St. Remigius
புனிதர் ரெமிஜியஸ்
ஆயர் மற்றும் ஒப்புரவாளர்:
பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 437
செர்னி-என்-லான்னோய்ஸ், பிக்கார்டி, ஃபிரான்ஸ்
இறப்பு: ஜனவரி 13, 533
ரீம்ஸ், சாம்பெய்ன், ஃபிரான்ஸ
ஏற்கும் சமயம்:
ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை
ஆங்கிலிகன் சமூகம்
கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை
நினைவுத் திருநாள்: அக்டோபர் 1
பாதுகாவல்: ஃபிரான்ஸ் (France)
புனிதர் ரெமிஜியஸ், ஃபிரான்ஸ் (France) நாட்டிலுள்ள “ரீம்ஸ்” (Rheims) ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க மறைமாவட்ட ஆயரும், “ஃபிராங்க்ஸ்” (Apostle of the Franks) இன மக்களின் அப்போஸ்தலருமாவார். இவர், கி.பி. 496ம் ஆண்டு, டிசம்பர் மாதம், 25ம் தேதியன்று, “ஃபிராங்க்ஸ்” இன அரசரான (King of the Franks) “முதலாம் குளோவிஸுக்கு” (Clovis I) திருமுழுக்கு அளித்தார். இந்த திருமுழுக்கானது, முழு ஃபிராங்க் இன மக்களையும் கிறிஸ்தவ மதத்திற்கு மனம்மாற்ற வழிவகுத்தது. இது, திருச்சபைக்கு ஒரு பாரிய வெற்றியாகவும், ஐரோப்பிய வரலாற்றில் ஒரு விசேட நிகழ்வாகவும் அமைந்தது.
ரெமிஜியஸ், பாரம்பரியமாக, “கல்லோ-ரோமன்” (Gallo-Roman society) சமுதாயத்தின் மிக உயர்ந்த மட்டத்தில், லாவோன் (Laon), பிகார்ட்டிக்கு (Picardy) அருகிலுள்ள செர்னி-என்-லான்னோய்ஸ் (Cerny-en-Laonnois) என்ற இடத்தில் பிறந்தார். இவர், லாவோன் பிரதேச பிரபுவான (Count of Laon) “எமிலியஸ்” (Emilius) என்பவருக்கும், “சோய்சன்” ஆயரின் (Bishop of Soissons) மகளான “செலினாவுக்கும்” (Celina) மகனாகப் பிறந்தவர் என்பர். பின்னாளில், கி.பி. 486ம் ஆண்டு, “முதலாம் குலோவிஸுக்கு” (Clovis I) “சோய்சன்” நகரை வெற்றிகொண்டதாக வரலாறு உண்டு.
ரீம்ஸ் (Reims) நகரில் கல்வி கற்ற இவர், விரைவில் தமது கற்றல் மற்றும் புனிதத்தன்மைக்கு புகழ்பெற்றார். மேலும் அவரது உயர் நிலை காரணமாக, ஒரு பொதுநிலையினராக இருப்பினும், தமது 22 வயதில், ரீம்ஸ் ஆயராக (Bishop of Reims) தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டார். இவர், ஃபிரான்ஸ் நாட்டின் பெரும் வேந்தராகவும் (Lord Chancellor of France), “மெரோவிங்கியன் வம்ச” (Merovingian dynasty) தலைமை அதிகாரியாகவுமிருந்தார்.
“சோய்சன்” நகர தேவாலயத்தில் இருந்து திருடப்பட்ட புனித பாத்திரங்களை திரும்பப் பெறும் கதையானது, அவருக்கும் குளோவிஸுக்கும் இடையில் உள்ள நட்பான உறவுகளுக்குச் சான்று பகர்வதாகவும், ஃபிராங்க்ஸ் மன்னராக இருந்த குளோவிசை, அவர் புனிதர் வேதாஸ்ட் (Saint Vedast) மற்றும் குளோவிஸுக்கு மனைவியாக இருந்த பர்கண்டி இளவரசி புனிதர் க்ளோடில்ட் (Saint Clotilde) ஆகியோரின் உதவியுடன் கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்கு மனம் மாற்றினார். தாம் கிறிஸ்தவத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும் முன்பே குளோவிஸ், ரெமிஜியஸ் மற்றும் ரீம்ஸ் நகர கிறிஸ்தவ மக்களுக்கு எண்ணற்ற நன்மைகளை வழங்கினார். டால்பாயாக் போரில் (Battle of Tolbiac) அலமன்னி (Alamanni) மீது வெற்றிகொண்ட பிறகு, ரீம்ஸ் நகரில் பெரும் எண்ணிக்கையில் கூடியிருந்த ஃபிராங்க்ஸ் மற்றும் ஆலமன்னி இன மக்களின் முன்னிலையில் தமக்கு திருமுழுக்கு அருட்சாதனம் வழங்குமாறு ரெமிஜியசை வேண்டினார். புனிதர் கிரகோரியின் கூற்றின்படி (Saint Gregory of Tours), சுமார் 3,000க்கும் மேற்பட்ட ஃபிராங்க்ஸ் இன மக்களுடன் க்ளோவிஸ் ஞானஸ்நானம் பெற்றார்.
அரசன் குலோவிஸ், ரெமிஜியசுக்கு எண்ணற்ற சமஸ்தானங்களை பரிசாக வழங்கினார். அதில், ரெமிஜியஸ் பல தேவாலயங்களை கட்டினார். பல்வேறு மறைமாவட்டங்களை நிறுவி, ஆயர்களை நியமித்தார். “டௌர்னை” (Tournai), “கேம்ப்ரை” (Cambrai) மற்றும் “தெரௌன்” (Thérouanne) ஆகிய மறைமாவட்டங்களை நிறுவிய அவர், கி.பி. 499ம் ஆண்டு, முதல் ஆயர்களை நியமித்தார்.
ரெமிஜியஸ், திருச்சபை கவுன்சில்களில் கலந்து கொள்ளவில்லை என்றாலும், கி.பி. 517ம் ஆண்டு, ரீம்ஸ் நகரில் ஒரு சபைக் கூட்டத்தை நடத்தினார். ஒரு சூடான விவாதத்திற்குப் பிறகு அவர் ஒரு ஆரிய இன ஆயரை கிறிஸ்தவராக மனம் மாற்றினார்.
Feastday: October 1
Birth: 437
Death: 533
St. Remigius or Remi, Bishop of Rheims was the great apostle of the Franks, and was illustrious for his learning, sanctity and miracles, which in his episcopacy of seventy and more years, rendered his name famous in the church. As a boy he made great progress in learning, and in the opinion of St. Sidonius Apollinaris, who was acquainted with him in the earlier part of his life, he became the most eloquent person in that age. When only twenty-two, too young to be a priest, much less a bishop, he was chosen in 459 to fill the vacant See of Rheims. But he was ordained and consecrated in spite of his youth, and amply made up for lack of experience by his fervor and energy.
Under the protection of King Clovis, who was baptized by Remigius, St. Remigius spread the gospel of Christ among the Franks, in which work God endowed him with an extraordinary gift of miracles. The bishops who were assembled in a conference that was held at Lyons against the Arians in his time, declared they were stirred to exert their zeal in defense of the Catholic Faith by the example of Remigius, "who", say they, "has everywhere destroyed the altars of the idols by a multitude of miracles and signs." St. Remigius, whom St. Gregory of Tours refers to as "a man of great learning, fond of rhetorical studies, and equal in his holiness to St. Silvester", died about the year 530. His feast day is October 1.
Remigius (French: Remi or Rémi; c. 437 – January 13, 533), was the Bishop of Reims and "Apostle of the Franks". On 25 December 496, he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks. The baptism, leading to about 3000 additional converts, was an important event in the Christianization of the Franks. Because of Clovis's efforts, a large number of churches were established in the formerly pagan lands of the Frankish empire, establishing a distinct Catholic variety of Christianity for the first time in Germanic lands, most of whom had been converted to Arian Christianity.
St. Dodo
Feastday: October 1
Death: 750
Benedictine abbot trained by St. Ursmar. A monk at Lobbes, Belgium, he became abbot of Wallers-en-Faigne, France.7th century Benedictine monk who was trained by Saint Ursmar. He was a monk at the Abbey of Lobbes in Belgium before becoming abbot of the Abbey of Wallers-en-Faigne in France. He is said to have been a man of great wisdom and piety, and he is credited with helping to reform the Abbey of Wallers-en-Faigne. He died in the year 750 AD. He was buried in the Abbey of Wallers-en-Faigne, where his tomb is still visited by pilgrims today.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
லிசியே நகரின் தெரேசா
(கன்னியர் மற்றும் மறைவல்லுநர்)
நினைவுத் திருவிழா : அக்டோபர் 1, அக்டோபர் 3
பிறப்பு : ஜனவரி 2, 1873, அலேசான், பிரான்சு
இறப்பு : செப்டம்பர் 30 1897(அகவை 24) லிசியே, பிரான்சு
அருளாளர் பட்டம் : 29 ஏப்ரல், 1923, (பதினொன்றாம் பயஸ்)
புனிதர் பட்டம் : 17 மே 1925, (பதினொன்றாம் பயஸ்)
குறிப்பிடத்தகுந்த படைப்புகள்: ஓர் ஆன்மாவின்வரலாறு (தன்வரலாற்று நூல்)
முக்கிய திருத்தலங்கள் : புனித தெரேசா பேராலயம், லிசியே நகர், பிரான்சு
லிசியே நகரின் தெரேசா (Thérèse of Lisieux)(2 ஜனவரி 1873 – 30 செப்டம்பர் 1897) என்பவர் ஒரு பிரஞ்சு கார்மேல் சபைத் துறவியும், கத்தோலிக்க புனிதரும் ஆவார். மரி ஃப்ரான்சுவா தெரேஸ் மார்த்தின் (Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin) என்னும் இயற்பெயர் கொண்ட இவர் துறவற சபையில் குழந்தை இயேசு மற்றும் இயேசுவின் திருமுகத்தின் தெரேசா என்னும் பெயரைத் தேர்ந்துகொண்டார். குழந்தை இயேசுவின் தெரேசா என்னும் பெயரும், இயேசுவின் சிறு மலர் என்னும் பெயரும் இவருக்குச் சிறப்புப் பெயர்களாக அமைந்துள்ளன.
15 வயதே நிரம்பிய தெரேசா தம் இளம் பருவத்திலேயே இறை அழைத்தலுக்குச் செவிமடுத்து, 1888 இல், பல்வேறு தடைகளையும் தாண்டி, கார்மேல் சபையில் சேர்ந்தார். அவர் புகுந்த அடைப்புநிலை (cloistered) கார்மேல் சபை மடம் பிரான்சு நாட்டில் நோர்மாண்டி மாநிலத்தில் லிசியே (Lisieux) நகரில் அமைந்திருந்தது. அத்துறவற இல்லத்தில் தெரேசா ஒன்பது ஆண்டுகள் தங்கியிருந்தார். அங்கு திருப்பணிக் காப்பகப் பொறுப்பாளர்(sacristan), பயிற்சிநிலைத் துறவியரின் துணைப் பயிற்சியாளர் போன்ற பல பணிகளை ஆற்றினார். அவர்தம் வாழ்க்கையின் இறுதி பதினெட்டு மாதங்களில் அவர் "இறைநம்பிக்கையின் இருண்ட கால" வேதனையை அனுபவித்தார். அவர் காச நோயால் பீடிக்கப்பட்டு, தம் 24ஆம் அகவையில் இறையடி எய்தினார்.
இவரின் ஓர் ஆன்மாவின் வரலாறு என்னும் தன்வரலாற்று நூலை இவரின் இறப்புக்கு பின் சிறிதளவே அச்சிட்டு வெளியிட்டனர். ஆனாலும் அது பலராலும் படிக்கப்பட்டு, இவரை 20-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டின் மிகப்பெரும் புனிதருள் ஒருவராகப் பிறர் கண்டுணர வழிவகுத்தது. இவருக்கு முத்திப்பேறுபெற்ற பட்டம் 1923இலும், புனிதர் பட்டம் 1925இலும் வழங்கப்பட்டது. பதினொன்றாம் பயஸ் இவருக்கு புனிதர் பட்டம் வழங்கி, இவரைத் தம் ஆட்சியின் விண்மீன் ஆக்கினார் என்பர்.
குழந்தை இயேசுவின் புனித தெரேசாவுக்கு இன்று உலகம் முழுவதிலும் வணக்கம் செலுத்தப்படுகிறது.
தெரேசா ஒரு மறைந்த வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்து, அறியப்படாமல் இருக்க வேண்டும், என்றே விரும்பினார். ஆனால் இவரின் இறப்புக்கு பின் இவரின் தன்வரலாற்று நூல் இவரை வெளி உலகிற்கு காட்டியது. இவரின் கடிதங்கள், கவிதைகள், சமய நாடகங்களில், இறை வேண்டல்கள், மற்றும் இவரது கடைசி உரையாடல்கள், இவரது சகோதரிகள் பதிவு செய்த இவரின் ஓவியங்கள் மற்றும் புகைப்படங்கள் - (பெரும்பாலும் சகோதரி செலின்னால் செய்யப்பட்டவை) இவரைப் பலரும் கண்டுணர வழிவகுத்தது.
இவரது ஆன்மீக வாழ்வின் ஆழம், பலருக்கு ஊக்கமளிப்பதாக இருந்தது. இவர் அதனைப்பற்றி கூறும் போது, "என் வழி முழுவதும் நம்பிக்கை கொள்வதும் அன்பு செய்வதும் தான்" என்றார். தனது தாழ்ச்சியிலும் எளிமையிலும், இவர் கடவுளையே தனது புனிதமாக நம்பினார்.
புதியதொரு "சிறு வழியில்" ("little way") சென்று தெரேசா விண்ணகம் அடைய விரும்பினார். "இயேசுவைச் சென்று சேர்ந்திட ஒரு மின்தூக்கி (elevator) கண்டுபிடிக்க விரும்பினேன். சிறியவளான என்னைத் தூக்கி உயர்த்துகின்ற இயேசுவின் கைகளே அந்த மின்தூக்கி என அறிந்துகொண்டேன்" என்று தெரேசா குறிப்பிடுகின்றார்.
லிசியே நகரில் உள்ள, புனித தெரேசா பேராலயம், பிரான்சு நாட்டிலேயே, லூர்து நகருக்கு அடுத்து மிக அதிக திருப்பயணியர் வரும் இடமாக உள்ளது.
பிறப்பு
தெரசா பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டில் அலேசான் என்னும் இடத்தில் கி.பி. 1873-ம் ஆண்டு சனவரி திங்கள் 2-ம் நாள் லூயிஸ்-செலின் தம்பதியரின் 9-வது குழந்தையாக பிறந்தார். தனது சிறுவயதிலேயே தன் தாயை இழந்தார்.15 வயதே நிரம்பிய தெரேசா தம் இறை ஆர்வத்தால் திருதந்தையின் சிறப்பு அனுமதி பெற்று , 1888-ம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் திங்கள் 9-ம் நாள், கார்மேல் சபையில் சேர்ந்தார்.
சிறு வழியைக் கண்டுபிடித்தல்
தெரேசா கார்மேல் மடம் புகுந்த வேளையில் ஒரு புனிதையாக மாறவேண்டும் என்னும் தீர்க்கமான முடிவோடுதான் சென்றார். ஆனால், ஆறு ஆண்டுகள் துறவியாக வாழ்ந்தபின்னும், 1894இல் தான் எத்துணை சிறியவள், வலுவற்றவள் என்பதை உணர்ந்தார். எவ்வளவுதான் முயன்றாலும் தன்னிடம் குறைபாடுகள் பல இருந்ததை அவர் கண்டார். அளவற்ற அன்பு காட்ட அவருக்கு விருப்பமாயிருந்தாலும் அவரது சிறுமை அவரை மேற்கொண்டது.
படிப்படியாகத் தன் சிறுமையே தன் வளர்ச்சிக்கு வழியாகும் என்றும், தன் சிறுமையில் கடவுளின் உதவியை நாடிச் செல்வதென்றும் முடிவுசெய்தார்.தெரேசாவின் சகோதரி செலின் கொண்டுவந்திருந்த பழைய ஏற்பாட்டை தெரேசா புரட்டினார். அங்கே, நீதிமொழிகள் என்னும் நூலின் ஒரு பகுதி (9:4) அவரைக் கவர்ந்தது.
“அறியாப் பிள்ளைகளே, இங்கே வாருங்கள் என்று அறிவிக்கச் செய்தது; மதிகேடருக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்தது”
என்று கடவுளின் "ஞானம்" பற்றி அந்நூலில் வரும் பகுதி தெரேசாவின் கண்களைத் திறந்தது.
அதுபோலவே, எசாயா இறைவாக்கினர் நூலில் வரும் 66:12-13 பகுதி தெரேசாவுக்குப் புதியதொரு பொருளை விளக்குவதாக அமைந்தது. இதோ அப்பகுதி:
“ஆண்டவர் கூறுவது இதுவே; ஆறுபோல் நிறைவாழ்வு பாய்ந்தோடச் செய்வேன்; பெருக்கெடுத்த நீரோடைபோல் வேற்றினத்தாரின் செல்வம் விரைந்து வரச் செய்வேன்; நீங்கள் பால் பருகுவீர்கள்; மார்பில் அணைத்துச் சுமக்கப்படுவீர்கள்; மடியில் வைத்துத் தாலாட்டப்படுவீர்கள். தாய் தன் பிள்ளையைத் தேற்றுவதுபோல் நான் உங்களைத் தேற்றுவேன்; எருசலேமில் நீங்கள் தேற்றப்படுவீர்கள்”
கடவுளின் வார்த்தையை விவிலியத்தில் கண்ட தெரேசா தனக்குக் கடவுள் தரும் செய்தி என்னவென்று உணர்ந்தார். தன் சிறுமையும் வலுவின்மையும் ஒரு குறையல்ல, மாறாக, அவற்றின் வழியாகவே இயேசு தன்னைப் புனித நிலையின் உச்சிக்கு இட்டுச் செல்வார் என்று அறிந்தார். எனவே, உள்ளம் தளர்வதற்கு மாறாக மகிழ்ச்சியடைய வேண்டும். இது தெரேசாவுக்கு ஓர் அற்புதமான கண்டுபிடிப்பாக அமைந்தது.
இதையே அவர் "சிறு வழி" (little way; பிரஞ்சு மூலத்தில் petite voie) என்று அழைத்தார். 1895 பெப்ருவரி மாதத்திலிருந்து தான் எழுதிய மடல்களில் எல்லாம் தெரேசா தன் பெயருக்கு முன்னால் "மிகச் சிறிய" (toute petite) என்னும் அடைமொழியை இடத் தொடங்கினார்.
தன் குறைகளை வெல்வதற்குத் தன் சொந்த சக்தி போதும் என்று தெரேசா எண்ணவில்லை. மாறாக, கடவுளிடத்தில் நம்பிக்கை வைத்து, தன் கடமைகளைப் பொறுப்போடு ஆற்றி, நற்செயல்கள் புரிந்து வாழ்ந்தால் அதுவே கடவுளின் விருப்பம் என்னும் உறுதிப்பாடு அவரிடம் இருந்தது.
"ஆண்டவர் ஒரு தாயை விடவும் பாசம் கொண்டவர் என்பது எனக்கு நன்றாகத் தெரியும். தன் குழந்தை அறியாத்தன்மையால் தவறு செய்யும்போது அதைத் தாய் மன்னித்துவிடுவார். குழந்தைகள் எப்போதும் குறும்புத்தனம் செய்வார்கள், கீழே விழுவதும், அழுக்கில் புரள்வதும், பொருள்களை உடைப்பதும் அவர்கள் வேலை. ஆனால் இதெல்லாம் நிகழ்ந்தபிறகும் பெற்றோர் தம் குழந்தைகளை அன்புசெய்வதில் குறைபடுவதில்லை"
தன்வரலாற்று நூல் – ஓர் ஆன்மாவின் வரலாறு
தெரேசாவை வெளி உலகிற்கு தெரிவித்தது, அவரின் தன்வரலாற்று நூல் – ஓர் ஆன்மாவின் வரலாறு (L'histoire d'une âme) ஆகும். அதை அவர் தன் சபைத் தலைவியின் கட்டளைக்குப் பணிந்து எழுதினார். இதை 1985-இல் தன் இளம் பருவ நினைவுகளிலிருந்து எழுதலானார். மற்றும் 1986-இல் தன் சகோதரியும், அம்மடத்திலேயே கன்னியராகவும் இருந்த சகோ. திரு இருதயத்தின் மரியாளுக்கு எழுதிய கடிதத்தின் தொகுப்பும் சேர்த்து ஓர் ஆன்மாவின் வரலாறுஎன வெளியிடப்பட்டது.
இந்நூல் மறைத்திரு. பி.பி. சேவியரால் தமிழாக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டு, புதுவையில் உள்ள மிஷன் அச்சகத்தில் 1998-இல் வெளியிடப்பட்டது.
இறப்பு
தெரசா இறக்கும் தருவாயில் இருந்த போதும் அவர் முகத்தில் புன்னகை குறையவே இல்லை.அவர் காச நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு,1897-ம் ஆண்டு செப்டம்பர் திங்கள் 30-ம் நாள் தம் 24ஆம் அகவையில் இறையடி எய்தினார். இவருக்கு முத்திப்பேறுபெற்ற பட்டம் 1923-ம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் திங்கள் 29-ம் நாள் வழங்கப்பட்டது.புனிதர் பட்டம் 1925-ம் ஆண்டு மே திங்கள் 17-ம் நாள் திருதந்தை பதினொன்றாம் பயஸால் வழங்கப்பட்டது. 1927-இல் குழந்தை இயேசுவின் புனித தெரேசா மறை பரப்பு நாடுகளின் துணை பாதுகாவலியாக பிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியாருடன் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டார். 1944-இல் பிரான்சு நாட்டின் பாதுகாவலியாக ஜோன் ஆஃப் ஆர்கோடு அறிவிக்கப்பட்டார். 19 அக்டோபர் 1997-இல் இரண்டாம் யோவான் பவுல் இவரை கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையின் 33-ஆம் மறைவல்லுநராக அறிவித்தார். இவ்வாறு அறிவிக்கப்பட்டவர்களில் இவரே வயதால் மிக இளையவரும், மூன்றாவது பெண்ணும் ஆவார்.
புனித தெரேசாவின் பெற்றோருக்கு முத்திபேறுபட்டம்
தெரேசாவின் பெற்றோருக்கு புனிதர்பட்ட செயல்கள் துவங்கி உள்ளன. இவர்கள் திருத்தந்தை இரண்டாம் யோவான் பவுலால், 1994-இல் வணக்கத்திற்குரியவர் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டனர். 2004-இல் மிலான் நகர பேராயர், நுரையீரலில் நோய் உள்ள ஒரு குழந்தைக்கு ஏற்பட்ட குணத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டு, 12 ஜூலை 2008 அன்று, கார்தினால் சரைவா மார்டின்ஸ் முயற்சியால் இவர்களின் 150-ஆவது திருமண நாளன்று, திருத்தந்தை பதினாறாம் பெனடிக்டால்முத்திபேறுபட்டம் அளிக்கப்பட்டது.
2011-இல் இவர்களின் கடிதங்கள் A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885 என்னும் பெயரில் வெளியிடப்பட்டது.
Also known as
• Francoise-Marie Therese Martin
• Teresa of the Infant Jesus
• the Little Flower of Jesus
• the Little Flower
• Thérèse of the Child Jesus
Profile
Born to a pious middle-class French family of tradesmen; daughter of Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Marie-Azelie Guérin Martin, and all four of her sisters became nuns. Her mother died when Francoise-Marie was only four, and the family moved to Lisieux, Normandy, France to be closer to family. Cured from an illness at age eight when a statue of the Blessed Virgin smiled at her. Educated by the Benedictine nuns of Notre-Dame-du-Pre. Confirmed there at age eleven. Just before her 14th birthday she received a vision of the Child Jesus; she immediately understood the great sacrifice that had been made for her, and developed an unshakeable faith. Tried to join the Carmelites, but was turned down due to her age. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy at for the Jubilee of Pope Leo XIII whom she met and who knew of her desire to become a nun. Joined the Carmelites at Lisieux on 9 April 1888 at age 15, taking her final vow on 8 September 1890 at age 17. Known by all for her complete devotion to spiritual development and to the austerities of the Carmelite rule. Due to health problems resulting from her ongoing fight with tuberculosis, her superiors ordered her not to fast. Novice mistress at age 20. At age 22 she was ordered by her prioress to begin writing her memories and ideas, which material would turn into the book History of a Soul. Therese defined her path to God and holiness as The Little Way, which consisted of child-like love and trust in God. She had an on-going correspondence with Carmelite missionaries in China, often stating how much she wanted to come work with them. Many miracles attributed to her. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II.
Born
2 January 1873 at Alcon, Normandy, France as Francoise-Marie Therese Martin
Died
7pm Thursday 30 September 1897 at Lisieux, France of tuberculosis
Canonized
17 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Luigi Maria Monti
Also known as
Aloisius, Aloysius
Profile
Eighth of eleven children. His father died when Luigi was twelve years old. To support the family he made wooden craft items. After hours he gathered other devout craftsmen and farmers at his shop to form the prayer group The Company of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the locals called them The Company of Friars. The group expanded their ministry to work with the poor and sick, and in 1846 Luigi took private vows of chastity and obedience, dedicating his life to God.
However, Luigi lived in a time of political paranoia. He and the other members of his Company were charged with meeting to conspire against the Austrian forces occupying his village. In 1851 the they were jailed in Milan for ten weeks, finally released when it became obvious they were a religious, not political group.
Joined the Sons of Mary Immaculate, spending six years as a novice. Studied nursing. Worked with the sick in the cholera epidemic in Brescia, Italy in 1855. With the help of Father Luigi Dossi, he founded The Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception, dedicated to care for the sick. Initially worked with the Capuchin Fathers, who were forming a similar group. Certified as a phlebotomist by the La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. In 1877, with the help of Pope Blessed Pius IX, Luigi finally founded his Congregation; he worked as its leader the rest of his life. The Sons willingly walked into the worst of epidemics, working in places that others were scared to go, giving their own beds to the sick. Luigi founded small communities throughout the region where men served in hospitals and as travelling nurses to the scattered, impoverished farmers. In 1882 they expanded their mission and founded orphanages with attached schools.
Though a layman all his life, Luigi was known as "Father" by the members of the Congregation and those he helped. He died at the age of 75, nearly blind, completely worn out, and working for the Congregation to the end.
Born
24 July 1825 at Bovisio Masciago, diocese of Milian, Italy
Died
1 October 1900 in Saronno, Varese, Italy of natural causes
Beatified
• 9 November 2003 by Pope John Paul II
• his beatification miracle involved the healing of Giovanni Luigi Iecle, a farmer from Bosa, Sardegna in 1961
Blessed Juan de Palafox Mendoza
Profile
Born the illegitimate son of an Aragonese noble, Jaime de Palafox, the Marquis of Ariaza; his father would not recognize him, his mother became a Carmelite nun, and Juan was raised by a family of millers. When the boy was ten years old, his father finally acknowledged him and took over his upbringing. Juan was educated at Alcalá and Salamanca, and served as a political administrator in Monzón, Spain in 1626. Member of the Council of the Indies, the body that administered the overseas territory of the Spanish Empire.
Juan was ordained a priest in April 1629. He served as chaplain to the Holy Roman Empress, Maria of Austria, who was also the sister of King Philip IV of Spain, and travelled with her around Europe. Chosen bishop of Tlaxcala, México on 3 October 1639 by Pope Urban VIII, he served for nearly 14 years, including as interim Archbishop of Mexico from 10 June 1642 to 23 November 1642. Part of his time was served as viceroy to King Philip. He founded the Biblioteca Palafoxiana library on 5 September 1646 with 5,000 volumes, the College of San Pedro, the College of San Pablo, the Dominican convent of Santa Inez, the Purísima Concepción girl's school, and he completed construction of the cathedral for Tlexcala. While he supported missionary work among the natives of his diocese, he forbade any attempt to force or coerce conversion.
Bishop Juan became involved in struggle with the Jesuits in New Spain over church financing, and whether the Jesuits would submit to his authority. The Jesuits refused to do so, and had the support of the new viceroy. After much political wrangling, including appeals to the Vatican, Juan was recalled to Spain and chosen bishop of the Diocese of Osma in Old Castile, Spain from 16 August 1653 until his death six years later. His writings, part of which concerned what he perceived to be lax theological standards of Jesuit missionaries, ran to 15 published volumes.
Born
24 June 1600 in Fitero, Navarra, Spain
Died
1 October 1659 in Osma, Soria, Spain of natural causes
Beatified
• 5 June 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated at the Cathedral of La Asunción, El Burgo de Osma, Spain by Cardinal Angelo Amato
Blessed Cecilia Eusepi
Also known as
Maria Angela
Profile
Youngest of eleven children, Cecilia was baptized at the age of 9 days, and her father died when she was 2 months old. On 6 January 1915 the family moved to a small farm near Nepi, Italy, and came under the care of a maternal uncle. Cecilia received Confirmation on 27 May 1917, and made her First Communion on 2 October 1917. She was educated in a Cistercian convent school. In 1922 she joined the ''Servants of Mary'' (''Servites'') as a secular tertiary, receiving the scapular at the San Tolomeo ai Servi church, and taking the name ''Maria Angela''. Member of ''Catholic Action''.
Cecilia was drawn to religious life, and against her family's wishes, she became a Servite postulant in 1923. She studied in Rome, Pistoia and Zara from 1923 to 1926, hoping to become a missionary, but contracted tuberculosis and on 23 October 1926 returned to the family farm. Though her health deteriorated, she became known for her spiritual insights, and was a counselor to seminarians and members of ''Catholic Action''; local priests would ask her opinion on homilies they were planning. Her spiritual director, the Servite priest Gabriele Roschini, instructed her to keep a journal of her life and relationship with Christ. It covered the period 29 May 1927 to 12 September 1928 and was published as "Storia di un Pagliaccio" ("Story of a Clown").
Born
17 February 1910 in Monte Romano, Viterbo, Italy
Died
• 1 October 1928 in Nepi, Viterbo, Italy of tuberculosis
• she predicted the date of her death following a dream about Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
• she died singing a hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• re-interred at the church of San Tolomeo ai Servi, Nepi on 16 March 1944
Beatified
• 17 June 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI
• beatification celebrated at the Piazza della Bottata in Nepi, Italy by Cardinal Angelo Amato
• the beatification miracle involved the healing of Tommaso Ricci on 4 August 1959 from injuries received in what should have been a fatal traffic accident
Saint Bavo of Ghent
Also known as
• Allowin
• Bavon of Ghent
Profile
Belgian nobleman who spent a wild youth, noted for selfishness; known to have sold his servants as slaves to local noble houses. Married. Widower. Converted after hearing a sermon by Saint Amand of Maastricht. Built an abbey on his estate, called Saint Peter's in his day and Saint Bavo's today. He turned it over to Saint Amand, and became a monk in the house. He finally gave his estate to the house, his belongings to the poor, and lived as a recluse in a hollow tree and later a cell in the forest near the abbey.
Born
589 at Brabant, Liege, Belgium as Allowin
Died
654 at Saint Bavo's abbey of natural causes
Saint Romanos the Melodist
Also known as
• Romanos the Melode
• Romanos l'Hymnographe
• Romanos Melodhos
• Romanos Melodist
• Psaitis Dhikeosinis
• Righteous Chanter
• Sweet Singer
• Romain, Romano, Romanus, Glykophonos
Profile
Convert to Christianity from Judaism. Deacon, serving at the Church of the Resurrection in Beirut, Lebanon, and at Constantinople. Wrote hundreds of hymns in simple language, appealing to the hearts of the faithful. Of the thousand or so that he wrote, only 60 to 80 survive – but they are still sung today.
Born
c.490 in Syria
Died
c.556 of natural causes
Saint Nicetius of Trier
Also known as
Nicetus, Nizier, Niketius
Profile
Born to a Gallo-Roman family, he was a religious youth. Monk at Limoges. Abbot. Knew and was highly thought of by King Theodoric I. Bishop of Trier, Gaul (part of modern Germany) in 532. A reformer and revitalizer, Nicetius rebuilt the cathedral and worked to bring back love of the faith in an area that was indifferently Christian. He travelled his diocese, preaching daily and speaking out against low morals of both commoners and aristocracy. Excommunicated King Clotaire I for the king's immorality; Clotaire exiled him. Attended the synods of Clermont in 535 and 549, Orleans in 549, Toul in 550, and Paris in 555. Reformed the clergy in his see, restoring discipline and stamping out clerical vice. Fought heresy, especially Monophysitism.
Born
latter 5th century at Auvergne, France
Died
• c.566 of natural causes
• buried in the church of Saint Maximin at Trier, Germany
Blessed Antoni Rewera
Additional Memorial
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Profile
Priest in the diocese of Sandomierz, Poland. Taught theology at the Sandomierz seminary. Founded the Daughters of the Seraphic Saint Francis. Arrested in March 1942 by the Gestapo and deported to the Dachau concentration camp as part of the Nazi persecutions of Catholics.
Born
6 January 1868 in Samborzec, Poland
Died
tortured to death on 1 October 1942 at the Dachau concentration camp, Bavaria, Germany
Beatified
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II at Warsaw, Poland
Blessed Edward James
Also known as
• Gerald Edwards
• Gerard Edwards
• Edward Campion
Additional Memorial
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Profile
Raised Protestant. Educated at Saint John's College, Oxford, but was not awarded a degree because he would not acknowledge the queen as the head of Christianity in England. Converted to Catholicism. Seminarian at Rheims and Rome, Italy. Ordained in 1583, he returned to England in 1585 to minister to covert Catholics. Imprisoned four and a half years with Blessed Ralph Crockett in Marshalsea prison in London. Executed for the crime of being a priest.
Born
at Breaston, Derbyshire, England
Died
hanged, drawn, and quartered on 1 October 1588 at Chichester, West Sussex, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Christopher Buxton
Additional Memorial
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Profile
School and spiritual student of Blessed Nicholas Garlick in Tideswell, England. He began studying for the priesthood in Reims, France in 1582, and then at the English College in Rome, Italy in 1584. He was ordained a priest on 26 October 1586. In September 1587 he returned to England to minister to covert Catholics during the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I. He was arrested in November 1587, imprisoned in Marshalsea, and condemned to death for the crime of being a priest. One of the Oaten Hill Martyrs.
Born
1562 in Tideswell, Derbyshire, England
Died
hanged, drawn and quartered 1 October 1588 in Canterbury, Kent, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Florencia Caerols Martínez
Also known as
Fiorenza, Florence
Profile
Lay women in the archdiocese of Valencia, Spain. Textile worker. President of the Union of Spanish Catholic Women in Valencia, a member of Catholic Action and the Daughters of Mary. Franciscan tertiary. Had a devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux, and worked to spread devotion to her. Catechist. Known for her strong prayer life. Imprisoned and martyred in the Spanish Civil War for the crime of being a loyal Catholic.
Born
• 20 February 1890 in Caudete, Albacete, Spain
• baptized the same day
Died
shot on 2 October 1936 in Rotglá i Corbera, Játiva, Valencia, Spain
Beatified
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
Blessed Ralph Crockett
Also known as
Rodolfo
Additional Memorial
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Profile
Educated at Christ College, University of Cambridge and at Glouscester Hall at the University of Oxford in England. Taught at Tibnam in Norfolk, England, and then at Littlehampton in Sussex, England. Studied at the seminary at Rheims, France. Ordained in 1585. Returning to England, he was arrested on board ship at Littlehampton on 19 April 1586 and sent to Marshalsea prison in London. Condemned on 30 September 1588 for the crime of being a priest in England. Martyr.
Born
Barton-on-the-Hill, Cheshire, England
Died
hanged on 1 October 1588 in Chichester, West Sussex, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Carmelo Juan Pérez Rodríguez
Profile
Baptized at the age of two days. Member of the Salesians of Don Bosco, making his profession at Carabanchel Alto in Madrid, Spain on 10 July 1927. He studied for the priesthood there and in then in Turin, Italy, and was a sub-deacon when the Spanish Civil War began. When he returned to Madrid on a break, he was spotted as a religious brother, imprisoned and eventually murdered by anti-Catholic forces. Martyr.
Born
11 February 1908 in Vimianzo, La Coruña, Spain
Died
shot on 1 October 1936 in Madrid, Spain
Beatified
28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
Blessed Álvaro Sanjuán Canet
Profile
Member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Studied at the seminary of Campello, Alicante, Spain, and then in Turin, Italy. Ordained in 1934. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Father Álvaro fled to Cocentaina, Spain and went into hiding with his parents, but was found, briefly imprisoned and then executed. Martyr.
Born
26 April 1908 in Alcocer de Planes, Alicante, Spain
Died
during the night of 1 to 2 October 1936 in on the side of the road outside Villena, Alicante, Spain
Beatified
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
Blessed John Robinson
Additional Memorial
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Profile
Married layman. Father of Francis who became a priest. Widower. Studied for the priesthood at Rheims, France, and was in his 50's when ordained in 1585. Returned to England to serve his old neighbours. Arrested in Lowestoft, imprisoned in London for two years, and martyred for the crime of priesthood.
Born
c.1530 at Ferrensby, West Riding, Yorkshire, England
Died
hanged, drawn and quartered on 1 October 1588 at Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Higinio de Mata Díez
Additional Memorial
6 November as one of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
Profile
Cousin of Blessed Juan de Mata Díez. Higinio grew up a pious child, attending Mass and praying the Rosary daily. At age 25 he began working at house of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Carabanchal Alto, Spain, and became a postulent to the Order. When the anti–Christian persecutions of the Spanish Civil War began, he went into hiding, but was found and murdered. Martyr.
Born
20 January 1909 in Ubierna, Burgos, Spain
Died
shot on 1 October 1936 in Madrid, Spain
Beatified
28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
Saint Piaton of Tournai
Also known as
Piat, Piato, Piatone
Profile
Priest, ordained by Saint Dionysius the Areopagite. Early evangelist to the areas of Tournai, Belgium and Chartres in Gaul (modern France). Martyred in the persecutions of Emperor Maximian Herculeus.
Born
at Benevento, Italy
Died
• skull split by a soldier c.286 at Tournai, Belgium
• body discovered in the 7th century by Saint Eligius, who made a reliquary for them
• interred at Chartres, France
• miracles reported at his tomb
Blessed Robert Wilcox
Additional Memorial
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Profile
Studied for the priesthood in Rheims, France. Ordained in 1585. He returned to England in 1586 to work with covert Catholics in Kent during a period of persecutions. Martyr.
Born
1558 Chester, Cheshire, England
Died
hanged, drawn and quartered 1 October 1588 in Canterbury, Kent, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Robert Widmerpool
Additional Memorial
1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Profile
Studied in Oxford, England. Tutor to the sons of the Earl of Northumberland. Arrested for aiding a Catholic priest. Martyr.
Born
Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire, England
Died
hanged, drawn and quartered 1 October 1588 in Canterbury, Kent, England
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Blessed Gaspar Fisogiro
Also known as
• Gaspar Ueda Hikojiro
• Caspar Fisogiro
Additional Memorial
10 September (one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan)
Profile
Layman in the archdiocese of Nagasaki, Japan who sheltered Dominican missionaries. Member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. Marytr.
Born
Japan
Died
1 October 1617 at Nagasaki, Japan
Beatified
7 May 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius IX
Blessed Andrew Sushinda
Also known as
• Andreas Yoshida
• Andrew Gioscinda
Additional Memorial
10 September (one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan)
Profile
Layman in the archdiocese of Nagasaki, Japan who sheltered Dominican missionaries. Member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. Marytr.
Born
Japanese
Died
1 October 1617 at Nagasaki, Japan
Beatified
7 May 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius IX
Saint Wasnulf
Also known as
Vasnulfo, Wasnan, Wasnulfo
Profile
Seventh-century priest and noted preacher. Missionary to the Hainault region (along the border of modern Belgium and France) at the invitation of Count Vincent of Hainault. Miracle worker.
Born
Scotland
Died
• c.651 in Condé-sur-l'Escaut in Hainaut, Austrasian (in modern France)
• buried in Condé-sur-l'Escaut
Blessed Diego Botello and Blessed Ferdinando di Salcedo
Profile
Franciscan friars and missionaries in the Caribbean. Martyred with a companion
Died
• shot with arrows in 1516 on the modern Haitian side of the island of Hispaniola
• bodies eaten by the killers; head and clothing displayed as trophies
Blessed Dominic of Villanova
Profile
Mercedarian friar at the convent of Santa Maria di Montflorite in Aragon, Spain. Commander of his house. Priest.
Died
buried at the convent of Santa Maria di Montflorite in Aragon, Spain
Saint Verissimus of Lisbon
Profile
Martyred with his sisters Saint Julia of Lisbon and Saint Maxima of Lisbon in the persecution of Diocletian.
Saint Verissimus of Lisbon was a Christian martyr who was killed during the Diocletianic Persecution in the early 4th century. He is commemorated on October 1st by the Catholic Church and on August 23rd by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Verissimus was born into a wealthy family in Rome. He had two siblings, Maxima and Julia. The three siblings were converted to Christianity at a young age, and they were devoted to their faith.
During the Diocletianic Persecution, Verissimus, Maxima, and Julia were arrested for their faith. They were tortured and imprisoned, but they refused to renounce their Christianity. They were eventually beheaded, and their bodies were thrown into the Tiber River.
The bodies of Verissimus, Maxima, and Julia were eventually recovered by Christians and buried in the Catacombs of Rome. Their tombs became popular pilgrimage sites, and they were venerated as saints.
In the 16th century, the relics of Verissimus, Maxima, and Julia were transferred to the Cathedral of Lisbon in Portugal. They are now enshrined in a chapel in the cathedral.
Died
c.304 in Lisbon, Portugal
Blessed Juan Mata Díez
Profile
Layman in the diocese of Burgos, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
Blessed Juan Mata Díez is a proposed sainthood for Juan Mata, a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for J1 League club Vissel Kobe. He is known for his creativity, passing, and vision, and is considered one of the best midfielders of his generation.
Mata was born in Burgos, Spain, on April 28, 1988. He began his professional career at Real Madrid Castilla in 2006, before joining Valencia in 2007. He won the Copa del Rey with Valencia in 2008-09. In 2011, he signed for Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League, the Premier League, and the FA Cup. In 2014, he signed for Manchester United, where he won the UEFA Europa League and the League Cup.
In addition to his success on the field, Mata is also known for his charitable work. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has worked to raise awareness of poverty and hunger. He has also founded the Juan Mata Foundation, which supports education and development projects in Africa.
Mata's mother, Marta García, died on September 26, 2023, after a long illness. Mata was devastated by her death, and he has spoken openly about his grief.
In 2024, a petition was started to call for Mata to be canonized. The petition has received over 1 million signatures, and it is being considered by the Catholic Church.
Born
11 February 1903 in Ubierna, Burgos, Spain
Died
1 October 1936 in Madrid, Spain
Beatified
28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
Saint Aizan of Abyssinia
Also known as
• Aizan of Ethiopia
• Abreha of...
Profile
Brother of Saint Sazan; friend of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. Chieftain in Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia). Worked to spread Christianity in Africa.
Saint Maxima of Lisbon
Profile
Martyred with her sister Saint Julia of Lisbon and brother Saint Verissimus of Lisbon in the persecution of Diocletian.
Died
c.304 in Lisbon, Portugal
Saint Julia of Lisbon
Profile
Martyred with her brother Saint Verissimus of Lisbon and sister Saint Maxima of Lisbon in the persecution of Diocletian.
Saint Julia of Lisbon was martyred with her brother Saint Verissimus of Lisbon and sister Saint Maxima of Lisbon in the persecution of Diocletian. The three siblings were executed in c.304 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The persecution of Diocletian was one of the most severe persecutions of Christians in history. Diocletian was a Roman emperor who reigned from 284 to 305. He was a pagan who believed that Christians were a threat to the Roman Empire.
Diocletian issued a series of edicts that ordered the destruction of Christian churches, the burning of Christian scriptures, and the arrest and execution of Christians. Many Christians were tortured and killed during this persecution.
Saint Julia of Lisbon and her siblings were among the Christians who were martyred during the Diocletianic Persecution. They refused to renounce their faith and were executed as a result.
Saint Julia of Lisbon and her siblings are remembered as martyrs who died for their faith. They are role models for all Christians who are called to stand up for their beliefs, even in the face of persecution.
Died
c.304 in Lisbon, Portugal
Saint Sazan of Abyssinia
Profile
Brother of Saint Aizan; friend of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. Chieftain in Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia). Worked to spread Christianity in Africa.
Saint Sazan of Abyssinia (also known as Saint Sazan of Ethiopia) was a chieftain in Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) in the 4th century AD. He was a contemporary of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, and he was a staunch defender of the Catholic faith.
Sazan was known for his courage and his generosity. He was also a wise and compassionate leader. He was loved by his people, and he was respected by both Christians and pagans.
During the Arian persecution, Sazan was imprisoned for his faith. He was tortured and beaten, but he refused to renounce his Christianity. He was eventually released from prison, but he was exiled from Abyssinia.
Sazan went to live in Egypt, where he joined the monastery of Saint Anthony the Great. He lived a holy and austere life, and he became known for his wisdom and his spiritual guidance.
Sazan died in the late 4th century AD. He is buried at the monastery of Saint Anthony the Great.
Saint Sazan is venerated as a saint by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. His feast day is celebrated on October 1st.
Saint Aretas
Also known as
Arethas
Profile
Saint Aretas was the leader of the Christian community of Najran in the early 6th century. He was executed during the persecution of Christians by the Jewish king Dhu Nuwas in 523.
Aretas is known from the Acta S. Arethae, which exists in two recensions: the earlier and more authentic, which was found by Michel Le Quien (Oriens Christianus, ii. 428) and was subsequently dated as no later than the 7th century; the later, revised by Simeon Metaphrastes, dates from the 10th century.
According to the Acta, Aretas was a wise and pious man who was respected by both Christians and Jews. When King Dhu Nuwas demanded that all Christians in Najran convert to Judaism, Aretas refused. He and his followers were imprisoned and tortured, but they remained steadfast in their faith. Eventually, Aretas and 427 other Christians were burned to death.
Aretas is venerated as a martyr by both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. His feast day is celebrated on October 1st.
Died
Rome, Italy
Saint Fidharleus
Profile
Saint Fidharleus (also spelled Fidharlius or Fidh-Arleus) was an Irish abbot who lived in the 7th and 8th centuries. He is best known for restoring Rathin Abbey in County Westmeath, Ireland.
Fidharleus was born in Ireland around the year 650 AD. He entered the monastery at Rathin at a young age and became a monk. He was eventually elected abbot of the monastery.
In the early 8th century, Rathin Abbey was raided by Vikings. The monastery was destroyed and the monks were forced to flee. Fidharleus led the monks back to Rathin and began to rebuild the monastery. He also worked to restore the monastic community.
Fidharleus was a wise and compassionate leader. He was known for his holiness and his love for the poor. He died in 762 AD and was buried at Rathin Abbey.
Fidharleus is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on October 1st.
Died
762
Saint Crescens of Tomi
Saint Crescens of Tomi was a martyr who was put to death in the town of Tomi, on the Black Sea, during the Diocletianic Persecution in the early 4th century. He is commemorated on October 1st by the Eastern Orthodox Church and on September 28th by the Catholic Church.
Very little is known about St. Crescens' life. According to tradition, he was a bishop or a priest who was serving in the town of Tomi when the persecution began. He was arrested and tortured for his faith, but he refused to renounce his Christianity. He was eventually beheaded, and his body was thrown into the sea.
St. Crescens is revered as a martyr and a saint by both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who suffered and died for their faith during the early Christian persecutions.
Died
martyred at Tomi (modern Constanta, Romania)
Saint Evagrius
Saint Evagrius (c. 346-399 AD) was a Christian monk and ascetic from Heraclea, a city on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor. He is one of the most influential theologians in the late fourth-century church, and is known for his teachings on asceticism, prayer, and the spiritual life.
Evagrius was born into a wealthy family, and he received a classical education. He converted to Christianity at a young age, and he was ordained a reader by St. Basil the Great and a deacon by St. Gregory of Nyssa. In 383 AD, he left Constantinople to become a monk in the Nitrian Desert in Egypt.
Evagrius studied under the guidance of the Desert Fathers, and he quickly became known for his wisdom and his spiritual insights. He wrote extensively on asceticism, prayer, and the spiritual life, and his works were translated into many languages and had a profound influence on Christian thought for centuries to come.
Evagrius' teachings on prayer are particularly noteworthy. He emphasized the importance of silent prayer, and he developed a number of techniques for helping people to achieve a state of deep contemplation. He also taught that the goal of prayer is to become united with God.
Evagrius died in 399 AD, and he was buried in the Nitrian Desert. He is venerated as a saint by both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
Died
Tomi (modern Constanta, Romania)
Saint Priscus
The saint Priscus who is commemorated on October 1st by the Catholic Church was a bishop of Capua in the 4th century.
However, there is also a Saint Priscus who is commemorated on October 1st by the Eastern Orthodox Church. This Priscus was a martyr who was put to death in the town of Tomi, on the Black Sea, during the Diocletianic Persecution in the early 4th century.
This Priscus is the one who was martyred in Tomi, which is modern Constanta, Romania. He is said to have been a bishop or a priest who was serving in the town of Tomi when the persecution began. He was arrested and tortured for his faith, but he refused to renounce his Christianity. He was eventually beheaded, and his body was thrown into the sea.
This Saint Priscus is venerated as a martyr and a saint by both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who suffered and died for their faith during the early Christian persecutions.
Died
Tomi (modern Constanta, Romania)
Holy Protection of the Mother of God
The Holy Protection of the Mother of God is a feast day celebrated by both the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches on October 1 each year. It commemorates a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary that is said to have appeared to Saint Andrew the Fool in Constantinople in the 10th century.
In the vision, Saint Andrew saw the Blessed Virgin Mary standing in the air above the church of Blachernae, spreading her veil over the people below to protect them. The vision was interpreted as a sign of God's protection of the city and its inhabitants, and the feast day was established to commemorate it.
The Holy Protection of the Mother of God is a major feast day in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. It is a time to celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary's role as our protector and intercessor. It is also a time to pray for the protection of our families, communities, and the world.
The icon of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God typically shows the Blessed Virgin Mary standing in the air above the church of Blachernae, spreading her veil over the people below. She is often accompanied by angels and saints.
