 Martys of World War II

Profile

Priest in the Archdiocese of Kraków, Poland. Vicar of the parish of Zakopane, he was known for his service to the people, especially the poor. During World War II he helped escapees hiding from the Nazis. Arrested in May 1941 and sentenced to the extermination camp in Oswiecim (Auschwitz). Martyr.

Born

21 June 1908 in Jordanów, Malopolskie, Poland

Died

Good Friday, 3 April 1942 in Oswiecim (Auschwitz), Malopolskie, Poland

Beatified

13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland

Saint Urbicius of Clermont

Also known as

Ubricius, Urbice, Urbicus, Urbique, Urbitius

Profile

Born a member of an imperial Roman senatorial family, Urbicius was drawn to the Church and lived a pious married life. His reputation for learning and piety led to him being chosen the second bishop of the diocese of Clermont in the Auvergne region of modern France in 288; his wife entered a convent and he went to his diocese. However, his wife was unsatisfied with her new life, left the convent, returned to Urbicius and said she did not wish to give up married life. Seeing her, Urbicius realized how much he had missed her, and let her move in with him; they told people she was his sister who was there to keep house for him. The bishop‘s conscience soon got the best of him, and he left both wife and diocese to live in penance in a nearby monastery.

Died

c.312 of natural causes

Blessed John of Penna

Also known as

• Juan de Pina

• Juan da Penna San Giovanni

• Giovanni, Johannes

Additional Memorial

31 October (Franciscans)

Profile

Joined the Franciscan in Recanati, Italy c.1213. Priest. Founded several Franciscan houses in Provence, France during a 25 year apostolate there. Returned to Italy in 1242, and lived the bulk of his remaining 30 in cloistered retirement. Experienced many highs and lows in his spiritual life, with lengthy periods of aridity and doubt, but periods of ecstacies, visions, and mystic union. Had the gift of prophecy.

Born

c.1193 at Penna San Giovanni, diocese of Fermo, Italy

Died

3 April 1271 at Recanati, Italy

Beatified

20 December 1806 by Pope Pius VII (cultus confirmed)

Martyrs of Greece 

Profile

A group of young Christian men who protested to city authorities that gifts to temples of pagan gods should be used to feed the poor during a regional famine. When the officials refused, the group went to local temples, broke up the idols and fixtures, and gave the gold and silver bits to the poor to use to buy food. The group was imprisoned and executed. The only other thing we know about these martyrs are the names – Bythonius, Elpideforus, Dius and Galycus

Died

3rd century at an unknown location in Greece

Blessed José Luciano Ezequiel Huerta-Gutiérrez

Profile

Married layman and father in the archdiocese of Guadalajara, he worked as a mechanic. Brother of Blessed José Luciano Ezequiel Huerta-Gutiérrez. Noted for his devotion to the Eucharist and attendance at daily Mass. Imprisoned, tortured and executed in the persecutions of the Mexican Revolution. Martyr.

Born

18 March 1880 in Magdalena, Jalisco, Mexico

Died

shot on 3 April 1927 in the cemetery in Mezquitán, Jalisco, Mexico

Beatified

20 November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI

Blessed José Salvador Huerta-Gutiérrez

Profile

Married layman and father in the archdiocese of Guadalajara, he worked as a mechanic. Brother of Blessed José Luciano Ezequiel Huerta-Gutiérrez. Noted for his devotion to the Eucharist and attendance at daily Mass. Imprisoned, tortured and executed in the persecutions of the Mexican Revolution. Martyr.

Born

18 March 1880 in Magdalena, Jalisco, Mexico

Died

shot on 3 April 1927 in the cemetery in Mezquitán, Jalisco, Mexico

Beatified

20 November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI

Blessed Thurstan Hunt

Also known as

Thurstan Greenlow

Additional Memorials

• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai

• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales

Profile

Priest in the apostolic vicariate of England. Martyred in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I.

Born

c.1555 Carlton Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Died

late March 1601 in Lancaster, Lancashire, England

Beatified

22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II

Saint Nicetas of Medicion

Also known as

• Nicetas of Constantinople

• Nicetas the Confessor

• Niketas, Nikita

Profile

Monk and abbot of Medicion Abbey in Bithynia (in modern Turkey). He and his brother monks suffered in the persecutions of iconclast Emperor Leo, and he was imprisoned for many years.

Born

Bithynia (in modern Turkey)

Died

824 of natural causes

Saint Thiento of Wessobrunn

Also known as

Tientone

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot of Saints Peter and Paul abbey at Wessobrunn in Bavaria (in modern Germany). Martyred along with six of his brother monks by invading Hungarians.

Died

955 in Wessobrunn, Bavaria, Germany

Blessed Robert Middleton

Additional Memorial

22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales

Profile

Jesuit priest in the apostolic vicariate of England. Martyred in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I.

Born

1571 in York, North Yorkshire, England

Died

late March 1601 in Lancaster, Lancashire, England

Beatified

22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II

Blessed Iacobus Won Si-bo

Also known as

Jacob

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

Layman martyr in the apostolic vicariate of Korea.

Born

1730 in Hongju, Chungcheong-do, South Korea

Died

3 April 1799 in Cheongju, Chungcheong-do, South Korea

Beatified

15 August 2014 by Pope Francis

Blessed Alexandrina di Letto

Profile

Joined in the Poor Clares at age 15. Founded a Poor Clare convent in Foligno, Italy in 1423, served as its first abbess. Known for her reforms that emphasized Franciscan spirituality, she has the support of Pope Martin V.

Born

in 1385 in Sulmona, Italy

Died

1458 of natural causes

Saint Vulpian of Tyre

Also known as

Ulfianus, Ulpian, Ulpiano, Ulpianus, Vulpianus

Profile

Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian Galerius.

Born

Syria

Died

sewed up in a leather sack with a serpent and a dog and then thrown into the sea to drown in 304 at Tyre, Lebanon

Saint John I of Naples

Profile

Fifth-century bishop of Naples, Italy. Translated the body of Saint Januarius to Naples.

Born

Campania, Italy

Died

Holy Saturday night in 432 of natural causes

Saint Illyricus the Wonder Worker

Also known as

Illyricus Thaumaturgos

Profile

Monk. Hermit on a mountain near Pyrgos, Elis, Greece where his reputation for holiness, and as a miracle worker, caused many other monks to seek him out as a spiritual teacher.

Saint Agatho of Thessalonica

Also known as

Agathon

Profile

Convicted of possessing the Scriptures despite a prohibition issued in 303 by Emperor Diocletian. He was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods; he refused. Martyr.

Died

c.304 in Thessalonica, Greece

Saint Eutychia of Thessalonica

Profile

Widow. During the persecutions of Diocletian and governor Dulcetius, Eutychia was exposed as a Christian when she refused to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Martyr.

Died

c.304 in Thessalonica, Greece

Saint Philippa of Thessalonica

Profile

Convicted of possessing the Scriptures despite a prohibition issued in 303 by Emperor Diocletian. She was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods; she refused. Martyr.

Died

c.304 in Thessalonica, Greece

Saint Casia of Thessalonica

Profile

Convicted of possessing the Scriptures despite a prohibition issued in 303 by Emperor Diocletian. She was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods; she refused. Martyr.

Died

c.304 in Thessalonica, Greece

Saint Benatius of Kilcooley

Profile

Mentioned in early Irish martyrologies, but no details about him have survived.

Patronage

Kilcooley (Cill-Chuile; Kill-Chuile), County Roscommon, Ireland

Saint Attala of Taormina

Also known as

Attalus of Taormina

Profile

Benedictine monk and then abbot of a monastery in Taormina, Sicily.

Died

c.800

Saint Donatus of Nicomedia

Profile

Martyr.

Died

Nicomedia, Bitynia (in modern Turkey)

Saint Agathamerus of Mysia

Profile

Martyr.

Died

1st century Mysia (in modern Turkey)

Saint Comman

Profile

Son of Domangen. Listed in the 9th century Irish martyrologies, but no other information has survived.

Martyrs of Tomi

Profile

Nine Christians who were martyred together. We know nothing else about them but the names – Arestus, Benignus, Chrestus, Evagrius, Papo, Patricius, Rufus, Sinnidia and Zosimus.

Died

at Tomi, Scythia (modern Constanta, Romania)