St. Mirocles
Feastday: December 3
Death: 318
Archbishop of Milan, Italy, also called Merocles. He is revered as one of the originators of the Ambrosian chant and liturgy. He attended the Council of Rome in 313.
Mirocles (or Merocles, Italian: Mirocle) was Bishop of Milan from before 313 to c. 316. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on December 3.[1]
Life
Almost nothing is known about the life of Mirocles. He was elected as bishop of Milan in some year before 313 and he reigned till about 316.[2] He perhaps was born to a family of Pavia, to which will born also Epiphanius.
Mirocles was the bishop of Milan when in 313 the Emperors Constantine I and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan which proclaimed the religious toleration in the Roman Empire. After the Edict of Milan, Mirocles started the erection of the basilica vetus, which was the first cathedral of the town and that was placed on the area nowadays occupied by the present Cathedral of Milan.
Sources record the presence of Mirocles to the Lateran council held in October 313 in Rome, under Pope Miltiades, which took a stand in the Donatism issue, condemning Donatus Magnus charged to re-baptizing clergy who had lapsed and which sided with Caecilianus bishop of Carthage. Mirocles participated also in the following council of all the Western bishops held in Arles on 1 August 314, which confirmed the condemnation of Donatus and ruled about canon law.[3]
Mirocles possibly founded also the church of San Vittore al Corpo in Milan (rebuilt many times during the next centuries) in honor of saint Victor Maurus, who was martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303.[2]
Mirocles died on the 30 November of about 316, and his feast day was set on 3 December. His body was buried in Milan in the church of San Vittore al Corpo
Saint Francis Xavier
புனிதர் ஃபிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியார்
தூர கிழக்கு நாடுகளின் திருத்தூதர்:
பிறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 7, 1506
ஜேவியர், நவார் அரசு, (தற்போதைய ஸ்பெயின்)
இறப்பு: டிசம்பர் 3, 1552 (வயது 46)
'சாவோ ஜோவாஓ' தீவிலுள்ள போர்ச்சுகீசிய தீவு, (தற்போதைய சீனா)
ஏற்கும் சபை/ சமயம்:
ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை
லூதரனிய திருச்சபை
ஆங்கிலிக்கன் சமூகம்
அருளாளர் பட்டம்: அக்டோபர் 25, 1619
திருத்தந்தை ஐந்தாம் பவுல்
புனிதர் பட்டம்: மார்ச் 12, 1622
திருத்தந்தை பதினைந்தாம் கிரகோரி
நினைவுத் திருவிழா : டிசம்பர் 3
சித்தரிக்கப்படும் வகை:
நண்டு, சிலுவை; லீலி மலர், நெருப்பு, போதகர்,
எரியும் இதயம்
பாதுகாவல்:
இந்தியா; ஆப்ரிக்க மறைப்பணிகள்; அகர்தலா; அகமதாபாத்; அலெக்சாண்டிரியா லூசியானா; ஆஸ்திரேலியா; மும்பை; கோவா (மாநிலம்); கேப் டவுன்; சீனா; டோக்கியோ; பிலிப்பைன்ஸ்; கென்யா; ஸ்பெயின்; நியுசிலாந்து; இந்தோனேசியா; மலாக்கா; மலேசியா; மங்கோலியா.
புனிதர் ஃபிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியார் ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டில், கி.பி. 1506ம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், 7ம் நாளன்று, புகழ்மிக்க சவேரியார் அரண்மனையில் பிறந்தார். தமது ஒன்பது வயதில் தந்தையை இழந்த இவர் தாயின் பராமரிப்பிலேயே அதே அரண்மனையில் படித்து வந்தார். அப்போதே ஸ்பேனிஷ் மற்றும் பல மொழிகளில் புலமை பெற்றிருந்தார். இந்தியாவில் கிறிஸ்தவத்தின் வளர்ச்சியில் முக்கிய பங்காற்றினார்.
கல்வி :
கி.பி. 1525ம் வருடம் கல்லூரி படிப்பிற்காகப் பாரிஸ் சென்றார். அதன் பின்னர் 11 வருடங்கள் பாரிசிலே இருந்த புனித சவேரியார், அங்குள்ள புனித பற்பே கல்லூரியில் தத்துவம் மற்றும் கலைத்துறையில் முதுகலை பட்டம் பெற்று, கி.பி. 1530 முதல் 1534 வரை விரிவுரையாளராகப் பணியாற்றினார்.
மீண்டும் கி.பி. 1534 முதல் 1536 வரை இறையியலைப் பயின்றார். அப்போது புனித சவேரியாருக்கு புனித இலொயோலா இஞ்ஞாசியார் நண்பரானார்.
"உலகையே ஆதாயமாக்கினாலும் மனிதர் தம் ஆன்மாவை இழப்பாராகில் அதனால் அவருக்கு வரும் பயன் என்ன" என்ற இறைமகன் இயேசுவின் வார்த்தையை இஞ்ஞாசியார், சவேரியாருக்கு எடுத்துரைக்க, சவேரியார் அவ்வார்த்தையின் ஆழத்தை உணர்ந்து இறைவனோடு அதிகமாய் இணைந்திருந்தார். பின்னர் இவர்கள் இயேசு சபையைத் தொடங்கினர். இதில் மீண்டும் நான்கு நண்பர்கள் சேர்ந்து இறைபணியை செய்ய முடிவு செய்தனர்.
குருத்துவமும் இந்திய வருகையும் :
சவேரியாரின் பயணங்கள் :
இதை தொடர்ந்து கி.பி. 1537ம் வருடம், ஜூன் மாதம், 24ம் நாள், குருவாக திருநிலை பெற்று தன் முதல் திருப்பலியை செப்டம்பர் 30ம் நாள் நிறைவேற்றினார். பின்னர் அவரும் அவருடைய நண்பர்களும் திருத்தந்தை மூன்றாம் பவுலைச்சந்தித்து இறைப்பணி செய்வதற்கான தங்கள் விருப்பத்தைத் தெரிவித்தனர். அதே வேளையில் போர்த்துகீசிய மன்னன் தனக்குக் கீழ் இருந்த நாடுகளுக்குக் குருக்களைத் தந்துதவும்படி வேண்டியதால், சவேரியார் இந்தியா மற்றும் போர்த்துகீசிய காலனி நாடுகளுக்குப் பயணம் மேற்கொண்டார்.
புனித சவேரியார் கி.பி. 1540ல் ரோமில் இருந்து புறப்பட்டு லிஸ்பன் சென்றார். அங்கு ஒரு வருடம் இறைபணியை செய்த பின்னர் இந்தியாவிற்கு வரும் வழியில் மொசாம்பிக்கில் ஒரு வருடம் இறைபணியை செய்துவிட்டு கி.பி. 1542 மே மாதம் 6ம் நாள் கோவாவை வந்தடைந்தார். முதல் நான்கு மாதங்கள் கோவாவிலும் பின்னர் தென் இந்தியாவின் குறிப்பாக தமிழகக் கடற்கரைக் கிராமங்களில் தனது இறைப்பணியைச் செய்துவந்தார்.
மறைப்பணி :
கி.பி. 1543ல் தென்திருவிதாங்கூரில் தற்போதைய கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டத்தில் தன் இறைப்பணியைத் தொடர்ந்தார். சுமார் பதினைந்து மாதங்கள் கிராமங்கள் தோறும் மணியடித்தபடி சென்று அங்கு ஆட்கள் கூடியதும் அவர்களுக்கு இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவைப் பற்றிய செய்திகளைக் கூறியும் நோயாளிகளைச் சந்தித்தும் வந்தார். திருவிதாங்கூர் இராச்சியத்தில் பல ஆலயங்கள் புனித சவேரியாரால் நிறுவப்பட்டன. மிகக் குறுகிய கால வேளையான ஒரு வருடத்திற்குள் நாற்பத்தி ஐந்து சிறிய கிறிஸ்தவ ஆலயங்களை அவர் நிறுவினார் என்று காண்கிறோம்.
கி.பி. 1544ல் திருவிதாங்கூரை (அன்றைய வேணாடு) திரு. பூதல வீர கேரள வர்மன் என்ற ஜெயசிம்ம நாட்டு மூத்த திருவடிகள் ஆண்டு வந்தார்கள். அவ்வேளையில் விசய நகர மன்னரான விதாலர் ஒரு பெரும் படையுடன் வேணாட்டை முற்றுகையிட்டார். அவரை எதிர்த்து நிற்பதற்கு வேணாட்டு அரசரால் இயலாமல் போகவே அவர் புனித சவேரியாரின் உதவியை நாடினார். விஜய நகரப் படைகள் ஒழுகினசேரி வழியாக வடசேரி மேட்டை நெருங்கிவிட்டது. அவ்வேளையில் குருசையும் செபமாலையும் உயர்த்திப் பிடித்து வடுகர்ப்படைகளை பின்வாங்கும்படி கர்ச்சித்தார்.
புனித சவோரியாரின் இந்த திடீர் செயலானது வடுகப்படையினரை நிலைகுலையைச் செய்துவிட்டது. அவர்களின் முன்பு ஏதோ ஒரு பெரும் பூதம் போருக்குத் தயாராக நிற்பதைப் போன்று அவர்கள் கண்டனர். நடுநடுங்கிய வடுகப்படைகள் எதிர்பாராத விதமாக பின்வாங்கி வேணாட்டைவிட்டு வெளியேறிச் சென்றனர். இவ்விதமாக புனிதர் சவேரியார் பெரும் ஆபத்திலிருந்து அன்று வேணாட்டைக் காத்து நின்றார். இந்நிகழ்ச்சி நடந்த இடத்தில் ஒரு சிறு கத்தோலிக்க ஆலயம் இன்றைய நாகர்கோவில் இராஐம் திருமண மண்டபத்திற்கெதிரில் காணப்படுகிறது.
“அவர்கள் என்னை மகாராஜா என்று அழைத்தார்கள், ஆனால் இனிமேல் அவர்கள் உம்மை எப்போதும் மகாதந்தை என்று அழைப்பார்கள்” (They called me great king, but hereafter for ever they will call you the Great Father) என்று மன்னர் புனிதர் சவேரியாரை நன்றியுணர்வுடன் பாராட்டினார். இன்றைய குமரி மாவட்டத்தின் கோட்டாறு புனித சவேரியார் ஆலயம் இப்புனிதராலேயே நிறுவப்பட்டுள்ளது.
ஒரு முறை கடலில் பயணம் செய்யும் போது புனித சவேரியாரின் சிலுவை தொலைந்து போயிற்று, ஆனால் கரையை அடைந்ததும் ஒரு நண்டு அந்தச் சிலுவையைக் கொண்டுவந்து சேர்த்தது என்பர்.
மரணம்:
புனித சவேரியார் சுமார் 38000 மைல்கள் கடல் மற்றும் தரை மார்க்கமாகப் பயணம் செய்து இறைப்பணியைச் செய்துள்ளார். கடைசியாக சாங்சோங் தீவில் நோயால் பாதிக்கபட்டார். இவரை ஜார்ஜ் அல்வறேஸ் என்னும் போர்த்துக்கீசியர் கவனித்து வந்தார். இருந்தாலும் 1552ம் வருடம், டிசம்பர் மாதம், 3ம் நாள் உயிர் துறந்தார். ஜார்ஜ் அல்வறேஸ் சவேரியாரை அத்தீவிலேயே அடக்கம் செய்துவிட்டுச் சென்று விடுகிறார்.
அழியா உடல்:
சுமார் இரண்டரை மாதங்கள் கழித்து (ஃபெப்ரவரி 17, 1553) அத்தீவின் வழியாக வரும்போது, மீபொருட்களை, அவரின் சொந்த நாட்டுக்கு எடுத்துச்செல்ல கல்லறையை திறந்தபோது அவரது உடல் எந்தப் பாதிப்பும் இல்லாமல் வைத்தது வைக்கப்பட்டது போலவே இருந்தது. நறுமணமும் வீசியது. பின்னர் அவரது உடலை சண்ட க்ரூஸ் என்னும் கப்பலில் மக்காவு கொண்டு சென்றனர். இக்கப்பலானது கி.பி. 1553ம் வருடம், மார்ச் மாதம், 22ம் நாளன்று, மக்காவுவை வந்தடைந்தது. மீண்டும் ஒரு ஆலயத்தில் வைத்து அவரது உடலைப் பார்த்தபோது அது கெட்டுப் போகாமல் நறுமணம் வீசியது என்பர். பின்னர் சவேரியாரின் உடல் புனித சின்னப்பர் தேவாலயத்தில் உள்ள கல்லறைத் தோட்டத்தில் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டது.
இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்குப் பின்னர் தந்தை பெய்ரோ புனித சவேரியாரின் உடலைக் கோவா கொண்டுசெல்ல உத்தரவிட்டார். இதன்படி கி.பி. 1553ம் வருடம், டிசம்பர் மாதம், புனித சவேரியாரின் உடல் கோவா வந்தடைந்தது. 450 வருடங்களைத் தாண்டிய பின்னரும் அழியாமல் இன்றும் இப்புனிதரின் உடல் பொதுமக்கள் பார்வைக்காக வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
புனித சவேரியார் பேராலயம், கோட்டாறு:
கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டம், கோட்டாறில் சவேரியார் தங்கிருந்தபோது, அன்னை மரியாளுக்கு ஒரு சிறிய ஆலயம் ஒன்றை கட்டினார். அந்த ஆலயம் இருந்த இடத்தில் கி.பி. 1600ல் புனித சவேரியார் பேராலயம் ஒன்று கட்டப்பட்டது. சவேரியார் அன்னை மரியாளுக்கு கட்டிய ஆலயம் பேராலயத்தினுள் இன்றளவும் உள்ளது.
Also known as
• Apostle to the Far East
• Francisco de Jaso y Azpilicueta
• Franciscus de Xabier
Profile
Born to the nobility of the Basque reqion. Studied and taught philosophy at the University of Paris, and planned a career as a professor. Friend of Saint Ignatius of Loyola who convinced him to use his talents to spread the Gospel. One of the founding Jesuits, and the first Jesuit missionary. Priest.
In Goa, India, while waiting to take ship, he preached in the street, worked with the sick, and taught children their catechism. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. Said to have converted the entire city.
He scolded his patron, King John of Portugal, over the slave trade: "You have no right to spread the Catholic faith while you take away all the country's riches. It upsets me to know that at the hour of your death you may be ordered out of paradise."
Tremendously successful missionary for ten years in India, the East Indies, and Japan, baptizing more than 40,000 converts. His epic finds him dining with head hunters, washing the sores of lepers in Venice, teaching catechism to Indian children, baptizing 10,000 in a single month. He tolerated the most appalling conditions on long sea voyages, enduring extremes of heat and cold. Wherever he went he would seek out and help the poor and forgotten. He traveled thousands of miles, most on his bare feet, and he saw the greater part of the Far East. Had the gift of tongues. Miracle worker. Raised people from the dead. Calmed storms. Prophet. Healer.
Born
7 April 1506 at Javier, Spanish Navarre as Francisco de Jaso y Azpilicueta
Died
2 December 1552 at Sancian, China of a fever contracted on a mission journey
Canonized
12March 1622 by Pope Gregory XV
Blessed Ladislao Bukowinski
Also known as
• Vladislav Bukovinskij
• Wladyslaw Bukowinski
Profile
One of three children born to Jozef Tsypriyan Bukowinski and Vladislav Jadwiga Schipo del Campo, he was baptized at the age of four days. Naturalized Polish citizen. Studied law and theology at Jagiellonian University. Ordained a priest in the diocese of Krakow, Poland on 28 June 1931.
Vicar and catechist in Rabka from 1931 to 1935. Assistant pastor and catechist in Sucha-Beskidzka from 1935 to 1936. Assigned to Luck, Volhynia in 1936 where he worked with Polish immigrants and prisoners, both criminal and political; taught sociology and catechism at the major seminary; director of the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences; deputy editor of The Catholic Life. General Secretary of Catholic Action in the diocese in 1938. Appointed parish priest at the cathedral of Luck at the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. He was known as an intelligent, educated and pious man who remained calm and spiritual even in the face of the war.
Arrested by the NKVD (Communist secret police) on 22 August 1940, and sentenced to eight years of hard labour for the crime of being a priest in a Communist-controlled area, and for his out-spoken defense of religious freedom. He was sentenced to die when the NKVD started killing prisoners. He was released when the German army over-ran the area. He resumed his pastoral work which now included hiding Jewish children with Catholic families. He was arrested again by the NKVD on the night of 3 January 1945, languished in prison for over a year, then was sentenced to more hard labour in the mines of modern Karaganda, Kazakhstan. He spent his time in prison ministering to other prisoners.
He was released from the gulag in 1955 and ordered to remain in exile in Kazakhstan. He became a Soviet citizen in June 1955. Arrested in 1957 and sentenced to three more years in a labour camp for the crime of priesthood. Released in December 1961, he immediately resumed his work as parish priest and missionary in a Muslim land.
Born
22 December 1904 in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr, Ukraine
Died
• 3 December 1974 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan of natural causes
• relics enshrined in the cathedral of Karaganda in 2008
Beatified
• 11 September 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato
Blessed Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer
Also known as
• Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim
• John Nepomuk von Tschiderer
Profile
Son of Joseph Joachim and Caterina de Giovanelli. Received his secondary education from the Franciscans. Moved with his family to Innsbruck, Austria in 1792 where he studied philosophy and theology at the university. Ordained on 27 July 1800.
Though he was not a Benedictine, Johann spent a life exemplifying their motto of "Prayer and Work." He was priest to several Tirolean mountain parishes, a professor at the theological seminary of Trent, Italy and school dean in Sarentino and Merano. Recalled in 1827 to Trent as a member of the Chapter of Saint Vigilius' Cathedral. Pro-Vicar General of the diocese. Auxiliary Bishop of Bressanone for Vorarlberg in 1832. Bishop in Innsbruck, Austria on 20 May 1832.
Johann never let his administrative duties overshadow his pastoral ones, and he spent much of his time preaching, writing, teaching as a catechist, reviving home missions, helping the poor and sick, conducting Mass, hearing confessions, and administering the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders, sometimes to candidates from other dioceses whose bishops were not available. He supervised building and restoration of over 60 churches, maintained good relations with priests, providing for their ongoing formation, promoted Christian education of boys and girls by those in religious life, supported seminarians, insured seminary teachings were strictly orthodox, helped found an institute for the hearing and speech impaired, and managed to pray the Rosary each day.
He worked with, and provided funding for the care of victims of the cholera epidemics of 1836 and 1855, and in the war of 1859. He intervened to prevent the 20 March 1848 Uprising from becoming a blood-bath. He worked to overcome the obstacles between Church and State that were created by contemporary legislation. Late in life he planned a pilgrimage to Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, but illness and then death prevented it.
Born
15 April 1777 at Bolzano, diocese of Trent, Italy
Died
3 December 1860 at Trent, Italy of natural causes
Beatified
• 29 April 1995 by Pope John Paul II
• beatification miracles include the healing of blindness of a 4-year-old in 1867, and the 1871 cure of a young priest who was on his death-bed with tuberculosis
Saint Emma of Bremen
Also known as
• Emma of Lesum
• Emma of Stiepel
• Hemma, Imma
Profile
Born to the Saxon nobility; the sister of Bishop Meinwerk of Paderborn, Germany. Lay woman, married to Luidger, the son of a Saxon duke. In 1008 she built a church on land given to her by the pope. Mother of one, who would become Bishop Imad of Paderborn. Widowed in 1011. She devoted herself and her fortune to charity to the poor of Bremen, Germany, support of the cathedral, and the construction of churches.
Born
c.977
Died
• 3 December 1038 of natural causes
• buried in the cathedral in Bremen, Germany church yard
• when her grave was opened in the 16th century, the body had turned to dust except for the right hand - which was the hand she used to dispense charity
• hand enshrined at the abbey of Saint Ludger in Werden, Germany
Canonized
• never formally canonized
• a popular devotion developed immediately upon her death
Saint Lucius
Profile
Second century king or chieftain in the British Isles. Wrote to Pope Saint Eleuterus c.180 to ask for missionaries. Bede says that evangelists were sent, and had great success in the south and west of Britain and Wales. Helped found the dioceses of London, England, and Llandaff, Wales. Lucius later became a missionary himself, taking the message to the Grissons in what is modern Switzerland.
Many modern scholars regard Lucius as inadvertent pious fiction. We know that King Lucius of Edessa wrote to Pope Eleuterus to ask for missionaries to the Britium region near Mesopotamia. Combined with the lack of popular devotion to Lucius in Britain, and no mention in writings before the 6th century leads to the belief that some old hand-written documents were misread, and were seen as an explanation for some early missionary efforts in England and Wales.
Died
c.200 of natural events
Blessed Jan Franciszek Macha
Profile
One of four children born to Pawel Macha and Anna Cofalka. Jan felt a call to a priestly vocation, but was turned down by the seminary on first application in 1933. He studied law for a few months, but was accepted to seminary in 1934. Ordained a priest of the archdiocese of Katowice, Poland on 25 June 1939, just a few months before the Nazi invasion. During the war he worked to provide material and spiritual support to families and children who had lost parents in the fighting. Imprisoned on 5 September 1941, he was moved from prison to prison, repeatedly interrogated by the SS, and finally executed. Martyr.
Born
18 January 1914 in Chrozów, Poland
Died
• guillotined at 12.15am on 3 December 1942 in Katowice, Poland
• remains unrecovered, and probably cremated
Beatified
• 20 November 2021 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated in Katowice, Poland, presided by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro
Saint Birinus of Dorchester
Also known as
• Birinus of Genoa
• Apostle of Wessex
• Berin, Birin, Birch
Profile
Ordained in Rome, Italy. Bishop in Genoa, Italy. Sent by Pope Honorius I as a missionary to Britain in 634. Preached with the pagan West Saxons where he had great success, converting King Cynegils and many of his subjects. Bishop of Dorchester, England. Founded many churches in the region, and known for a great devotion to the Eucharist.
Born
• c.600
• Frankish
Died
• 3 December 650 at Dorchester, England of natural causes
• buried in Dorchester, Oxfordshire, England
• relics at Winchester Cathedral in 686
Saint Cassian of Tangiers
Profile
Court stenographer at the trial of Saint Marcellus the Centurion at Tangiers. When Marcellus was condemned to death, Cassian announced his own faith, and denounced the penalty. He was immediately arrested and killed. Martyr. Mentioned in a hymn by Saint Prudentius.
Died
298 in Tangiers (in modern Morocco)
Saint Theodulus of Edessa
Profile
Prefect in the court of Theodosius the Great in Constantinople. Married. When his wife died, Theodulus felt drawn to the life of a hermit, claiming that all the world's glories meant nothing to him. He sold his estate, gave his fortune to the poor, and lived as a hermit on top of a pillar near Edessa, Syria. Legend says he had the gift of inedia, living solely from Communion for 38 years.
Died
440 near Edessa, Syria of natural causes
Saint Claudius the Martyr
Profile
Husband of Saint Hilaria. Father of Saint Jason and Saint Maurus. Roman military tribune. Converted to Christianity after hearing the testimony of Saint Chrysanthus. Martyred in the persecution of Numerian along with his family and 70 soldier converts whose names have not come down to us.
Died
• drowned in 283 at Rome, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
Saint Hilaria the Martyr
Profile
Wife of Saint Claudius. Mother of Saint Jason and Saint Maurus. Convert. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
Died
• died in prison in 283 in Rome, Italy from general harsh conditions and poor treatment while waiting her sentence as a martyr
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
Blessed Edward Coleman
Profile
Educated at Cambridge. Convert to Catholicism. Secretary to the duchess of York. Falsely condemned as being part of the Titus Oates Plot. Martyr.
Born
Suffolk, England
Died
hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, London, England on 3 December 1678
Beatified
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Zephaniah the Prophet
Also known as
Sofonia
Profile
Hebrew prophet and author of the canonical Old Testament book that bears his name.
Born
7th century BC Jerusalem
Died
late 7th century BC
Saint Maurus the Martyr
Profile
Son of Saint Claudius and Saint Hilaria; brother of Saint Jason. Convert. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
Died
• drowned in 283 at Rome, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
Saint Jason the Martyr
Profile
Son of Saint Claudius and Saint Hilaria; brother of Saint Maurus. Convert. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
Died
• drowned in 283 at Rome, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
Saint Veranus
Profile
Brother of Saint Gibrian, Saint Helan, Saint Tressan, Saint Abran, Saint Petran, Saint Germain, Saint Promptia, Saint Franca, and Saint Possena. Spiritual student of Saint Remigus and Saint Gibrian. Hermit on the River Marne.
Died
8th century Ireland
Saint Attalia
Also known as
Attala
Profile
Niece of Saint Odilia of Alsace. Benedictine nun. Abbess of Saint Stephen's Convent, Strasbourg, France.
Born
c.697
Died
741 of natural causes
Saint Anthemius
Profile
Eighth century bishop of Poitiers, France. Evangelized the Saintonge region. Accompanied Charlemagne to Spain where he was martyred.
Died
martyred by Spanish Saracens
Saint Abbo of Auxerre
Profile
Monk and abbot at Saint Germain monastery at Auxerre, France. Bishop of Auxerre in 857. Resigned the see in 859 to return to the life of a monk.
Died
c.860 of natural causes
Saint Eloque
Also known as
Eloquius
Profile
Benedictine monk in Lagny, France. Spiritual student of Saint Fursey of Peronne. Abbot of the Lagny monastery.
Died
666 of natural causes
Blessed Bernard of Toulouse
Profile
Dominican friar. Opposed Albigensianism. Martyr.
Died
tortured and sawn in half in 1320 by Albigensians
Saint Theodore of Alexandria
Profile
Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt. Martyr.
Died
beheaded c.609 in Alexandria, Egypt
Saint Lucy the Chaste
Profile
Dominican tertiary. Spiritual student of Saint Vincent Ferrer.
Born
French
Died
1420 in Spain
Saint Ethernan
Profile
Consecrated in Ireland as a bishop, he returned home to evangelize Scotland.
Born
Scotland
Saint Crispin of Africa
Also known as
Crispinus
Profile
Crispinus of Africa was a Christian martyr who died in North Africa. He is commemorated as a saint on October 25th.
Crispinus is said to have been a shoemaker who lived in North Africa during the 3rd century. He was a convert to Christianity and was known for his piety and charity. He was also said to have been a skilled shoemaker and to have made shoes for the poor for free.
Crispinus was eventually arrested for his Christian faith and was martyred in North Africa. The exact date and circumstances of his death are unknown, but he is believed to have died sometime in the mid-3rd century.
Saint Agricola of Pannonia
Profile
Saint Agricola of Pannonia was a Christian martyr who died in Pannonia (in modern Hungary) for his faith. The exact date of his death is unknown, but he is believed to have lived in the 3rd century.
Agricola is mentioned in several ancient martyrologies, including the Hieronymian Martyrology and the Martyrology of Adon of Vienna. He is said to have been a layman who was known for his piety and charity. He was eventually arrested for his Christian faith and was martyred in Pannonia.
The circumstances of his death are unknown, but he is believed to have been tortured and beheaded. His body was buried in Pannonia, and his tomb became a place of pilgrimage for Christians.
Agricola is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. He is the patron saint of farmers and agricultural workers. He is also invoked against drought and famine.
Died
in Pannonia (in modern Hungary), date unknown
Saint Claudius of Africa
Profile
Saint Claudius of Africa, Martyr
Feast day: December 3
Profile: A Christian martyr who died in North Africa for his faith. The exact details of his life and death are unknown, but he is believed to have lived in the early 3rd century. He is said to have been a soldier in the Roman army, and he was known for his courage and his devotion to his faith. Claudius was eventually arrested for refusing to renounce his Christian beliefs, and he was sentenced to death. He was beheaded, and his body was thrown into a river.
Saint Abran
Profile
Saint Abran: Hermit of the Marne
Profile:
Lived as a hermit: Yes, Saint Abran lived a life of solitude as a hermit beside the Marne River in France.
Born: Ireland
Feast Day: December 2nd (Eastern Orthodox Church calendar)
Siblings: He was one of five brothers and three sisters who all chose a life of religious devotion.
Veneration: Revered for his dedication to God and positive influence on the Breton people.
Also known as Gibrian.
Traveled to Brittany from Ireland with his siblings.
Established his hermitage near the Marne River, where he lived a life of prayer and contemplation.
Recognized as a saint alongside his siblings for their piety and impact on the local community.
His feast day is celebrated on December 2nd in the Eastern Orthodox Church calendar, while the Western Rite Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches celebrate it on May 8th.
Born
Irish
Saint Stephen of Africa
Profile
Several sources mention a Saint Stephen martyred in Carthage during the reign of Diocletian (284-305 AD). This aligns with the information you provided about a North African martyr named Stephen commemorated on December 2nd.
Saint Magina of Africa
Profile
Very little is known about the life of Saint Magina of Africa. She is believed to have been a martyr who lived in North Africa during the 3rd or 4th century. She was one of five martyrs who were put to death for their faith in Jesus Christ.
The other martyrs were Claudius, Crispinus, Yohane, and Stefano. They were all arrested and tortured for refusing to renounce their Christian faith. They were eventually beheaded.
Veneration of Saint Magina of Africa
Saint Magina of Africa is venerated as a martyr and a saint. She is remembered as a courageous woman who died for her faith.
Saint John of Africa
Profile
Saint John of Africa is also known as John the African. He is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, and his feast day is celebrated on December 2. Saint John of Africa is believed to have been martyred in North Africa during the 8th century.
According to tradition, Saint John of Africa was a hermit who lived in a cave in Libya. He was known for his piety and his devotion to God. He was also known for his ability to heal the sick.
During a raid by Berber nomads, Saint John was captured and tortured. He was then beheaded for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
Saint John of Africa is venerated as a martyr and a saint. He is also considered to be a patron saint of North Africa.
Saint Seleucus
Profile
Saint Seleucus the Syrian was a martyr who lived in Syria during the 3rd or 4th century. He is said to have been orphaned at a young age and raised by Christians. He became a devout Christian himself and dedicated his life to serving God and helping others.
During a time of persecution against Christians, Seleucus was arrested for his faith. He was tortured and imprisoned, but he refused to renounce his beliefs. He was eventually beheaded.
Saint Seleucus is venerated as a martyr and a saint.
Saint Agapius
Profile
Saint Agapius was a Christian martyr from Gaza who was martyred in the year 303 or 304 during the Great Persecution of Diocletian. He is venerated as a saint by both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
Life of Saint Agapius
Agapius was born in Gaza, Palestine, into a Christian family. He was a devout Christian who devoted his life to serving God. During the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who launched a fierce persecution against Christians, Agapius was arrested for his faith.
Agapius was brought before Urban, the governor of Palestine, who demanded that he renounce his Christian beliefs. Agapius refused and was subjected to torture. He was beaten, scourged, and imprisoned. Despite the suffering, Agapius remained steadfast in his faith.
After enduring months of torture, Agapius was beheaded in Caesarea Maritima. He was martyred alongside seven other Christians.
Veneration of Saint Agapius
Saint Agapius is remembered as a martyr who died for his faith. He is venerated as a saint by both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. His feast day is celebrated on December 2.
Saint Agapius is also the patron saint of adopted children and their parents, and animals. He is invoked as a protector of animals because of his legendary association with a leopard. According to legend, Agapius was once attacked by a leopard while he was traveling. He prayed to God for protection, and the leopard miraculously became tame and followed him like a pet.
Saint Mamas
Profile
Feast Day: December 2
Patron Saint of: Adopted children and their parents, animals
Saint Mamas was a child martyr who was born in Caesarea, Cappadocia, in the 3rd century. His parents, Theodotus and Rufina, were also Christians who were martyred for their faith. Mamas was raised by a Christian nurse, who taught him about the faith.
When Mamas was a young boy, he was arrested for confessing his faith in Jesus Christ. He was tortured and imprisoned, but he refused to deny his faith. He was eventually beheaded.
Saint Mamas is venerated as a martyr and a saint. He is the patron saint of adopted children and their parents, and he is also invoked as a protector of animals..
Martyrs of Nicomedia
Profile
Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian - Ambicus, Julius and Victor.
Died
c.303 in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey)
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War
• Blessed Alvaro González López
• Blessed Francisco Delgado González
• Blessed Francisco Fernández Escosura
• Blessed Juan Bautista Ferris Llopis
• Blessed Julián Heredia Zubia
• Blessed Manuel Santiago y Santiago
• Blessed Marcos García Rodríguez
• Blessed Valeriano Rodríguez García
