St. Magnobodus October 16

 St. Magnobodus

Feastday: October 16

Bishop of Angers, France, sometimes listed as Mainboeuf or Maimbod. A noble Frank, he was appointed bishop because of popular acclaim.

St. Magnobodus October 16

 St. Magnobodus

Feastday: October 16

 

Bishop of Angers, France, sometimes listed as Mainboeuf or Maimbod. A noble Frank, he was appointed bishop because of popular acclaim.

St. Lull October 16

 St. Lull

Feastday: October 16

Birth: 710

Death: 787

Benedictine bishop and a relative of St. Boniface. He was a native of England and was educated at Malmesbury. He joined St. Boniface in Germany but was sent to Rome in 751. When St. Boniface died, Lull succeeded him as bishop of Mainz, Germany, although he never achieved the fame of his relative.

St. Kiara October 16

 St. Kiara

Feastday: October 16

Death: 680

Irish virgin, a disciple of St. Fintan Munnu Kiara, who is also listed as Chier, lived near Nenagh, in Tipperary, Ireland.

Saint Ciera of Ireland (alternately Chera, Chier, Ciara, Cyra, Keira, Keara, Kiara, Kiera, Ceara, Cier, Ciar) was an abbess in the 7th century who died in 679. Her history is probably commingled with another Cera (alternately Ciar, Ciara) who lived in the 6th century. However, some authors maintain that monastic mistakes account for references to Cera in the 6th century or that a single Cera had an exceptionally long life span.[1][2]

Life

There are two stories connected with the saint(s). In the first story, Cera's prayers saved an Irish town from a foul smelling fire. When a noxious blaze broke out in "Muscraig, in Momonia," St. Brendan instructed the inhabitants to seek Cera's prayers. They followed his instructions, Cera prayed in response to their supplications, and the fire disappeared.[1][3] Since St. Brendan died in 577, this story likely refers to an earlier Cera. "Muscraig, in Momonia" may refer to Muskerry, an area outside of Cork. "Momonia" refers to southern Ireland in at least one ancient map.[4]

The other story relates how St. Cera established a nunnery called Teych-Telle around the year 625. Cera was the daughter of Duibhre (or Dubreus) reportedly in the blood line of the kings of Connor (or Conaire). She, along with 5 other virgins asked Saint Fintan Munnu for a place to serve God. He and his monks gave the women their abbey in Heli (or Hele). Heli may have been in County Westmeath. He blessed Cera, and instructed her to name the place after St. Telle who had given birth to four children, matthew mark luke and john in the plain of Miodhluachra that day.[2][5][6]

St. Cera eventually returned to her own province and founded another monastery, Killchree, which she governed until her death in 679.[3] The later Franciscan Kilcrea Friary stands about a mile west of where her monastery stood, and claims to have taken its name, Kilcrea, in her honor: "Kilcrea (Cill Chre) means the Cell of Cere, Ciara, Cera or Cyra." [7]

Remembrance

St. Cera's feast day is March 15, and a festival on July 2 also commemorated her. Both dates are reported to have been the day of her death. Statements also show December 15.[citation needed]

St. Junian October 16

 St. Junian

Feastday: October 16

Death: 5th century

Hermit at Sainte-Junien Haute Vienne, France. He was revered as an eremite of extreme piety and compassion.

For the saint of Poitou, see Junian of Maire.

Saint Junian (French: Saint Junien) was a 5th-century Christian hermit at the location later named after him, Saint-Junien. According to tradition, he was the son of the Count of Cambrai and was born in 486, during the reign of Clovis I.[1] This tradition states that Junian and Saint Leonard were baptized at the same time.[1]

At the age of 15, Junian journeyed to the Limousin, a region that had a reputation for austerity and also for the many saints and hermits who had resided there.[1] One of these saints was a certain Amand, and Junian wished to become his disciple.[1] Amand lived in a small hermitage at the confluence of the Vienne and Clain Rivers, at a place called Comodoliac, which had been offered to him by Ruricius, bishop of Limoges.[1]

According to tradition, is said that, very late at night, Junian knocked on the door of Amand, who did not answer, fearing that it was a demon. Junian had to sleep outside during a violent snowstorm, but the snow miraculously fell around rather than on him during the night.[1]

Junian trained with Amand, and after the passing of his master, Junian lived where the collegiate church stands nowadays.[1]

St. Florentinus of Trier October 16

 St. Florentinus of Trier

Feastday: October 16

Death: 4th century

Bishop of Trier, Germany, the successor of St. Severianus or Severinus. No other details are extant.

St. Eremberta October 16

 St. Eremberta

Feastday: October 16

Death: 7th century

Benedictine abbess, a niece of St. Wulmar who founded Wierre Monastery for her.

St. Eliphius October 16

 St. Eliphius

Feastday: October 16

Death: 362

Irish or Scottish martyr, also called Eloff. He was martyred in Toul, France. His relics were enshrined in Cologne, Germany, in the tenth century.

St. Dulcidius October 16

 St. Dulcidius

Feastday: October 16

Death: 450

Successor to St. Phoebadius in the bishopric of Agen, France. He is also listed as Dulcet and Doucis

St. Conogon October 16

 St. Conogon

Feastday: October 16

Death: 460

Bishop in Brittany, France, also called Gwen or Albinus. He was the successor of St. Corentin in the see of Tuimper.

St. Colman of Kilroot October 16

 St. Colman of Kilroot

Feastday: October 16

Death: 6th century

Abbot-bishop of Kiltrout, near Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. He was a disciple of St. Ailbhe of Emly.

Saint Colman mac Cathbaid is a sixth-century Irish saint who was bishop of Kilroot (Co. Antrim), a minor see which was afterwards incorporated in the Diocese of Connor. He may have given his name to Kilmackevat (Co. Antrim).

He was a contemporary of St. Ailbe, and his feast has been kept on 16 October.[1]

St. Bertrand of Comminges October 16

 St. Bertrand of Comminges

Feastday: October 16

Death: 1123

Bishop of Comminges, in the diocese of Toulouse, France. The son of a military officer, he became a canon in Toulouse. About 1075, he became bishop of Comminges, a role he would have for almost half a century. He managed the affairs of the faithful and was known for miracles. It is believed that he was canonized before 1309.

St. Bercharius October 16

 St. Bercharius

Feastday: October 16

Birth: 636

Death: 696

Benedictine abbot and founder, martyred at Moutier-en-Der, France. He was a native of Aquitaine who became a monk at Luxeuil and was ordained. Bercharius became the first abbot at Hautvilliers, founded by St. Nivard. He also founded the monastery at Moutier-en-Der and a convent at Puellemontier. Bercharius was stabbed by Dagnin, a deranged monk whom he had disciplined, and died two days later on March 26.

Saint Bercharius (Bererus; French: Berchaire) (636 – March 28, 696) was abbot of Hautvillers in Champagne. Descended from a distinguished Aquitanian family, he received his instruction from Saint Nivard (Nivo), Archbishop of Reims.

Bercharius entered the monastery of Luxeuil under Saint Walbert, and soon stood out from the rest of his fellow-novices. Upon his return to Reims he persuaded Saint Nivard to establish the monastery of Hautvillers. Bercharius himself became the first abbot. Entirely given up to prayer and meditation he also instructed his brethren to lead a contemplative life.

He founded two religious houses in the Diocese of Châlons-sur-Marne, the one (Puisye or Montier-en-Der Abbey) for men, the other (Pellmoutier or Puellarum Monasterium) for women. These institutions he enriched by donations of valuable relics, procured on a journey to Rome and the Holy Land.

The monk Daguin, provoked by a reprimand from Bercharius, stabbed him during the night. According to one account, Bercharius did not condemn or complain about the injury he received, but instead asked Daguin to perform penance and to make a pilgrimage to Rome to obtain pardon and absolution. Daguin left the monastery never to return. After two days of severe suffering, the saint succumbed to his wound, and was considered a martyr.

Veneration

His remains were preserved at Moutier-en-Der until the suppression of religious orders in the 1790s.

The commemoration of his name occurs in the martyrology on 16 October.

St. Baldwin October 16

 St. Baldwin

Feastday: October 16

Death: 680

Martyr and son of St. Salaberga. He was also the brother of St. Anstrude. Baldwin was the archdeacon of León, Spain. His murder led to his status as a martyr for the faith.

St. Balderic October 16

St. Balderic

Feastday: October 16

Death: 7th century

Abbot and prince, brother of St. Bova. Balderie, or Baundry, and his sister were the children of Sigebert II, King of Austrasia. He became the abbot-founder of a convent at Reims and Montfaucon Abbey in France.