Maria Candida of the Eucharist
Born Maria Barba
16 January 1884
Catanzaro, Kingdom of Italy
Died 12 June 1949 (aged 65)
Ragusa, Italy
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 21 March 2004, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II
Feast
21 March
14 June (Discalced Carmelites)
Attributes Carmelite habit
Maria Candida of the Eucharist (16 January 1884 – 12 June 1949) - born Maria Barba - was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious of the Discalced Carmelites. Barba desired to become a professed religious in her adolescence but her parents forbade this and she was forced to wait two decades for her to realize her dream; she entered the order after her parents died though alienated her brothers in the process who refused to ever see her due to their resentment towards her decision. Barba became a noted member of her convent in Ragusa and she served as prioress for an extensive period in which she fostered a rigid adherence to the order's rule so as to live the fullness of its charism. Her devotion to the Eucharist was a focal point for her spiritual thinking and her own life and she wrote to an extensive degree on the Eucharist and its importance.
The beatification process opened on 15 October 1981 and she became titled as a Servant of God while she later became titled as Venerable on 18 December 2000 upon the confirmation of her life of heroic virtue. Pope John Paul II beatified Barba in Saint Peter's Square on 21 March 2004.
Life
Maria Barba was born on 16 January 1884 in Catanzaro as the tenth of twelve children (five who died in their childhoods) to the appellate court judge Pietro Barba and Giovanna Flora; she was baptized on the following 19 January.[1] Her parents and siblings all hailed from Palermo but moved to Catanzaro while her father was in that town during a brief assignment. In 1886 the family returned to Palermo.[2]
In 1891 she began her time at school and achieved excellent grades while there; she completed her studies in 1898. That same year she began to learn the piano. On 3 April 1894 she made her First Communion and from that point on fostered a special devotion to the Eucharist and developed what she referred to as her "vocation for the Eucharist".[1] Barba despaired at not being able to receive it on a frequent basis.[3] In 1899 she felt a strong calling to the religious life as she reflected before an image of the Sacred Heart and would call this experience her "transformation" and the 2 July 1899 vesting of her cousin as a nun augmented this desire. The girl informed her parents of her decision but her parents opposed this,[4][5] believing it nothing more than initial spiritual fervour rather than an actual desire. But Barba's devotion grew after learning about the charism of the Carmelites which inspired her more through reading the journal of Thérèse of Lisieux. This also encouraged her to persevere despite being rejected and she continued to wait for the time when she could achieve her dream.[1]
Her father died on 21 June 1904. In September 1910 she and her mother and siblings undertook a pilgrimage to Rome and met Pope Pius X in an audience. The girl later made her Confirmation at a rather advanced age on 12 November 1912. Her mother died on 5 June 1914. Barba could not receive the Eucharist on a frequent basis as her brothers would not allow her to go out on her own so she complied so as not to offend them.[3][1][4]
Barba waited for two decades before she could enter the order's convent at Ragusa on 25 September 1919 and the Cardinal Archbishop of Palermo Alessandro Lualdi encouraged her to enter and fulfil her desire to become a nun.[2] Her entrance into the order saw her assume the religious name of "Maria Candida of the Eucharist" on 16 April 1920 after receiving the habit. Barba made her initial profession on 17 April 1921 and later made her perpetual profession on 23 April 1924.[3][4] In 1924 her period of formation came to a close and she was elected as the prioress of the convent on 10 November;[6] she held this position until 1947 and was reconfirmed in that position on five separate occasions. Barba worked hard with caution to revive the spirit of their foundress and under her able leadership the convent grew to a point where a new foundation could be made in Siracusa. The prioress also helped to secure the return of the friars of the order to the Sicilian region.[3] Barba spent hours before the Eucharist. None of her brothers ever visited her having grown to resent her decision and did not even attend the celebration when she was first vested with the order's habit.[4]
On 19 June 1933 - the feast of Corpus Christi - the nun began writing the book that served as a record of her own personal experiences and reflections on Eucharistic meditations and this was completed in 1936.[2] The book also records deepening theological reflections on those personal experiences of hers.[1] On 16 June 1922 she had starting writing "Up: First Steps" on her vocation and arrival to the order while later on 5 November 1926 beginning "Mountain Song" at the request of her confessor on her Carmelite life.[4]
Barba was first diagnosed with a tumor in her liver back in 1947. She died of cancer on the evening of 12 June 1949 and her remains were interred at Ragusa the following 14 June. [4][5] Her remains were later relocated on 12 November 1970.
Beatification
The beatification process opened in Ragusa in an informative process that Bishop Francesco Pennisi oversaw from its inauguration on 5 March 1956 until its closure later on 28 June 1962; the formal introduction to the cause came on 15 October 1981 in which she became titled as a Servant of God. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints later validated the previous informative process in Rome on 31 May 1991 and received the Positio dossier from postulation officials in 1992. Theologians assented to the cause on 28 April 2000 as did the C.C.S. on 17 October 2000; the confirmation of her life of heroic virtue allowed for Pope John Paul II to name her as Venerable on 18 December 2000.
The process for a miracle needed for beatification was investigated in the place of its origin from 12 June 1986 until 9 December 1986 while the C.C.S. later validated the process on 26 March 1993 in Rome. Medical experts approved this healing to be a legitimate miracle on 23 May 2002 as did theologians on 13 December 2002 and the C.C.S. themselves on 4 March 2003. John Paul II approved this miracle on 12 April 2003 and later beatified Barba on 21 March 2004 in Saint Peter's Square. The second miracle - the one needed for sainthood - was investigated in the place of its origin from 29 June 2007 until 19 June 2008.
Saint Benedicta Cambiagio Frassinello
புனித_பெனடிக்டா (1791-1858)
மார்ச் 21
இவர் (#StBenedictaCambiagioFrassinello) இத்தாலியில் பிறந்தவர்.
இவருக்கு இருபது வயது நடக்கும்போது காட்சி ஒன்று கண்டார். அக்காட்சியில் இவர் தன்னை ஆண்டவருக்கு அர்ப்பணித்து வாழப் பணிக்கப்பட்டார். இவரும் அவ்வாறே வாழ்ந்தார்.
இந்நிலையில் இவரது பெற்றோர் இவரைக் கியோவன்னி என்பவருக்கு மணமுடித்துக் கொடுக்க முடிவு செய்தனர். கடவுளுக்குத் தன்னை அர்ப்பணித்து வாழ முடிவு செய்தும், தன் பெற்றோர் தன்னைக் கியோவன்னி என்பவருக்கு மணமுடித்துக் கொடுக்க முடிவு செய்ததால், இவர் அதற்கு மறுப்புத் தெரிவிக்க முடியாமல் திருமணத்திற்குச் சம்மதித்தார்.
திருமண வாழ்வில் இவர் கற்பு நெறியைக் கடைப்பிடித்ததால் இவரது கணவர் இவரை இவரது விருப்பம் போல் வாழ அனுமதித்தார்.
சிறிது காலத்திற்குப் பிறகு இருவரும் துறவற வாழ்க்கை மேற்கொள்ளத் தொடங்கினர். இவர் உருசிலியன் சபையிலும், இவரது கணவர் சொமாஸ்கன் சபையிலும் சேர்ந்து துறவற வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்தனர்.
பின்பு அச்சபையிலிருந்து வெளியேறிய இவர் உழைக்கும் பெண்களுக்காகப் பாடுபட்டார். மேலும் இவர் ஏழைக் குழந்தைகள் நல்ல கல்வி பெற பல பள்ளிக்கூடங்களை நிறுவினார். இதனால் இவரால் பலரும் பயன்பெற்றனர். இடையில் இவர்மீது பலவிதமான விமர்சனங்கள் எழுந்தன. அவற்றையெல்லாம் இவர் பொய்யென நிரூபித்தார்.
இப்படி இறைப்பணியையும் மக்கள் பணியையு ஒருசேரச் செய்து வந்த இவர் 1858 ஆம் ஆண்டு இறையடி சேர்ந்தார். இவருக்கு 2002 ஆம் ஆண்டு திருத்தந்தை இரண்டாம் ஜான் பால் அவர்களால் புனிதர் பட்டம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டது.
Also known as
• Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
• Benedikta Frassinello
• Benedetta Cambiagio
Profile
Daughter of Giuseppe and Francesca Cambiagio, she grew up in Pavia, Italy. At the age of 20 she had a profound mystical experience that left her devoted to prayer and desiring a religious life. However, to go along with her family's wishes, she married Giovanni Battista Frassinella on 7 February 1816. The couple had a normal married life for two years, but Giovanni, impressed with Benedicta's holiness and desire for religious life, agreed to live continently. The two took care of Benedicta's little sister Maria until the girl's death from intestinal cancer in 1825. Giovanni then joined the Somaschan Fathers, Benedicta became an Ursuline nun.
In 1826 ill health forced Benedicta to return home to Pavia. There she began to work with young women in the area. The work sent so well that her husband Giovanni was assigned to help. The schools continued to grow and prosper, and Benedicta was appointed Promoter of Public Instruction in Pavia. However, no matter how chastely they lived, Benedicta and Giovanni's unusual relationship drew gossip and criticism from civil and Church authorities. To insure that she did not get in the way of the work, in 1838 Benedicta turned her work over to the bishop of Pavia, and withdrew to live as a nun at Ronco Scrivia, Italy.
Not content to withdraw from the world, Benedicta began all over. With five companions, she founded the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence dedicated to teaching, and opened another school. Living alone, the local authorities found no causes for gossip, and Benedicta spent her remaining years in prayer and service.
Born
2 October 1791 at Langasco, Campomorone, Italy as Benedetta Cambiagio
Died
21 March 1858 at Ronco Scrivia, Italy of natural causes
Canonized
19 May 2002 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy
Saint Nicholas of Flüe
புனிதர் நிக்கொலஸ்
துறவி, விவசாயி, இராணுவ தலைவர், சட்டமன்ற உறுப்பினர், கவுன்சிலர், நீதிபதி மற்றும் ஆன்மபலம் கொண்டவர்:
பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 1417
அண்டர்வெல்டென், சுவிட்சர்லாந்து
இறப்பு: மார்ச் 21, 1487
சச்செல்ன், சுவிட்சர்லாந்து
ஏற்கும் சமயம்:
ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை
முக்திப்பேறு பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1669
திருத்தந்தை ஒன்பதாம் கிளமென்ட்
புனிதர் பட்டம்: கி.பி. 1947
திருத்தந்தை பன்னிரெண்டாம் பயஸ்
முக்கிய திருத்தலம்:
சச்செல்ன், சுவிட்சர்லாந்து (Sachseln, Switzerland)
நினைவுத் திருநாள்: மார்ச் 21
பாதுகாவல்:
சுவிட்சர்லாந்து, போண்டிஃபிகல் ஸ்விஸ் காவலர்கள்
புனிதர் நிக்கொலஸ், ஒரு துறவியும், ஸ்விட்சர்லாந்து நாட்டின் பாதுகாவலருமாவார். சில வேளைகளில் "சகோதரர் கிளாஸ்" (Brother Klaus) என்றும் அழைக்கப்படும் இவர், ஒரு விவசாயியும், இராணுவ தலைவரும், சட்டமன்ற உறுப்பினரும், கவுன்சிலரும், நீதிபதியும் மற்றும் ஆன்மபலம் கொண்டவருமாவார். அவர் ஒரு முழுமையான ஒழுக்கநெறியாளராக மதிக்கப்படுகிறார். கி.பி. 1481ம் ஆண்டு, சகோதரர் கிளாஸின் ஆலோசனைகளால் பழைய சுவிஸ் கூட்டமைப்பின் மண்டலங்களுக்கிடையே நிகழவிருந்த யுத்தத்தை தவிர்க்க உதவியது.
கி.பி. 1417ம் ஆண்டு, மத்திய சுவிட்சர்லாந்தின் பண்டைய சுவிஸ் கூட்டமைப்பிலுள்ள "அண்டர்வெல்டென்" (Unterwalden) எனும் இட்டத்தில் உள்ள ஒரு வசதிவாய்ப்புள்ள விவசாய குடுமத்தின் மூத்த மகனாகப் பிறந்த இவர், தமது 21 வயதில் இராணுவத்தில் சேர்ந்தார். கி.பி. 1446ம் ஆண்டு, "ராகஸ் போரில்" (Battle of Ragaz) பங்கேற்றார். "ஜூரிச்" (Zurich) மண்டலத்திற்கு எதிரான நடவடிக்கைகளில் ஒரு வீரராக ஈடுபாட்டுடன், கூட்டமைப்பிற்கு எதிராக போர் செய்தார். கி.பி. 1460ம் ஆண்டில் ஆஸ்திரியாவின் (Austria) "ஆர்ட்யுட்க்ஸ் சிக்ஸ்சிசுண்டிற்கு" (Archduke Sigismund ) எதிரான "துர்கவ் போர்" (Thurgau war) என்ற போரில் அவர் மீண்டும் ஆயுதமேந்தி போரிட்டார். அவருடைய செல்வாக்கு காரணமாக "டொமினிகன் கான்வென்ட் செயின்ட் காத்ரீனாண்டல்" (Dominican convent St. Katharinental), பல ஆஸ்திரியர்கள் "டிஸ்சென்ஹோபனை" (Diessenhofen) கைப்பற்றிய பின்னர் ஓடிவிட்டனர். ஆனால், அது சுவிஸ் கூட்டமைப்புகளால் அழிக்கப்படவில்லை.
தமது 30 வயதில், அவர் ஒரு விவசாயி மகளான "டோரதி விஸ்" (Dorothea Wyss) எனும் பெண்ணை மணந்தார். அவர்கள், "ஃப்ளூ" என்னும் ஆல்ப்ஸ் மலை சார்ந்த மலையடிவார நகரில் விவசாயம் செய்தனர். தமது 37 வயதுவரை இராணுவத்தில் பணியாற்றிய நிக்கொலஸ், கேப்டன் பதவி வரை உயர்ந்தார். ஒரு கையில் வாளும் மறு கையில் ஜெபமாலையுடனும் போர் புரிபவர் என்று பெயர் பெற்றிருந்தார். இராணுவத்திலிருந்து வெளிவந்த பிறகு, அவர் 1459ம் ஆண்டு, ஒரு கவுன்சிலர் மற்றும் நீதிபதி ஆனார். மற்றும் ஒன்பது ஆண்டுகள் ஒரு நீதிபதியாக பணியாற்றினார். ஆளுநராக பணியாற்ற கிட்டிய வாய்ப்பை அவர் நிராகரித்தார்.
ஒருமுறை, லீலி எனப்படும் குவளை மலரை ஒரு குதிரை உண்பது போன்றதொரு காட்சியை இவர் கண்டார். அந்த மாயக் காட்சியானது, தாம் வாழ்ந்துவரும் தற்போதைய வாழ்வானது தமது ஆன்மீக உணர்வுகளையும் நாட்டங்களையும் விழுங்குவதாக இவர் நம்பினார். அவர் முற்றிலும் தியான வாழ்க்கைக்கு தன்னை முழுவதுமாக அர்ப்பணிக்க முடிவு செய்தார். கி.பி. 1467ம் ஆண்டு, அவர் தனது மனைவியையும் அவர்களது பத்து குழந்தைகளையும் மனைவியின் ஒப்புதலுடன் விட்டுவிட்டு துறவியாக ஒதுங்கி வாழ தொடங்கினார். சுவிட்சர்லாந்தில் உள்ள "ரான்ஃப்ட் ச்சின்" (Ranft chine) எனுமிடத்தில், தமது சொந்த பணத்திலிருந்து ஒரு ஆலயத்தை கட்டினார். புராணங்களின்படி, அவர் பன்னிரெண்டு ஆண்டுகள் நற்கருணையை மட்டுமே உண்டு வாழ்ந்திருந்தார். அடையாள தரிசனங்கள் அவரது சிந்தனைக்குரிய ஒரு அம்சங்களாக தொடர்ந்து இருந்தன. மேலும் அவருடைய ஆலோசனைகள் வேண்டி மக்கள் பரவலாக அவரை தேடி வந்தனர். அவர், ஒரு ஆன்மீக வழிகாட்டியாக மாறினார்.
அவருடைய ஞானம் மற்றும் பக்தியானது, ஐரோப்பா முழுதும் பரவின. ஐரோப்பா முழுதுமிலிருந்தும் அவரது ஆலோசனைகளை கேட்க பலரும் வந்தனர். அவர் அனைவருக்கும் "சகோதரர் கிளாஸ்" (Brother Klaus) என்று அறியப்பட்டார். கி.பி. 1470ம் ஆண்டு, திருத்தந்தை இரண்டாம் பவுல், ரன்ஃப்டில் உள்ள சரணாலயத்திற்கு முதல் அங்கீகாரம் வழங்கினார். ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டின் தூய ஜேம்ஸ் எனும் இடத்திலுள்ள "சந்தியாகு" (Santiago de Compostela in Spain) திருத்தலத்திற்கு போகும் வழியில் இருந்த காரணத்தால், அது ஒரு புனித யாத்திரை தலமாக மாறிப்போனது.
கி.பி. 1481ம் ஆண்டு, இவரது ஆலோசனைகளின் பயனாக, பழைய சுவிஸ் கூட்டமைப்பின் மண்டலங்களுக்கிடையே நிகழவிருந்த யுத்தத்தை தவிர்க்கபட்டது. கல்வியறிவு இல்லாத, மற்றும் குறைந்த உலக அனுபவங்களைக் கொண்டிருந்த போதிலும், சுவிட்சர்லாந்தின் நிரந்தர தேசிய ஒற்றுமையைக் கொண்ட எதிர் திருச்சபையினர் மற்றும் கத்தோலிக்கர்களிடையே அவர் கௌரவிக்கப்பட்டார்.
Also known as
• Brother Klaus
• Bruder Klaus
• Nicholas von Flüe
• Niklaus von Flüe
Additional Memorial
25 September (Switzerland and Germany)
Profile
Born to a family of relatively wealthy peasants. Soldier who distinguished himself in combat against the break-away canton of Zurich and eventually reached the rank of captain; reported to have fought with a sword in one hand, a rosary in the other. At age 30 he married Dorothy Wiss; they couple had ten children. Cantonal judge and government advisor; declined to serve as cantonal governor. Following a vision of a harnessed draft horse (representing his worldly life as a farmer) eating a lily (representing his spiritual life of purity), Nicholas felt a desire withdraw from the world. With the approval of his family, he became a hermit in the Ranft valley, Switzerland in 1467; he assisted daily at Mass and spent most of the rest of his day in prayer. Reported to have had the gifts of prophecy and of inedia, surviving for 19 years solely on Holy Communion. His reputation for sanctity spread, and he attracted spiritual students. In 1481 he was called on to mediate a dispute that threatened civil war in Switzerland. He succeeded in averting the conflict, then retired to his hermitage. He is considered by many to be the father of this country, honoured by both Swiss Protestants and Catholics for his wisdom, holiness and work to unify Switzerland.
Born
21 March 1417 at Sachseln, Canton Unterwalden, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Died
• 21 March 1487 at Ranft, Aargau, Switzerland of natural causes; his wife and children were at his side
• relics in the church of Sachseln, Switzerland
Canonized
15 May 1947 by Pope Pius XII
Saint Serapion the Scholastic
Also known as
• Serapion of Thmuis
• Serapion the Scholar
Profile
Egyptian monk. Ran the famous catechetical school of Alexandria, Egypt. Resigned to spend more time in prayer and penitence. Spiritual student of Saint Anthony the Abbot in the desert. Friend of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria.
Bishop of Thmuis, near Diospolis in the Nile delta of Egypt in 339. Fought Arianism. Supporter of Athanasius, and spoke for him in the Council of Sardis in 347. Banished by Emperor Constantius II for his opposition to Arianism. Named a Confessor of the Faith by Saint Jerome. Fought Macedonianism, which denies the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Wrote against Manichaeism, showing that our bodies can be instruments of good or evil, that it is our choice, and that just and wicked men often change; it's therefore a lie to think our souls are of God, our bodies of the devil.
Wrote several learned letters, a treatise on the titles of the Psalms, and a sacramentary called the Euchologium, a collection of liturgical prayers. Saint Athanasius wrote several works against Arians at Serapion's request, but thought so much of Sarapion that he told him to revise them as he saw fit.
Died
c.365-370 of natural causes while in exile in Egypt
Saint Enda of Arran
Also known as
• Enda of Aran
• Enda of Arranmore
• Éanna, Edna, Éinne, Endeus, Enna
Profile
An Irish prince, the son of Conall Derg of Ergall, Ulster. Brother of Saint Fanchea of Rossory who brought him to the Faith. Brother-in-law to King Oengus of Munster, Ireland. Soldier. When he converted to Christianity, he gave up the military life and his dreams of conquest, and planned to marry. When his fiancee suddenly died, Enda renounced his claim to the throne and became a monk. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy. Priest. Studied with Saint Ninian in Galloway, Scotland. Founded a monastery at Killeany on Inishmore in the Arran Islands on land donated by King Oengus. It was the first true monastery in Ireland, ten other houses developed directly from it, and Enda is considered the founder of Irish monasticism. Built churches at Drogheda, and a monastery in the Boyne valley. His houses lived under a severely austere rule, and prayerful men lived in them for centuries. Spiritual teacher of Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, Saint Brendan the Voyager, Saint Finnian, Saint Columba of Iona, Saint Jarlath of Tuam, and Saint Carthach the Elder.
Born
Meath, Ireland
Died
• c.530 of natural causes
• buried at Tighlagheany, Inishmore, Ireland
Blessed Thomas Pilcher
Also known as
Thomas Pilchard
Additional Memorials
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland and Wales
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Profile
Studied at Balliol College, Oxford, England. Converted to Catholicism. Studied at Douai College, Rheims, France. Ordained a priest at Laon, France in 1583. He then returned to England to minister to covert Catholics in Hampshire and Dorset. Arrested and condemned to death for the crime of being a priest.
Born
c.1557 in Battle, East Sussex, England
Died
• hanged, drawn and quartered on 21 March 1587 in Dochester, Dorset, England
• no official executioner could be found; a local butcher was hired to do the disemboweling, but stopped halfway when Thomas asked him, “Is this your justice?”
Beatified
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
Blessed Mark Gjani
Also known as
Mark Xhani
Profile
Studied at the Shkodra Pontifical Seminary, and then theology in Bobion, Italy. Ordained on 21 March 1942 as a priest of the archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult, Albania. Imprisoned and tortured in the anti–Christian persecutions of the Albanian Communist government. His torturers repeatedly ordered him to curse Christ; he repeatedly answered "Long live Jesus Christ!" Martyr.
Born
10 July 1914 in Mirditë, Albania
Died
• tortured to death in 1947 in Shën Pal, Mirditë, Albania
• body dumped in a canal to be eaten by stray dogs
Beatified
• 5 November 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato
Saint Augustine Tchao
Also known as
• Augustin Rong Zhao
• Augustinus Zhao
• Augustine Zhao Rong
Additional Memorial
28 September as one of the Martyrs of China
Profile
Soldier. Escorted Saint Gabriel John Tauin du-Fresse to Beijing, China during his missionary work. Convert to Christianity. Priest. Worked in the Sichuan apostolic vicariate. Arrested for his faith and his work. He died in prison. Martyr.
Born
c.1746 at Wuchuan, Guizhou, China
Died
27 January 1815 due to poor conditions in prison at Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Canonized
1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II
Blessed Matthew Flathers
Additional Memorial
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
Profile
Studied at the English College in Douai, France. Priest in the apostolic vicariate of England, serving covert Catholics during the persecutions of James I. Martyr.
Born
1560 in Weston, near Otley, West Yorkshire, England
Died
21 March 1608 in York, North Yorkshire, England
Beatified
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
Blessed John of Valence
Profile
Canon at Lyons, France. Pilgrim to Compostela, Spain. Benedictine Cistercian monk at Clairvaux Abbey under Saint Bernard. Founded the Cistercian Bonneval Abbey in 1117, and later served as its abbot. Bishop of Valence, France in 1141; he felt so unworthy of the position that he had to be physically carried to the altar to be consecrated. Fought for his flock not just in matters spiritual but for farmers, merchants and the impoverished who were all ruined by debt during a regional financial crisis.
Born
at Lyons, France
Died
1146 of natural causes
Beatified
1901 by Pope Pius X (cultus confirmed)
Blessed Lucia of Verona
Profile
As a girl, Lucia was noted for her piety and charity. She joined the Third Order of the Servants of Mary in Verona, Italy, and lived in her house as though it was a monastery. She developed a ministery of visiting the sick, nursing them in their homes, dressing wounds, sitting with the dying, and caring for those struck down with plague until it took her away, as well.
Born
c.1514 in Verona, Italy
Died
1574 in Verona, Italy of plague
Blessed Santucci Terrebotti
Profile
Married. Mother of one daughter who died in childhood. She and her husband agreed to split up, each entering religious life. Benedictine nun in Gubbio, Italy. Abbess of her house. She moved her community to Santa Maria in Via Lata, the Via Iulia in Rome, Italy where they lived in very strict observance of the Benedictine Rule and became known as Mary's Servants or Le Santucci.
Born
in Gubbio, Umbria, Italy
Died
1305
Blessed William Pike
Additional Memorial
22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
Profile
Layman in the apostolic vicariate of England during a period of persecutions of Catholics. Martyr.
Born
in Dorset, England
Died
• hanged on 22 December 1591 in Dorchester, Dorset, England
• body dismembered and the pieces distributed as a warning to others
Beatified
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
Saint Birillus of Catania
Also known as
Berillo, Beryl, Beryllus
Profile
Travelling companion of Saint Peter the Apostle. First bishop of Catania, Sicily, consecrated by Saint Peter.
Born
Antioch
Died
c.90 of natural causes
Blessed Alfonso de Rojas
Also known as
• Alfonso of Coria
• Alonso de Rojas
• Alphonsus de Rojas
Additional Memorial
26 March in Coria, Spain
Profile
Professor in Salamanca, Spain. Tutor to the children of duke. Canon at Coria, Spain. Franciscan.
Died
1617
Saint Christian of Cologne
Also known as
• Christian of St-Pantaleon
• Christianus of...
Profile
Monk in the monastery of Fulda, Germany. First abbot of the St-Pantaleon Abbey in Cologen, Germany. Wrote works on theology that were widely read in his time.
Died
1002
Martyrs of Alexandria
Profile
A large but unknown number of Catholics massacred in several churches during Good Friday services in Alexandria, Egypt by Arian heretics during the persecutions of Constantius and Philagrio.
Died
Good Friday 342 in Alexandria, Egypt
Saint Lupicinus of Condat
Profile
Brother of Saint Romanus of Condat. Monk. With Romanus, he founded the abbeys of Condat and Leuconne.
Died
c.480
Saint James the Confessor
Profile
Martyred for opposing iconoclasm.
Died
c.824 at Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
Saint Isenger of Verdun
Profile
Monk at the Anabaric monastery in Ireland. Priest. Ninth-century bishop of Verdun (in modern France).
Saint Domninus of Rome
Profile
Travelling preacher throughout Italy. Martyr.
Born
Rome, Italy
Saint Philemon of Rome
Profile
Preached across Italy. Martyr.
Born
Rome, Italy
