St. Faustus October 13

 St. Faustus

Feastday: October 13

Death: 304

One of "the Three Crowns of Cordoba, with Januarius and Martial. These martyrs of Cordoba, Spain, were so named by Prudentius. They were tortured cruelly and then burned to death.

St. Fyncana October 13

 St. Fyncana

Feastday: October 13

Death: unknown

Martyr with St. Fyndoca. They are all recorded in the Aberdeen Breviary, but no details of their life exist.

St. Maurice of Carnoet October 13

 St. Maurice of Carnoet

Feastday: October 13

Birth: 1117

Death: 1191

As a monk of the Cistercian monastery of Langonnet, France, Maurice Duault, of Croixanvec, France, exhibited great humility, simplicity, and prudence. He was soon chosen to become Langonnet's abbot. Thereafter he was sent to found a monastery in the forest of Carnoet. The surrounding woods were menaced by aggressive wolves. Upon being asked by his fellow monks to pronounce an excommunication against all the wolves, Maurice reminded them that wolves and "all beasts created by God" should exist, for "God saw all things which he had made, and they were very good." But he added, "May Jesus Christ, and his holy Mother, whom I serve, drive out those wolves who rage violently in the slaughter of men." Shortly afterward, two large wolves were discovered lying dead near the monastery, evidently felled by the abbot's appeal to Jesus and Mary (for the animals showed no signs of injury that would explain their deaths). Among the many miracles attributed to the intercession of Saint Maurice following his death, a boy who had drowned was raised to life when his body was brought to the abbot's tomb.

Maurice of Carnoet was a Cistercian abbot. Born in Brittany, Maurice went on to study at the University of Paris. When he completed his studies he entered the Langonette Monastery in 1144. In 1176 he was elected abbot of Langonette Monastery. Later Duke Conan IV of Brittany build the Carnoet Abbey, for Maurice. In 1176 he became the monastery's first abbot.[

St. Regimbald October 13

 St. Regimbald

Feastday: October 13

Death: 1039

 

Benedictine abbot and bishop, also called Regimbaut and Reginbald. He was a monk at a monastery in Augsburg, Germany, and then at Edersberg. In 1022 he was elected abbot of Lorsch and in 1032 was named bishop of Speyer.

Regimbald[1] (died 1039) was a Benedictine abbot of Lorsch Abbey, and bishop of Speyer, from 1032.[2] He was previously at the abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra and at Ebersberg Abbey.[3]

Regimbald, represented in 1615.

He is a Catholic and Orthodox[4] saint, feast day 13 October

St. Romulus October 13

 St. Romulus

Feastday: October 13

Death: 730

Benedictine abbot. He headed the monastery of St. Baudillius, near Nimes, France, until the community was menaced by Saracen raiders, circa 720. The monks then fled with Romulus to the monastery of Saissy-les-Bois.

St. Theophilus of Antioch October 13

 St. Theophilus of Antioch

Feastday: October 13

Death: 181

Bishop of Antioch (in modern Turkey), and an early Christian apologist. Originally a philosopher in the eastern Roman Empire, he began to study the Scriptures with the intention of attacking the Christian faith but was soon converted. A gifted apologist, he was the author of an Apology in three books and addressed to Autolycus (the only work of his writings to survive). It seeks to demonstrate the superiority of Christianity over the immoral myths of pagan religion. It is also noted for its development of the doctrine of the Logos (Word) as first enunciated in the Gospel of John and to express the word Triad when describing the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There is also a Theophilus of Alexandria (c. 412 CE).

Theophilus, Patriarch of Antioch[1] (Greek: Θεόφιλος ὁ Ἀντιοχεύς) succeeded Eros c. 169, and was succeeded by Maximus I c. 183, according to Henry Fynes Clinton,[2] but these dates are only approximations. His death probably occurred between 183 and 185.[3]

We gather from his writings (the only remaining being his apology to Autolycus) that he was born a pagan, not far from the Tigris and Euphrates, and was led to embrace Christianity by studying the Holy Scriptures, especially the prophetical books.[4] He makes no reference to his office in his existing writings, nor is any other fact in his life recorded. Eusebius, however, speaks of the zeal which he and the other chief shepherds displayed in driving away the heretics who were attacking Christ's flock, with special mention of his work against Marcion.[5] He made contributions to the departments of Christian literature, polemics, exegetics, and apologetics. William Sanday[6] describes him as "one of the precursors of that group of writers who, from Irenaeus to Cyprian, not only break the obscurity which rests on the earliest history of the Church, but alike in the East and in the West carry it to the front in literary eminence, and distance all their heathen contemporaries".

St. Venantius October 13

 St. Venantius

Feastday: October 13

Death: 5th century

An abbot of the monastery of St. Martin at Tours, France. He spurred the scholastic and cultural programs of this great abbey.

புனித_கோல்மன் (-1012)அக்டோபர் 13

புனித_கோல்மன் (-1012)

அக்டோபர் 13

இவர் (#St_Colman) அயர்லாந்து நாட்டைச் சார்ந்தவர்.

இறைவன்மீது மிகுந்த பற்றுக்கொண்ட இவர் ஒருமுறை திருப்பயணமாகப் புனித நாடுகளுக்குச் சென்றார். 

ஆஸ்திரியாவின் வியன்னா நகரிலிருந்து ஆறு கிலோமீட்டர் தொலைவில் உள்ள ஸ்டோகெரா (Stockerau) என்ற இடத்திற்கு வந்தபொழுது, அங்கிருந்த ஒரு சிலர் இவரை உளவாளி என்று நினைத்து, பிடித்துக் கடுமையாகச் சித்திரவதை செய்து கொன்று, காட்டுப் பக்கமாய் வீசியெறிந்தனர்.

இவரது உடல் காட்டுப்பக்கம் வீசப்பட்ட போதும் 18 மாதங்களுக்கு அழிவுறாமல் அப்படியே இருந்தது. இதைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு, ஆஸ்திரியாவிலிருந்த மக்கள், 'ஓர் இறைமனிதரை அல்லவா நாம் உளவாளி என்று  நினைத்து அநியாயமாகக் கொன்று போட்டுவிட்டோம்' என்று தங்களுடைய தவற்றுக்காக மனம் வருந்தினார்கள். 

மேலும் அவர்கள் இவரை ஒரு புனிதராக நினைத்து வணக்கம் செலுத்தத் தொடங்கினர்.

இவர் ஆஸ்திரியாவின் பாதுகாவலராக கருதப்படுகிறார்.

St. Colman of Stockerau

Feastday: October 13

Patron: of Austria; Melk; patron of hanged men, horned cattle, and horses; invoked against plague and for husbands by marriageable girls; invoked against hanging; invoked against gout

Death: 1012

An Irish or Scottish pilgrim who was martyred in Austria while on the way to the Holy Land. Tortured and hanged as a spy, he edified everyone with his courage. His body remained preserved, and miracles were reported at his grave. The Austrians realized that Colman was a holy man, put to death by mistake. He became a patron saint of Austria.

For the other Irish saint and also martyr, see Saint Colman (martyr).

Saint Coloman of Stockerau (Irish: Colmán; Latin: Colomannus; died 18 October 1012) was an Irish saint.

Originally known as Colmán (variously rendered Koloman, Kálmán, Colman, and Colomannus), he was an Irish pilgrim en route to the Holy Land and was mistaken for a spy because of his strange appearance. He was tortured and hanged at Stockerau, near Vienna, Austria, on 16 July 1012. Later tradition has it that he was "a son of Máel-Sechnaill (d. 1022), high king of Ireland." (Breen, 2009)

At the time of his death, there were continual skirmishes among Austria, Moravia, and Bohemia. Coloman spoke no German, so he could not give an understandable account of himself. He was hanged alongside several robbers.

According to Aidan Breen, "He was made a saint by the local people, possibly out of remorse for the deed and because of his endurance under torture and the many miracles reported from where his body was buried." (Breen, 2009)

October 13 The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima

October 13 

The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima

(https://soundcloud.com/user-84758912-221844386/our-lady-of-fatima)

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The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima

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On “the day the sun danced,” thousands of people bore witness to a miracle that not only proved the validity of the Fatima Marian apparitions, but also shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant, according to one theologian.

What crowds witnessed the day of the miracle was “the news that God, in the end, contrary to what was said in the philosophy books at that time, was alive and acting in the midst of men,” Dr. Marco Daniel Duarte told CNA.

If one were to open philosophy books during that period, they would likely read something akin to the concept conceived by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who boldly asserted in the late 1800s that “God is dead.”

Yet as this and other philosophies like it were gaining steam in the life and thought of society, the Virgin Mary appears and tells three small shepherds that “God is alive and still attentive to humanity, even though humanity is waging war with one another.”

Duarte, a theologian and director of the Fatima shrine museums, spoke about the cultural significance of the Miracle of the Sun given the atheistic thought prevalent in Portuguese society at the time.

In 1917, Portugal, like the majority of the world, was embroiled in war. As World War I raged throughout Europe, Portugal found itself unable to maintain its initial neutrality and joined forces with the Allies, in order to protect colonies in Africa and to defend their trade with Britain. About 220,000 Portuguese civilians died during the war; thousands due to food shortages, thousands more from the Spanish flu.

Compounding the problem, government stability in the country had been rocky at best following the revolution and coup d’état that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and subsequent establishment of the First Portuguese Republic in 1910.

 

A new liberal constitution separating Church and state was drafted under the influence of Freemasonry, which sought to omit the faith – which for many was the backbone of Portuguese culture and society – from public life.

Anti-Catholicism in Portugal had initially begun in the 18th century during the term of statesman Marquês de Pombal, and flared up again after the drafting of the new constitution.

Catholic churches and schools were seized by the government, and the wearing of clerics in public, the ringing of church bells, and the celebrating of popular religious festivals were banned. Between 1911-1916, nearly 2,000 priests, monks and nuns were killed by anti-Christian groups.

This was the backdrop against which Mary, in 1917, appeared to three shepherd children – Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, 9 and 7 – in a field in Fatima, Portugal, bringing with her requests for the recitation of the rosary, for sacrifices on behalf of sinners, and a secret regarding the fate of the world.

To prove that the apparitions were true, Mary promised the children that during the last of her six appearances she would provide a “sign” so people would believe in the apparitions and in her message.

What happened on that day – Oct. 13, 1917 – has come to be known as the “Miracle of the Sun,” or “the day the sun danced.”

According to various accounts, a crowd of some 70,000 people – believers and skeptics alike – gathered to see the miracle that Mary had promised. After appearing and speaking to the children for some time, Mary then “cast her own light upon the sun.”

The previously rainy sky cleared up, the clouds dispersed and the ground, which had been wet and muddy from the rain, was dried. A transparent veil came over the sun, making it easy to look at, and multi-colored lights were strewn across the landscape.

The sun then began to spin, twirling in the sky, and at one point appeared to veer toward earth before jumping back to its place in the sky.

Duarte said the miracle was a direct, and very convincing contradiction to the atheistic regimes at the time, which is evidenced by the fact that the first newspaper to report on the miracle was an anti-Catholic, Masonic newspaper in Lisbon called O Seculo.

The Miracle of the Sun, he said, was understood by the people to be “the seal, the guarantee that in fact those three children were telling the truth.”

Even today, “Fatima makes people change their perception of God,” he said, explaining that for him, one of the most important messages of the apparitions is that “even if man has separated God from his existence, God is present in human history and doesn’t abandon humanity.”

With World War I raging, a war the likes of which the world had never seen, Mary appeared to tell the children that “that story can have another ending, when the power of prayer is stronger than the power of bullets.”

 

The Miracle of the Sun is also the heart of a special exhibition called “The Colors of the Sun” the shrine is offering for the duration of the centenary year of the apparitions, which focuses on the symbolic nature of the miracle and its cultural significance.

Displayed are “various objects, some older, others more contemporary, some more modern, some made of textile, others of organic materials, paintings, sculptures,” but which are all “placed with a narrative,” he said.

Beginning with a set of black umbrellas used by people who had gathered at the Cova de Iria (Cave of Iria) where Mary appeared Oct. 13, the exhibit aims to build a narrative of what people saw that day, and is supplemented with different works that express the various elements of Mary’s message to the children.

It also shows how the shrine developed over the years, showing the transformation of what used to be a small, simple chapel into what is now two basilicas: the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) and Basilica da Santissima Trindade (Basilica of the Holy Trinity), with an open chapel in between where the statue of Our Lady of Fatima resides.

Pieces come from all over the world – some from the Fatima shrine, some from the State of Portugal, and some even hail from Germany and France.

One of the highlight pieces is a giant heart made by Joana Vasconcelos, a well-known Portuguese artist who crafted the piece entirely out of red plastic ware, such as spoons and forks.

“It’s material that isn’t important for anyone, but which after everything is united, forms the image of a heart and can be the image of reparation,” Duarte said.

The exhibit closes with white parasols, rather than umbrellas, in order to show the fruit of the miracle, Duarte said, adding that it can also signify “the presence of God, the Eucharistic Christ.”

In this sense, the parasols “can be for us a symbol that also we can be God’s tabernacles and can be the place where God dwells,” he said. “This is the true shrine that God wants. The shrine of Fatima is precisely the image of what God wants: to dwell among men.”

This article was originally published on CNA May 12, 2017.

✠ ஒப்புரவாளர் புனிதர் எட்வர்ட் ✠(St. Edward the Confessor) அக்டோபர் 13

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(அக்டோபர் 13)

✠ ஒப்புரவாளர் புனிதர் எட்வர்ட் ✠

(St. Edward the Confessor)

இங்கிலாந்து அரசர்/ ஒப்புரவாளர்:

(King of England, Confessor)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

ஆங்கிலேய திருச்சபை

(Church of England)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

ஆங்கிலிக்கன் சமூகம்

(Anglican Communion)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 1003

இஸ்லிப், ஆக்ஸ்ஃபோர்ட்ஷைர், இங்கிலாந்து

(Islip, Oxfordshire, England)

இறப்பு: ஜனவரி 5, 1066 (வயது 63)

லண்டன், இங்கிலாந்து

(London, England)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: ஃபெப்ரவரி 7, 1161

திருத்தந்தை மூன்றாம் அலெக்சாண்டர்

(Pope Alexander III)

பாதுகாவல்:

கடினமான திருமணங்கள், இங்கிலாந்து, இங்கிலாந்து அரச குடும்பம், அரசர்கள்

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: அக்டோபர் 13

புனிதர் எட்வர்ட், கி.பி. 1042ம் ஆண்டு முதல், 1066ம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கிடையே இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டை ஆண்ட "ஆங்கிலோ-சாக்ஸன்" (Anglo-Saxon kings of England) அரச வம்சத்தைச் சேர்ந்த கடைசி அரசராவார்.

இவர், "ஈதல்ரெட்” மற்றும் “எம்மா" (Ethelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy) ஆகியோரின் புதல்வராவார். ஈதல்ரெட்'டின் ஏழாவது புதல்வரான இவர், ஈதல்ரெட்'டின் இரண்டாவது மனைவியான எம்மா'வின் தலைமகனாவார். 

இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டில் அரசராக முடிசூட்டப்பட்ட இவரது ஆட்சியில் மக்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியாகவும் அமைதியாகவும் வாழ்ந்தார்கள். இவர் இளமையில் மிகவும் துன்பப்பட்டவர். இங்கிலாந்திலிருந்து நாடு கடத்தப்பட்டு ஃபிரான்ஸ் நாட்டிற்கு போய் நார்மண்டி மாகாணத்தில் சுமார் இருபத்தைந்து ஆண்டு காலம் வாழ்ந்தார்.

அரசரான போது இவருக்கு வயது 40. செபித்து பிற சிநேகச் செயல்கள் செய்வார். மக்களை சாந்தத்துடனும் நீதியுடனும் விவேகத்துடனும் ஆண்டு வந்தார். கைவிடப்பட்டு சந்நியாச மடங்கள் திரும்பவும் தொடங்கப்பட்டன. மக்களுக்கு நல்ல கல்விப் பயிற்சி அளிக்கப்பட்டது. நியாயமான ஒரு அரசரை எதிரிகள் தாக்கியபோது முதன்முறை இவர் உதவிக்குச் சென்றார் 23 ஆண்டுகளாக நாட்டை ஆண்டார். நாடு செழித்தோங்கியது. அநியாயமாக யாரும் தண்டிக்கப் பட்டதில்லை. தேவையற்ற வரிகளைத் தள்ளிவிட்டார். மக்கள் இவரை தெய்வமாக போற்றினார்கள். தம் நாட்டுக்கு வர இருந்த தீமைகளை இவர் முன்னறிவித்தார். "நாட்டில் தீமை அதிகரித்து நிரம்பி வழியும் போது கடவுள் கோபத்துடன் தீய சக்திகளை நம் நாட்டு மக்களிடையே அனுப்புவார். அவை மக்களை கடுமையாக தண்டித்து உபாதிக்கும். பச்சைக்கிளை தாய் மரத்திலிருந்து பிரிந்து மூன்று பர்லாங்கு தூரம் கொண்டு செல்லும், என்றாலும் இறுதியில் இறக்கம் நிறைந்த கடவுள் மரத்துடன் அதை இணைத்து விடுவார். பின் அது செழித்து ஓங்கி கனி தரும்" என்று அவர் முன்னறிவித்தது பின்னர் நிறைவேறலாயிற்று.

இவரது ஆட்சிக்காலத்தில், இங்கிலாந்தின் "ரோமநீஸ்க் திருச்சபையின்" (Romanesque church in England) "வெஸ்ட்மின்ஸ்டர் மடாலய"த்தின் (Westminster Abbey) கட்டுமானப் பணிகளின் மீது அதீத அக்கறை இருந்தது வெளிப்படையாக தெரிந்தது. கி.பி. 1042ம் ஆண்டு முதல், 1052ம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கிடையே, "அரச அடக்க தேவாலயமாக" தொடங்கப்பட்ட இதன் கட்டுமானப் பணிகள், இவரது மரணத்தின் பின்பே, கி.பி. சுமார் 1090ம் ஆண்டு, நிறைவடைந்தன.

எட்வர்ட், இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டை ஆண்ட "ஆங்கிலோ-சாக்ஸன்" (Anglo-Saxon) வம்சத்தின் ஒரே புனிதர் ஆவார்.

*SAINT OF THE DAY* 

Feast Day: October 13

*St. Edward*

King St. Edward was one of the best loved of all the English kings. He lived in the eleventh century. Because of enemies in his own country, he had to live in Normandy, France, from the time he was ten until he was forty. However, when he came back to rule, all the people welcomed him with great joy.

St. Edward was a tall, well-built man, but he was never healthy. Still he was able to rule his country well and keep peace most of the time. This was because he trusted in God and held firm when necessary. King Edward went to daily Mass. He was a gentle, kind man who never spoke sternly. To poor people and foreigners, he showed special charity. He also helped monks in every way he could. It was his justice to everyone and his love for God's Church that made St. Edward so popular with the English people. They would cheer him as he rode out of the castle.

Although he was a king with great power, St. Edward showed his honesty by the way he kept his word-to God and to people. While he was still living in Normandy, he had made a promise to God. He said that if his family would see better times, he would go on a pilgrimage to St. Peter's tomb in Rome. After he was made king, he wanted to keep his vow. But the nobles knew that there would be no one to keep the peace among the warlike people in the land. So, although they admired his devotion, they did not want him to go. The whole matter was brought to the pope, St. Leo IX. He decided that the king could stay home. He said that King Edward was to give to the poor the money he would have spent on the trip. He also was to build or repair a monastery in honor of St. Peter. Obediently, the king carried out the pope's decision. He died in 1066 and was buried in the marvelous monastery he had rebuilt. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Alexander III in 1161.

புனித ஆரிலேக் ஜெரால்டு St. Gerald of Aurillacநினைவுத்திருநாள்: அக்டோபர் 13

இன்றைய புனிதர் : 

(13-10-2020)

புனித ஆரிலேக் ஜெரால்டு 

St. Gerald of Aurillac

நினைவுத்திருநாள்: அக்டோபர் 13

பிறப்பு : 855, அரிலேக், பிரான்ஸ்

இறப்பு : 13 அக்டோபர் 909, செனெசாக் Cenezac, பிரான்ஸ்

பாதுகாவல்: ஊனமுற்றோர், தனிமையில் வாழ்வோர்

இவர் ஓர் செல்வந்தராக வாழ்ந்துள்ளார் என்றும், துறவியாகாமலே, துறவியைப் போலவே தன் வாழ்நாள் முழுதும் வாழ்ந்துள்ளார் என்றும் கூறப்படுகின்றது. இவரது முகத்தில் பெரிய முகப்பரு ஒன்று காணப்பட்டது. நாளடைவில் அம்முகப்பருவால் அவர் பார்வையை இழந்தார். இவர் ஏழைகளின் மேல் இரக்கமும், கருணையும் கொண்டு வாழ்ந்தார். குருவாக வேண்டுமென்று மிகவும் ஆசைக்கொண்டார். ஆனால் தன் உடல்குறை காரணமாக அவ்வாசை நிறைவேறாமல் போனது. ஜெரால்டு தனது நில புலன்களை விற்று, அவற்றை திருத்தந்தையிடம் கொடுத்து, ஏழை மக்களுக்கு உதவும்படியாக கூறினார். விசுவாசம் ஒன்றே போதுமென்று இறை நம்பிக்கையில் தன் வாழ்வை வாழ்ந்தார். தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் இறைப்பணியை செய்தார். 

சிறப்பான முறையில் மறைப்பணியை ஆற்றினார். கற்பு என்ற வார்த்தைப்பாட்டை தானாகவே எடுத்துக்கொண்டார். திருமண வாழ்வில் ஈடுபடாமல், துறவி போலவே வாழ்ந்து மடங்களை நிறுவினார். அம்மடங்களில் இடைவிடாமல் வழிபாடு வைத்தும், ஆராதனை வைத்தும் செபித்தார். நாளடைவில் இவரின் மடமானது யாத்திரை தளமாக மாறியது. அதில் பெற்ற பணங்களைக் கொண்டு உரோம் நகர திருச்சபைக்கு உதவினார். பிறகு திருத்தந்தையின் ஒப்புதல் பெற்று தனது மடத்தை மதச்சார்பற்ற சபையாக (Secular) மாற்றினார். பலர் இம்மடத்தில் சேரவே, பல நாடுகளுக்கு சென்று மறைபரப்பு பணியை ஆற்றினார். இவர் வாழ்நாள் முழுவதுமே பக்தியையும், நேர்மையையும் தன்னகத்தே கொண்டு வாழ்ந்தார். 

செபம்:

என்றும் வாழ்பவரே! சாதி மதம் இனம் கடந்து பணிபுரியும் மதச்சார்பற்ற துறவற சபையினரை வழிநடத்தும். இவர்களை காணும் மக்கள் அத்துறவிகள் உம்மைக் காண வரம் அருளும். உம்மீது நம்பிக்கையின்றி வாழும் மக்களை உம்பால் ஈர்ந்து, நம்பிக்கையில் வளரவும், வாழவும் உறுதிப்படுத்தியருளும்.

---JDH---தெய்வீக குணமளிக்கும் இயேசு /திண்டுக்கல்.

Saint of the Day : (13-10-2020)

Saint Gerald of Aurillac

Only a little is known of the life of Saint Gerald of Aurillac, owing to the times in which he lived in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. Only one written record of his life exists and no primary sources are known.

The only known reference to him is via a book written by Odo of Cluny who lived from 879-942 and who never met Gerald. Odo however wrote that he did extensive research into Gerald's life and concluded that he was in fact, a saint.

During the course of his investigation into Gerald's life, Odo confessed that there were many reasons to doubt Gerald's sainthood. Chief among them was that Gerald was not a member of an established order of clergy, but rather lived his life as a wealthy, lay noble.

Gerald was known for being chronically ill throughout his life, possibly suffering from severe acne which left his face scarred and he became blind in his later years.

Despite these physical concerns, Gerald was regarded as a kind and merciful noble, showing mercy to convicts and kindness to the poor. His desire was to become a monk, however his noble obligations made such a transition difficult.

Motivated by faith, Gerald sought to donate his lands to the Pope, but was dissuaded by his friend, Bishop Gausbert of Rodez, who persuaded him that he could do the most good by living a pious life in private and serving the needs of his people in public. Gerald did so.

Gerald shaved a small spot on his head as well as his beard, and concealed his private devotion to the Church so that he could retain public credibility and authority. During his time, Papal authority was waning and secular forces conspired to consolidate power away from the lesser nobility.

Gerald also took a private vow of chastity. He never married and produced no children. He spent considerable time in daily, devotional prayer.

Eventually, Gerald was able to make a pilgrimage to Rome and donate some of his lands to the Church. He also established a church and a monastery on his lands, which he deliberately established in such a way as to make the monastery independent of all control except Rome's.

Gerald was a model noble, bridging the gap between religious virtue and secular authority. He showed others that it is possible to wield power and wealth while living a pious and righteous life. The skeptical Odo eventually concluded that Gerald had in fact, become a saint upon his death.

Born : 

855 in Aurillac, France

Died : 

 909 at Cenezac, France

• buried in his abbey in Aurillac, France

Patronage : 

bachelors

• counts

• disabled, handicapped of physically challenged people

• Aurillac, France

• Upper Auvergne, France

---JDH---Jesus the Divine Healer---

St. Seraphinus October 12

 St. Seraphinus

Feastday: October 12

Death: 1604

Author and Publisher - Catholic Online

Capuchin and spiritual advisor, also called Seraphino. Born at Montegranaro, Italy, in 1540, he worked as a shepherd in his youth and was reportedly much abused by his older brother. At the age of sixteen he entered the Capuchins as a lay brother at Ascoli Piceno, earning a reputation for his holiness. He was graced with considerable spiritual gifts and wisdom, as well as devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Seraphinus gave counsel to ecclesiastical and secular leaders. He was canonized in 1767.

St. Amicus October 12

 St. Amicus

Feastday: October 12

Death: 773

A French knight, companion of Amelius, Charlemagne's champion. These knights took part in Charlemagne's campaign against the Lombards in northern Italy. In Mortara, Lombardy, Amicus and Amelius are venerated as martyrs.

Bl. Camillus Constanzi October 12

 Bl. Camillus Constanzi

Feastday: October 12

Death: 1622

A martyr of Japan. Originally from Italy, Camillus was a Jesuit missionary in Japan who was banished from the islands when the anti-Christian persecutions began. Despite the dangers, he returned to his flock and was roasted over a slow fire on September 16.

St. Cosmas of Maiuma October 12

 St. Cosmas of Maiuma

Feastday: October 12

Patron: of Hymnographers

Death: 8th Century

Image of St. Cosmas of MaiumaOrphaned in his childhood, Cosmas was adopted by the Syrian father of Saint John of Damascus. Cosmas and his brother by adoption, John, are said to have been educated together by an elderly monk. Subsequently the two young men left Damascus to enter the Monastery of Saint Sabas, near Jerusalem. In 743, Cosmas became bishop of Majuma, Palestine (near Gaza City). Cosmas was to be remembered as a great ecclesiastical poet, many of whose compositions became a permanent part of the Byzantine liturgy. For example, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth "odes" used for the Byzantine Rite's Holy Saturday office of Orthros (the eastern equivalent of Matins, the first "hour" of the Divine Office) are attributed to Cosmas. These texts express awe in contemplating the humble entombment of the Son of God, depicting Christ's death and burial as a triumph over death and hell: "Truly, hell was pierced and destroyed by the divine fire when it received in its heart him who was pierced in his side with a spear for our salvation." The ninth "ode" constitutes a dialogue between Christ in death and his grieving Mother.

For the 3rd-century martyr named Cosmas, see Saints Cosmas and Damian.

Saint Cosmas of Maiuma, also called Cosmas Hagiopolites ("of the Holy City"), Cosmas of Jerusalem, or Cosmas the Melodist, or Cosmas the Poet (d. 773 or 794),[1] was a bishop and an important hymnographer of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Life

Saint Cosmas (Greek: Κοσμάς) was probably born in Damascus, but he was orphaned at a young age. He was adopted by Sergius, the father of St. John of Damascus (ca.676 - 749), and became John's foster-brother. The teacher of the two boys was an elderly Calabrian monk, also named Cosmas (known as "Cosmas the Monk" to distinguish him), who had been freed from slavery to the Saracens by St. John's father.[2] John and Cosmas went from Damascus to Jerusalem, where both became monks in the Lavra (monastery) of St. Sabbas the Sanctified near that city.[3] Together they helped defend the Church against the heresy of iconoclasm.

Cosmas left the monastery in 743 when he was appointed Bishop of Maiuma, the port of ancient Gaza.[3] He outlived St. John by many years and died in great old age.

Works

As a learned prose-author, Cosmas wrote commentaries, or scholia, on the poems of St. Gregory of Nazianzus. He is regarded with great admiration as a poet. St. Cosmas and St. John of Damascus are considered to be the best representatives of the later Greek classical hymnography, the most characteristic examples of which are the artistic liturgical chants known as "canons". They worked together on developing the Octoechos.[2]

Saint Cosmas has been called "a vessel of divine grace" and "the glory of the Church."[4] He composed the solemn canons for Matins of Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, the Triodes (canons with only three Canticles) which are chanted during Holy Week, the first canon of the Nativity (based on a Nativity sermon by St. Gregory the Theologian), and is known for his finest work, "Canon for Christmas Day".[3] Altogether, fourteen canons are attributed to him in the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church.[5] His most well-known composition is "More honourable than the cherubim…" (which is included in the Axion Estin), sung regularly at Matins, the Divine Liturgy and other services.

The hymns of St. Cosmas were originally intended for the Divine Services of the Church of Jerusalem, but through the influence of Constantinople their use became universal in the Orthodox Church. It is not certain, however, that all the hymns ascribed to Cosmas in the liturgical books were really his compositions, especially as his teacher of the same name was also a hymn writer.[2]

The Eastern Orthodox Church observes his feast on October 14 (for those Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian Calendar, October 14 falls on October 27 of the Gregorian Calendar).

See also

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, 3rd-century martyrs