Saint Raymond of Penyafort
பெனஃபோர்ட் நகர் புனிதர் ரேமண்ட்
மறை பரப்புவோர் சபை தலைவர்:
பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 1175
விலாஃப்ரான்கா டெல் பெநேடேஸ், கடலோனியா, அரகன்
இறப்பு: ஜனவரி 6, 1275 (வயது 100)
பார்சிலோனா, அரகன்
ஏற்கும் சமயம்:
ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை
முக்திபேறு பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1542
திருத்தந்தை மூன்றாம் பவுல்
புனிதர் பட்டம்: ஏப்ரல் 29, 1601
திருத்தந்தை எட்டாம் கிளமென்ட்
முக்கிய திருத்தலங்கள்:
புனித திருச்சிலுவை பேராலயம், புனித யூலேலியா பேராலயம், பார்சிலோனா, கடலோனியா, ஸ்பெயின்
நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஜனவரி 7
பாதுகாவல்:
நியதி - சமய வழக்கறிஞர்கள்; ஸ்பெயின்; அனைத்து தரப்பு வழக்கறிஞர்கள்
"பென்யஃபோர்ட் நகர புனிதர் ரேமண்ட்" (St. Raymond of Penyafort) பதின்மூன்றாம் நூற்றாண்டில் வாழ்ந்த ஒரு ஸ்பேனிஷ் டொமினிக்கன் துறவி (Spanish Dominican Friar) ஆவார். ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையில் இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டு வரை அமலில் இருந்த, திருத்தந்தை ஒன்பதாம் கிரெகோரியின் (Pope Gregory IX) கத்தோலிக்க சமய சட்ட திட்டங்களை தொகுத்து எழுதியவர் இவர் ஆவார். இவர் வழக்கறிஞர்களின் - முக்கியமாக நியதி - சமய வழக்கறிஞர்களின் பாதுகாவலர் ஆவார்.
வாழ்க்கை:
புனிதர் ரேமண்ட், “கடலோனியாவின்” (Catalonia) “பார்சிலோனா” (Barcelona) அருகேயுள்ள "விலாஃப்ரான்கா டெல் பெநேடேஸ்" (Vilafranca del Penedès) என்ற சிறிய நகரத்தில் பிறந்தார். “அரகனின்” (Aragon) அரச வம்சாவழியின் உறவுகளை கொண்டு ஒரு பிரபுத்துவ குடும்பத்தில் இருந்து தோன்றியவர். பார்சிலோனாவில் ஆரம்ப கல்வி பயின்ற இவர், "போலாக்னா பல்கலையில்" (University of Bologna) உயர் கல்வி கற்று, சிவில் மற்றும் நியதி - சமய சட்டங்களில் (Civil and Canon Law) வல்லுநர் பட்டம் பெற்றார். கி.பி. 1195ம் ஆண்டு முதல் கி.பி. 1210ம் ஆண்டு வரை நியதி - சமய சட்டம் கற்பித்தார். கி.பி. 1210ம் ஆண்டு, போலோக்னா சென்ற அவர், கி.பி. 1222ம் ஆண்டு வரையான பன்னிரண்டு வருட காலம் அங்கேயே தங்கி இருந்தார். இதில் மூன்று வருடங்கள் "போலாக்னா பல்கலையின்" நியதி - சமய சட்ட பிரிவின் தலைமை ஏற்றார். அங்கே, அவர் புதிதாய் தோற்றுவிக்கப்பட்ட "டொமினிக்கன் சபையை" (Dominican Order) பற்றி கேள்வியுற்றார். போலோனாவிலுள்ள டொமினிக்கன் சபையின் முன்னவர் அருளாளர் “ரெஜினால்டின்” (Blessed Reginald) மறையுரைகளால் கவரப்பட்டார். தமது 47ம் வயதில் பார்சிலோனாவிலுள்ள (Barcelona) “டொமினிக்கன்” பள்ளியில் (Dominican Convent) இணைந்தார்.
கருணையின் அன்னை அர்ச்சிஷ்ட மரியாள் சபை:
கி.பி. 1218ம் ஆண்டு, இச்சபை நிறுவப்பட புனிதர் ரேமண்டும் ஒரு கருவியாக செயல்பட்டார். "பீட்டர் நொலாஸ்கோ" (Peter Nolasco) இவரை சபை நிறுவுதல் சம்பந்தமாக அணுகியபோது, இவர் அவரை உற்சாகமாக ஊக்கப்படுத்தினார். சபை நிறுவும் ஒப்புதல் வேண்டி அரகனின் அரசன் “முதலாம் ஜேம்சை” (King James I of Aragon) அணுகி ஒப்புதல் பெற்றனர். "ஸ்டடியா லிங்குவரம்" (Studia Linguarum) என்ற முதல் பள்ளியை "டுனிஸ்" (Tunis) எனும் நகரில் ஆரம்பித்தார். இப்பள்ளிகளின் முக்கிய நோக்கம், இஸ்லாமிய நாடுகளில் கைதிகளாய் இருந்த கிறிஸ்தவர்களை விடுவிப்பதில் டொமினிக்கன் துறவியர்க்கு உதவுவதாம்.
இவர், ஒப்புரவாளர்களுக்காக (The Summa de casibus poenitentiae) எனப்படும் ஒரு வழக்குகள் புத்தகத்தை எழுதினர்.
இவர், கி.பி. 1229ம் ஆண்டு, “சபீனாவின் கர்தினால் பேராயரான” (Cardinal Archbishop of Sabina) “ஜான்” (John of Abbeville) என்பவரின் இறையியல் நிர்வாகியாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். பின்னர், கி.பி. 1230ம் ஆண்டு, அவர் திருத்தந்தை “ஒன்பதாம் கிரகொரியால்” (Pope Gregory IX) ரோம் நகருக்கு வரவழைக்கப்பட்டு தனியார் சிற்றாலய குருவாகவும் பெரும் நிர்வாகியாகவும் நியமிக்கப்பட்டார்.
ரேமண்ட், அரகனின் மன்னன் “முதலாம் ஜேம்ஸின்” (King James I of Aragon) ஒப்புரவாளராகவும் பணியாற்றினார். திருச்சபையின் விசுவாசமான மகனான மன்னன், சிற்றின்ப வேட்கைகள் நிறைந்தவனாகவும் இருந்தார். அவருடைய இவ்வேட்கைகள், அவரைக் குலைத்தன. ஒருமுறை, “மஜோர்க்கா” (Majorca) தீவில் நடந்த இஸ்லாமியர்களை மனம் மாற்றும் பிரச்சாரத்தை ஆரம்பிக்க வந்திருந்த அரசன், தம்முடன் தமது ஆசைநாயகியான பெண்ணையும் அழைத்து வந்திருந்தார். அரசனை கடிந்துகொண்ட ரேமண்ட், அவரது ஆசைநாயகியை விலக்கிவிடுமாறு பலமுறை வற்புறுத்தினார். ஆனால் அரசன் அதை மறுத்துவிட்டார். இறுதியில், தாம் இனிமேலும் அங்கே தங்கியிருக்க இயலாது என்றும் என்றும், பார்சிலோனாவுக்கு (Barcelona) செல்ல திட்டமிட்டுள்ளதாகவும் இவர் அரசனிடம் கூறினார். ஆனால், அவர் பார்சிலோனா செல்வதை தடை செய்த அரசன், அவரை யாராவது கப்பல் தலைவன் அழைத்துச் செல்ல முயன்றால் அக்கப்பல் தலைவனை தீவிரமாக தண்டிப்பதாகவும் எச்சரித்தார். ரேமண்ட் தமது டொமினிக்கன் துறவியர் நண்பர்களிடம், இந்த தொடக்க கால அரசனின் பொல்லாத செயல்களை விண்ணக அரசர் எவ்வாறு குழப்பப் போகிறார் என்பதை நீங்கள் விரைவில் காண்பீர்கள் என்றும், அவரே தமக்கு ஒரு கப்பலையும் தருவார் என்றும் கூறினார்.
பின்னர், டொமினிக்கன் துறவியர் கடற்கரைக்கு சென்றனர். அங்கே, ரேமண்ட் தமது கருப்பு நிற நீண்ட அங்கியின் ஒரு பாகத்தை கடல் நீரிலும் மறு பாகத்தை நிலத்திலுமாக விரித்தார். பின்னர், அவர் தமது டொமினிக்கன் நண்பர்களை அதில் தாவி வருமாறு அழைத்தார். ஆனால், விசுவாசமில்லாதிருந்த அவர்கள் அதற்கு மறுத்தனர். ரேமண்ட் தாம் மட்டும் தமது அங்கியின் மீது தாவி, விடை பெற்றார். காற்றில் சிலுவை அடையாளம் வரைந்தவுடன், பாய்மரக்கப்பலாக மாறிப்போன அங்கி, அதிசயிக்கும் விதமாக கடலில் பயணிக்க தொடங்கியது. அவரை மேலும் போகவிடாமல் தடுப்பதற்காக சுற்றிலும் படகுகள் வந்தன. அவற்றையெல்லாம் மீறி அவர் சென்றார். அவர் சாதாரண ஒரு மேலங்கியை படகைப் பாவித்து கடலில் பயணித்ததை பல கடல் பயண மாலுமிகள் கண்டனர். அவர்கள் மலைத்துப் போய் உற்சாகக் குரலெடுத்து கூக்குரலிட்டனர். 160 மைல் தூரத்தை சுமார் ஆறு மணி நேர கடல் பயணத்தில் நிறைவு செய்த ரேமண்ட், இறங்கும்போது, எண்ணற்ற மக்கள் நேரில் கண்டனர். அவர் செய்த இவ்வற்புதம், அரசன் முதலாம் ஜேம்சை (King James I) தொட்டது. அவர் தமது அவரது தீய வழிகளை கைவிட்டு, அதற்குப் பிறகு ஒரு நல்ல வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்தார்.
60 வயதானதும் தனிமை வாழ்க்கை வேண்டி ஓய்வு பெற்றார். ஆனால், ஒரு வருடத்துக்குள்ளேயே அவர் "அரகன் அரசின்" (Kingdom of Aragon) "டர்ரகோனா" (Tarragona) மறைமாவட்டத்தின் பேராயராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். ஆனால், அவர் அதை நிராகரித்துவிட்டார்.
கி.பி. 1236ம் ஆண்டு பார்சிலோனா திரும்பிய ரேமண்ட், நெடுநாட்கள் தனிமையில் வாழ இயலவில்லை. அவரை “மறை பரப்புவோர் சபை தலைவர்” (Master of the Order of Preachers) 1238ம் ஆண்டின் பொதுக்குழு நியமித்தது. அவர் உடனடியாக சபையின் துறவியர் மற்றும் அருட்சகோதரியரின் இல்லங்களுக்கு வருகை தந்தார். அவர் செல்லுமிடமெல்லாம் காலணிகள் இல்லாமலேயே பயணித்தார். இதற்கிடையில், சபையின் தலைவர் பொறுப்பிலிருந்து விலகுவதற்கான உட்பிரிவு உள்ளிட்ட, சபைக்கான புதிய அமைப்பு விதிகளை எழுதினர். பின்னர், அந்த உட்பிரிவை பயன்படுத்தி இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளுக்குள் அவர் தமது தலைவர் பதவியை ராஜினாமா செய்தார்.
கி.பி. 1275ம் ஆண்டு, தமது நூறு வயதில் மரணமடைந்த இவர், பார்சிலோனாவிலுள்ள "புனித யூலேலியா பேராலயத்தில்" (Cathedral of Santa Eulalia in Barcelona) அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார்.
Also known as
• Raymond of Rochefort
• Raymond of Pegnafort
• Raymond of Pennafort
• Raymond of Peñafort
• Raimund, Raymund, Raimundus
Profile
Born to the Aragonian nobility. Educated at the cathedral school in Barcelona, Spain. Philosophy teacher around age 20. Priest. Graduated law school in Bologna, Italy. Joined the Dominicans in 1218. Summoned to Rome, Italy in 1230 by Pope Gregory IX. Assigned to collect all official letters of the popes since 1150. Raymond gathered and published five volumes, and helped write Church law.
Chosen master general of the Dominicans in 1238. Reviewed the Order's Rule, made sure everything was legally correct, then resigned his position in 1240 to dedicate himself to parish work. He was offered and archbishopric, but he declined, instead returning to Spain and the parish work he loved. His compassion helped many people return to God through Reconciliation.
During his years in Rome, Raymond heard of the difficulties missionaries faced trying to reach non-Christians of Northern Africa and Spain. Raymond started a school to teach the language and culture of the people to be evangelized. With Saint Thomas Aquinas, he wrote a booklet to explain the truths of faith in a way that non-believers could understand. His great influence on Church law led to his patronage of lawyers.
Born
1175 at Peñafort, Catalonia, Spain
Died
6 January 1275 at Barcelona, Spain of natural causes
Canonized
29 April 1601 by Pope Clement VIII
Saint Lucian of Antioch
புனித_லூசியன் (240-312)
ஜனவரி 07
இவர் (#StLucianOfAntioch) சிரியாவைச் சார்ந்தவர். இவரது பெற்றோர் மிகவும் வசதியானவர்கள்.
இவரது வாழ்க்கையில் எல்லாம் நன்றாகச் சென்றுகொண்டிருந்த வேளையில், இவரது பெற்றோர் திடீரென இறந்து போனார்கள். இதனால் இவர் எல்லாவற்றையும் விற்று ஏழைகளுக்குக் கொடுத்துவிட்டு, துறவு வாழ்க்கை வாழத் தொடங்கினார்.
எடேசா நகருக்குச் சென்று திருவிவிலியத்தைப் பிழையறக் கற்றுக்கொண்ட இவர், அந்தியோக்கு நகரில் குருவாக அருள்பொழிவு செய்யப்பட்டார். பின்னர் இவர் இறையியல் பள்ளி ஒன்றைத் தொடங்கி, அங்கு வந்த மாணவர்களுக்கு இறையியலைக் கற்றுத் தந்தார்.
இவர் திருவிவிலியத்தைப் கையால் பிரதி எடுப்பதில் மிகவும் வல்லவராக விளங்கினார். இவரது இந்தப் பணி புனித ஜெரோம், புனித ஜான் கிறிஸ்சோஸ்தம் போன்ற பலராலும் வெகுவாகப் பாராட்டப்பட்டது.
இவரது காலத்தில் உரோமையைத் தியோகிளசியன் என்ற மன்னன் ஆண்டு வந்தான். அவன் கிறிஸ்தவர்களைப் பிடித்துக் கொடூரமாகச் சித்திரவதை செய்து கொன்றான். அப்படிப்பட்டவன் இவர் கிறிஸ்தவர் என்பதை அறிந்ததும், இவரைச் சிறையில் அடைத்து வைத்து, ஒன்பது ஆண்டுகள் பலவாறு சித்திரவதை செய்தான். இதனால் இவர் "நான் ஒரு கிறிஸ்தவன்" என்று சொல்லிக்கொண்டே 312 ஆம் ஆண்டு தன் இன்னுயிரைத் துறந்தார்.
Also known as
• Lucian of Drepana
• Lucian of Nicomedië
• Lucian of Nicomedia
• Lucian the Martyr
• Lucian of Samosata
• Lucianus...
Additional Memorial
15 October (Eastern Church)
Profile
Following the death of his wealthy parents, Lucian gave away his possessions, and studied rhetoric, philosophy, and Scripture under Macarius at Edessa. Lived as a hermit briefly in his youth. Ordained in Antioch. Spiritual director of Saint Pelagia of Antioch.
Head of a school of theology in Antioch; one of his students was Arius, founder of Arianism. Friend of Paul of Samosata and other heretics, and may have been excommunicated himself at one point, but later came back to full communion with the Church.
Noted Scripture scholar, working to insure that copyists made the most exact copies possible, correcting copyist errors by comparing against older texts in the original languages. His edition of the complete Bible, known as the Lucian Recension was used by many churches, and by Saint Jerome during his work on the Vulgate.
Arrested in Nicomedia during the persecutions of Diocletian, and spent nine years in prison. Dragged before the emperor as an example, he struggled to his feet and gave a great defense of the faith. He thrown back in the cells, given no food or water for 14 days, then hauled before the tribunal and interrogated; he answered all questions with "I am a Christian." Martyr.
Born
mid-3rd century at Samosata, Syria
Died
• tortured, starved, and run through with a sword in 312 at Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmid, Turkey)
• buried at Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis)
Blessed Matthew of Agrigento
Also known as
Matthew Guimerà
Profile
Matthew was a Franciscan friar, joining the Order in 1391 at the convent of Saint Francis of Assisi in Agrigento, Italy; he made his profession in 1394. He studied theology in Bologna, Italy and Barcelona, Spain where he earned a degree and was ordained a priest in 1400. Travelling preacher in the region of Tarragona, Spain from 1400 to 1405. Master of novices at the Saint Anthony convent in Padua, Italy from 1405 to 1416. In 1417 he met and began to work with Saint Bernardine of Siena. Founded monasteries in Italy and Spain. Franciscan provincial vicar from 1425 to 1430. Commissioner General of Sicily from 1432 to 1440.
Chosen bishop of Agrigento by Pope Eugene IV on 17 September 1442. Bishop Matthew was a reformer, revitalizing the clergy, ending abuse, restoring clerical discipline, and prohibiting simony. This created many opponents in the clergy; when Matthew began distributing larger amount of charity to the poor, his enemies accused him of squandering the wealth of the Church, and when Vatican officials began investigating him, they included accusations of having an affair with a local woman. He was found innocent of all charges, but he decided that he could do more good for the faith outside the bishopric, and resigned his see in 1445 and returned to preaching, supporting monastic houses, and spreading devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.
Born
1377 on the Via Arco di San Francesco di Paola in Rabbato, Agrigento, Italy
Died
• 7 January 1450 in the Franciscan monastery of Santa Maria di Gesù, Palermo, Sicily (in modern Italy) of natural causes
• buried at the Santa Maria di Gesù monastery
• miracles reported at the grave
Beatified
21 February 1767 by Pope Clement XIII (cultus confirmation)
Saint Canute Lavard
Also known as
• Canute Laward
• Canute of Schleswig
• Canute the Lord
• Duke of Jutland
• King of the Western Wends
• Knud Lavard
• Knut Lavard
Additional Memorial
25 July in Denmark for the translation of his relics
Profile
Second son of King Eric the Good of Denmark. Nephew of King Saint Canute of Denmark. Raised in the court of Saxony. Duke of Jutland with his court at Schlewig. Spent years defending against Viking raids. Supported the missionary work of Saint Vicelin. Father of King Valdemar I, who worked for Canute's canonization. King of the Western Wends in 1129. Canute's uncle, King Nils of Denmark, opposed Canute coming to the throne, and arranged his murder. Venerated in Denmark.
Born
c.1096 at Roskilde, Denmark
Died
• murdered in 1131 by his cousins Magnus Nielsen and Henry Skadelaar in the forest of Haraldsted near Ringsted in Zeeland, Denmark
• declared a martyr for justice
• relics enshrined at Ringsted on 25 June 1170
Canonized
1169 by Pope Alexander III
Saint Giuliano of Gozzano
Also known as
• Giuliano of Orta
• Julian, Julianus, Julien
Profile
Younger brother of Saint Julius of Novara with whom he studied in Athens, Greece. When Julius was ordained a priest, Giuliano was ordained a deacon so he could serve his brother’s ministry. The two worked to build churches and teach orthodox Christianity in the areas of modern Hungary, Bohemia and Poland in the wake of the Arian heresy. At the ascension of Emperor Theodosius I, the brothers obtained permission and support to become travelling preachers throughout the Roman Empire. Worked with Saint Ambrose of Milan. When Giuliano arrived in Gozzano, Italy on Lake Maggiore, he fell in love with the area and settled there, preaching and converting the people. He built a church of Santa Maria, which later was re-dedicated to San Lorenzo.
Born
c.350 in Aegina, Greece
Died
• 391 in Gozzano, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the church of Santa Maria that he had built in Gozzano
• relics enshrined in the basilica of Gozzano in 1691
Saint Reinhold of Cologne
Also known as
• Reinhold of Koln
• Reinhold of Dortmund
• Rainald, Reinold, Reinout, Reynold, Rinaldo, Rinold
Profile
Relative of Charlemagne. Benedictine monk. Supervised building operations at Saint Pantaleon abbey, Cologne, Germany. Murdered by the construction workers; Reinhold worked harder than they did and made them look bad.
Died
• beaten to death with hammers by stone masons in 960 at Cologne, Germany
• body thrown in the Rhine River
• body later found through divine revelation
• relics transferred to the church of Saint Rheinold in Dortmund, Germany in 1059
• some relics transferred to Cologne, Germany
• some relics transferred to Toledo, Spain in 1616
Saint Valentine of Passau
Also known as
• Valentine of Mais • Valentine of Raetia • Valentine of Ratien • Valentine of Retie • Valentine of Rezia • Valentine of Rhaetia • Valentine of Rhétie • Valentin, Valentinus
Additional Memorial
4 August (translation of relics)
Profile
Monk. Abbot. Missionary bishop in Rhaetia, Switzerland, an area in the border region of modern Italy, Austria and Switzerland. Late in life he withdrew to live as a hermit near Mais, Austria.
Died
• 7 January 475 at Mais, Tyrol, Austria of natural causes
• re-interred at Trent, Italy in 739
• relics transferred to the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Passau, Germany in 764
Saint Tillo of Solignac
Also known as
• Tillo of Westphalia
• Tillo of Izegem
• Filman, Hillo, Hilloin, Hillonius, Hilonius, Theau, Théau, Thielemann, Thielman, Thillo, Tillmann, Tilloine, Tillon, Tillone, Tilman, Tilmannus
Profile
Kidnapped by raiders and brought to the Low Countries as a slave. Ransomed by Saint Eligius of Noyon. Benedictine monk at Solignac, France. Priest. Missionary in the regions around Courtrai, France. Eventually retired to become a hermit at Solignac.
Born
c.610 in Saxony (in modern Germany)
Died
• 702 at Solignac, France of natural causes
• relics destroyed by Huguenots
Blessed Marie-Thérèse Haze
Also known as
• Giovanna Haze
• Jeanne Haze
• Johanna Haze
• Marie-Thérèse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Profile
One of seven children born to the secretary of the last prince-bishop of Liège, Belgium. Could read and write by the age of four. She was drawn to religion from an early age, but was 50 years old when she finally found her vocation. Founded the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross of Liège in 1833, and served as its Superior General until her death; at that point, the Congregation had more than 50 houses and more than 900 sisters in service to the weak and poor.
Born
27 February 1782 in Liège, Belgium as Jeanne
Died
7 January 1876 in Liège, Belgium of natural causes
Beatified
21 April 1991 by Pope John Paul II
Saint Aldric of Le Mans
Also known as
Aldericus, Aldricus, Audry, Elric
Profile
Grew up at Aachen, Germany, serving in the court of Charlemagne. Left court life at age 21 to study for the priesthood at Metz, France. After ordination he served for nine years as chaplain in the court of Charlemagne's son Louis the Pious. Bishop of LeMans, France in 832. Known for his personal sanctity, his execellent adminstrative skills, and for his work for his parishioners. When Louis died, Aldric supported Charles the Bald for the throne; this resulted in Aldic being exiled from Le Mans. He was reinstated to his see by Pope Gregory IV. Papal legate to King Pepin of Aquitaine, France. Aldic convinced Pepin to return Church property stolen by the throne. Took part in the Council of Paris and Council of Tours. Paralyzed for the last two years of his life. Some of his writings survive today.
Born
21 June 800
Died
24 March 857 at Le Mans, France of natural causes
Blessed Ambrose Fernandez
Also known as
• Ambrogio Fernandez
• Ambrósio Fernandes
Additional Memorial
6 February
Profile
Soldier in the Portuguese army. Worked as a trader and security guard for other traders in Japan beginning in 1571. He had a conversion experience, and entered the Jesuits as a lay brother in 1579 to assist their evangelization of Japan including acting as an interpreter. When Christian missionaries were exiled from Japan in 1614, Brother Ambrose stayed to help minister to covert Christians, working with Blessed Charles Spinola. When captured by authorities, he and some others were dragged to prison in Nagasaki and kept in a cage with no protection from the weather for 13 months until he died. Martyr.
Born
1551 at Sisto, Portugal
Died
in 1620 from a stroke caused by abusive conditions in Suzota prison, Omura, Japan
Beatified
7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX
Blessed Albert of Siena
Profile
Pilgrim to Rome, Venice, Pugulia and Mount Gargano in Italy, Compostella in Spain, and the Holy Lands. Camaldolese hermit. Beginning on 6 January 1156, he became a spiritual student of Blessed William of Maleval and lived an extremely ascetic life; he ate little, slept on the ground, and when he felt tempted, would roll in a pile of nettles. Miracle worker. He later wrote a biography of Blessed William, buried him after his passing, and built a small church and group of hermit cells over the grave.
Born
Monte-alceto, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Died
c.1181 of natural causes
Blessed Wittikund of Westphalia
Also known as
• Wittikund of Saxony
• Widukind, Wittekind
Profile
Raised a pagan. Duke of Westphalia (in modern Germany). When Communion was given to Christian soldiers on Christmas night, he had a vision of the Christ Child. He converted to Christianity, was sponsored into the Church by Charlemagne, and baptized in 785.
Died
• c.804 in Enger, Germany
• relics transferred to Paderborn, Germany
Saint Polyeuctus of Melitene
Also known as
Polieuto, Polyeuktos, Polyeuctes, Polyeuktos
Profile
Officer in the Roman legion. Convert. In his zeal as a new convert, he tore up the Valerian's imperial orders to persecute Christians, then smashed idols being carried in pagan procession. Tortured and martyred.
His story was well known to the ancients who built several churches with his name, including a huge one in Constantinople in which it was customary to swear legal oaths. His Acts were widely read, and formed the basis for theatrical tragedy.
Died
beheaded in 250 at Melitene, Armenia (modern Malatya, Turkey)
Saint Giuse Tuân
Also known as
Giuseppe, Joseph
Additional Memorial
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Profile
Married layman, a father, a family man and a farmer. In the persecutions of Tu Duc, Guise was ordered to trample on a cross to prove he was not a Christian. Instead, he knelt before the cross and began praying. Martyr.
Born
c.1825 in Nam Dien, Vietnam
Died
beheaded on 7 January 1862 in An Bai, Tonkin (in modern Vietnam)
Canonized
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
Saint Virginia of Ste-Verge
Also known as
• Virginia of Poitiers
• Virginia of Thonars
• Virginia of Tonars
• Sigrid, Verge, Vierge, Virgana
Profile
Shepherdess in the area of Poitou, France.
Died
• Deux-Sèvres, Poitou, France
• relics transferred to the church of Saint Vicent in Metz, France
• relics destroyed in 1793 during the anti-Church excesses of the French Revolution
Blessed Engelbert Beets
Profile
Joined the Premonstratensians in 1561 in the Averbode monastery near Diest, Brabant, Belgium. Ordained a priest and chosen Vicar of Rumen, Belgium in 1570. Fleeing ahead of Protestants forces, he moved to Sint-Truiden, Limburg, Belgium where he applied himself to parish work, but when a Protestant army overran the area he was captured and executed. Martyr.
Born
c.1539 in Hoeleden, Brabant, Flanders (in modern Belgium)
Died
1579 in Sint-Truiden, Limburg, Flanders (in modern Belgium)
Saint Kentigerna
Also known as
• Caentigern
• Kentigerna of Loch Lomand
• Quentigerna
Profile
Daughter of Prince Kelly of Leinster, and Saint Coellen. Sister of Saint Comghan. Married lay woman. Mother of Saint Fillan. When her bother Comghan had to flee the country due to opposition to his dedication to the faith, Kentigerna fled to Scotland. Widow. Anchoress on Inchebroida Island in Loch Lomond where there still stands a church in her name.
Born
Ireland
Died
c.734 on Inch Cailleach, Scotland
Saint Cyrus of Constantinople
Also known as
Ciro, Cyr, Kyros
Profile
Monk in Amasra and Paflagonia. Bishop and patriarch of Constantinople, c.705. He helped prevent the new emperor from exacting some of the revenge against his political opponents. Deposed from his see in 712 when Emperor Filippico took the Byzantine throne, he spent his final years as a monk at the Chora Abbey in Constantinpople.
Died
714 in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) of natural causes
Saint Cywyllog ferch Caw
Also known as
Cwyllog, Cywellog
Profile
Born a princess, the daughter of Saint Caw, King of Arecluta, a district on the River Clyde in Scotland. When Caw was turned out of his kingdom by the Picts, he and his family fled to Twr Celyn in Anglesey, Wales. Cywyllog founded the church in Llangwyllog, Wales. Legend says that she married Mordred, King Arthur’s traitorous nephew. Widowed, Cywllog retired from the world to live as a nun in the latter 6th century.
Blessed Athanasius of Attalia
Profile
A Christian living in Muslim controlled Smyrna in Turkey, he one day stated “There is no God but God.” Some Muslims heard this, decided that this was an official conversion to Islam, and demanded that Athanasius formally renounce Christianity. When he refused, Athanasius was accused of apostasy for leaving Islam after his conversion, and sentenced to be executed. Martyr.
Died
beheaded in 1700 in Smyrna (in modern Turkey)
Blessed Franciscus Bae Gwan-gyeom
Also known as
Francis
Additional Memorial
20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea
Profile
Layman martyr in the apostolic vicariate of Korea.
Born
c.1745 in Dangjin, Chungcheong-do, South Korea
Died
7 January 1800 in Cheongju, Chungcheong-do, South Korea
Beatified
15 August 2014 by Pope Francis
Blessed Leandro
Profile
Member of the Mercedarians. Noted teacher and scholar, he knew Latin, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew and Chaldean, taught theology and the Bible, wrote commentaries and poetry.
Died
at the Mercedarian monastery of Santa Eulalia in Murcia, Spain of natural causes
Saint Anastasius of Sens
Also known as
Anastasius XVIII
Profile
Archbishop of Sens, France from 968 to 977. Started construction on the cathedral there. Great supporter of the monks of Saint-Pierre-le-Vin.
Died
• 977 in Sens, France of natural causes
• relics in the monastic church of Saint-Pierre-le-Vin
Saint Valentin II of Terni
Also known as
Valentine
Profile
Bishop of Terni, Italy in 494, consecrated by Pope Gelasius I; he served from 39 years.
Died
• 533 in Interamna (modern Terni), Italy
• buried at the church of San Zeno, Rocca San Zeno, Terni
Saint Emilian of Saujon
Also known as
• Emilian of Combes
• Aemilio, Aemilianus
Profile
Benedictine monk at Saujon, France. Hermit in the forest of Combes, Bordeaux, France. A well-known wine is named for him.
Born
at Vannes, France
Died
767
Saint Theodore of Egypt
Also known as
Theodor
Profile
Monk. Spiritual student of Saint Ammonius the Great in Egypt. One of the early desert hermits on the Nile. Mentioned in the writings of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria and Saint Gregory the Great.
Died
4th century
Saint Brannock
Also known as
Barnoc, Brannoc, Brannocus
Profile
Monk. Migrated to Devon, England. Founded a monastery at Braunton in Devonshire, and served as its first abbot.
Born
6th century Welsh
Died
buried at the monastery he founded at Braunton, Devonshire, England
Saint Clerus of Antioch
Also known as
Bilicerius, Lucerius, Licerius, Lycerius
Profile
Deacon. Repeatedly tortured to give up his faith before being executed. Martyr.
Born
Syrian
Died
300 at Antioch, (in modern Turkey)
Saint Julian of Cagliari
Profile
Believed to have been a count. Martyr.
Died
• martyred, date unknown
• relics discovered at Cagliari, Sardinia in 1615, and are enshrined there today
Saint Crispin II of Pavia
Profile
Fifth century bishop of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. Supported the acts of the Council of Milan.
Died
465 in Pavia, Italy of natural causes
Saint Benjamin of Brescia
Profile
Martyr.
Died
• 125 in Brescia, Italy
• his relics were re-discovered in 1529
Saint Maximus of Brescia
Profile
Martyr.
Died
• 125 in Brescia, Italy
• his relics were re-discovered in 1529
Saint Cronan Beg
Profile
Bishop of Aendrum, County Down, Ireland. Involved in the 640 controversy about the proper dating of Easter.
Died
7th century
Saint Senator of Verona
Profile
Bishop of Verona, Italy; records of his service vary from the late 3rd to the early 4th century.
Saint Crispin I of Pavia
Profile
Third century bishop of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy for 35 years.
Died
c.250
Saint Januarius of Heraclea
Profile
Martyred at Heraclea.
Saint Candida
Profile
Martyr. No other information has survived.
Saint Spolicostus of Greece
Profile
Martyr.
Local veneration: Saint Spolicostus might be a regional saint venerated in a specific part of Greece. Local church records, historical archives, or even oral traditions in communities with churches celebrating his feast on January 7th could hold valuable clues.
2. Misidentified saint: There's a possibility that the name "Spolicostus" might be a variant or misidentification of another known saint whose feast day also falls on January 7th. Exploring saints associated with Greece and January 7th might reveal potential matches.
3. Hagiography resources: Consulting Greek Orthodox hagiography resources, both online and in print, could offer insights into lesser-known saints like Spolicostus. Some specialized libraries or research centers focusing on Greek Orthodox history might have relevant materials.
Saint Felix of Heraclea
Profile
Martyred at Heraclea.
Saint Felix is a regionally venerated saint in a specific area near Heraclea. Exploring historical records and traditions of local churches celebrating his feast on January 7th
Saint Polyanthus
Profile
Martyr. No other information has survived.
Saint Candida of Greece
Profile
Martyr.
Identify potential regions: Explore areas in Greece with historical Christian communities that might have celebrated a Saint Candida on January 7th. Regions like Thessaly, Epirus, or the Aegean islands have rich Christian traditions.
Saint Pallada of Greece
Profile
Martyr.
Identifying Potential Regions: Focus on areas in Greece with historical Christian communities that might have celebrated a Saint Pallada on January 7th. Regions like the Aegean Islands, Ionian Islands, or Thessaly have rich early Christian heritage.
Explore Greek Orthodox hagiography databases like the Synaxarion or Prosopografia Christiana, focusing on female martyrs and saints commemorated on January 7th. Look for variations of the name "Pallada" like "Pallatia" or "Palladia." Additionally, investigate local hagiography texts from specific regions identified, as they might contain information not found in broader databases.
Blessed Anselmo
Profile
Twelfth century Camaldolese hermit.
Twelfth Century: Blessed Anselmo lived in the 12th century, a period of significant religious and intellectual ferment in Europe. The Camaldolese Order, known for its emphasis on contemplation and solitude, was also flourishing at this time.
Hermit: As you mentioned, Blessed Anselmo embraced the eremitic life, living as a hermit within the Camaldolese community. This path allowed him to dedicate himself to deep prayer, study, and spiritual growth.
Details Scarce: Unfortunately, detailed information about Blessed Anselmo's life and deeds is scarce. Historical records from the Camaldolese Order might hold clues, but further research could be necessary to uncover specifics.
Saint Philo
Profile
Martyr. No other information has survived.
Bl. Edward Waterson
Feastday: January 7
Death: 1593
An English martyr and a convert. He was born in London, England, and ordained in Reims, France. In 1592, he was returned to England to serve hidden Catholics. Edward was arrested the following year and executed at Newcastle. He was beatified in 1929.
Edward Waterson (? – 7 January 1594 (NS)) was an English Catholic priest and martyr. He served the hidden Catholics in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. Edward was arrested in 1593 and executed at Newcastle upon Tyne. He was beatified in 1929.
Life
Born in London, Waterson was brought up in the Church of England. As a young man he travelled to Turkey with some English merchants. In 1588, on his return, he stopped in Rome and was brought into the Catholic Church there by Richard Smith. The Pilgrim-book of the English College records his stay there, 29 November-11 December, 1588. Waterson proceeded to Reims, arriving there 24 January, 1589. He received the tonsure and minor orders on 18 August, 1590, subdiaconate on 21 September, 1591, diaconate on 24 February, 1592, and was ordained priest 11 March 1592.[1]
In summer 1592 Waterson returned to England, where legal restrictions on Catholics were severe, in order to minister to hidden Catholics. [2] Joseph Lambton, a young Catholic priest who was on the same ship, was arrested upon landing, but Waterson escaped.[3] However, he was captured by the authorities in midsummer 1593. Lambton was executed 31 July 1592. The sheriff then took part of the quartered remains and showed them to Waterson in an effort to frighten him, but Waterson viewed them as holy relics. Waterson was held until just after Christmas (OS), when he was hanged, drawn and quartered, as a traitor. When he was tied to the hurdle to be drawn to the place of execution, the horse would not move, so he had to be brought on foot. While incarcerated in the Newgate prison, Newcastle, he had attempted to escape by burning down his cell door.
