Blessed Bernard of Apiano November 6

 Blessed Bernard of Apiano

Profile

Mercedarian at the convent of Saint Martin in Perpignan, France. He was noted for his personal piety, hist observance of the Mercedarian rule, and his depth of education

Saint Severus of Barcelona November 6

 Saint Severus of Barcelona

Profile

Bishop of Barcelona, Spain. Martyred by Arian Visigoths.

Died

nails driven into his temple in 633

Patronage

Barcelona, Spain

Representation

bishop with a nail or nails driven into his head

Blessed Leonianus of Autun November 6

Blessed Leonianus of Autun

Profile

Lay man who was captured and taken to Gaul as a slave. When he regained his freedom he became a hermit near Autun (in modern France). Monk at the Saint Symphorianus Abbey at Autun.

Born

Pannonia (part of modern Hungary)

Died

c.570 in Autun (in modern France) of natural causes

Beatified

1907 by Pope Pius X (cultus confirmed)

Saint Barlaam of Novgorod November 6

 Saint Barlaam of Novgorod

Also known as

Alexis

Profile

Born to a wealthy family. When his parents died, Alexis became a hermit on the Volga River. His reputation for holiness spread and attracted so many students that he founded a monastery for them, became a monk, and took the name Barlaam.

Born

Novgorod, Russia as Alexis

Died

6 November 1193 of natural causes

Saint Israel of Limoges November 6

 Saint Israel of Limoges

Also known as

Israel Limousin

Profile

Born to the nobility, his was a pious family. Priest. Vicar general of Limoges, France. Canon regular at Dorat, France. Taught theology in the diocese seminary. Wrote a lyric biography of Christ. Nursed plague sufferers during an epidemic in 994. Spiritual teacher of Saint Theobald of Dorat.

Born

950 at Dorat, France

Died

• 22 December 1014 of natural causes

• relics transferred to the Dorat collegiate church on 27 January 1130

Blessed Beatrice of Olive November 6

 Blessed Beatrice of Olive

Profile

Cistercian nun at the convent of the Olive in Morlanwelz, Belgium. Her life in the convent led her to question her vocation, and she became a pilgrim for 15 years after which she received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary telling her it was time to return to Cistercian life. Beatrice returned to the convent and spent the rest of her life there, known for her piety and Marian devotion.

Died

• c.1400 of natural causes

• relics venerated in the parish church of Morlanwelz, Belgium

Saint Demetrian of Cyprus November 6

Saint Demetrian of Cyprus

Also known as

Demetrio, Demetrius

Profile

Married. Widower. Monk at Saint Anthony's Monastery on Cyprus. Priest. Hegoumenos (abbot) of Saint Anthony's for 40 years. Reluctant bishop of Khytri, Cyprus for 25 years. When Saracens raided Cyprus and kidnapped local Christians to enslave them, Demetrian obtained their release.

Born

Sika, Cyprus

Died

912

Saint Theobald of Dorat November 6

 Saint Theobald of Dorat

Profile

Born to a poor but pious farm family. Spiritual student of Saint Israel of Limoges at Dorat, France. Augustinian canon. Ordained a deacon, he considered himself unworthy of the priesthood. Treasurer and sacristan of the churches in Dorat. Had a ministry to the sick and the poor. Teacher and spiritual director of Saint Gauthier.

Born

990 in Bazeuge, France

Died

• 6 November 1070 of natural causes

• relics enshrined in the collegiate church of Dorat, France next to Saint Israel of Limoges

Saint Illtyd November 6

 Saint Illtyd

Also known as

Elchut, Eltut, Hildutus, Illtud, Iltuto, Illtut, Iltutus, Iltud Farchog

Profile

Studied under Saint Germanus of Auxerre. Monk under the direction of Saint Cadoc. Founded the influential abbey of Llan-Illtut (Llantwit Major), which housed hundreds of monks, and became home to many Welsh saints. Defended his people against incursions from the north. To relieve famine, he assembled, stocked and led several corn ships to Brittany; in gratitude, some villages and churches there are named for him.

Born

5th century Wales

Died

c.505 in Brittany (in modern France)

Saint Emilian of Faenza November 6

 Saint Emilian of Faenza

Profile

Bishop. Died while returning from a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy where venerated the tombs of the Apostles.

Born

Ireland

Died

• c.780 in Faenza, Italy of natural causes

• burial site lost during the Lombard invasions

• his grave was re-discovered following a series of miracles, which vary by source

• relics enshrined in the cathedral of Faenza

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

• cultus known to have been well-established in Faenza, Italy by the 12th century

• a synod in 1321 officially established his memorial in all cities of the diocese of Faenza

Patronage

Faenza, Italy

Saint Protasius of Lausanne November 6

 Saint Protasius of Lausanne

Also known as

Protase, Protasio

Profile

Seventh-century priest noted for his severe self-denial, and his ministry to widows, orphans and the homeless poor. Bishop of Lausanne, Kingdom of Burgundy (in modern Switzerland). He re-built and expanded what became the Saint-Maure chapel, supported the construction of the church and monastery in Baulmes, Switzerland, and re-built the cathedral of Lausanne after it had been damaged by invading pagans; he was visiting the workmen cutting timber for the cathedral when he had the accident that killed him.

Born

c.640

Died

• struck by a falling tree in the forest of Mont Tendre, Switzerland c.699

• buried in Lausanne, Switzerland

• relics transferred to the cathdral of Lausanne in the 14th century

Saint Paul of Constantinople November 6

 Saint Paul of Constantinople

Also known as

• Paul the Confessor

• Paulus

Profile

Chosen Archbishop of Constantinople in 336. For supporting orthodox Christianity against Arianism, he was exiled to Pontus in 337. He returned in 338, but the Arians again exiled him, this time to Trier, Germany. He returned c.340, but Emperor Constantius clapped him in chains and exiled him to Mesopotamia. He returned in 344 but was exiled to Cukusus, Armenia. To prevent another return he was eventually imprisoned, starved and murdered. He never stopped trying to get to his diocese and tend to his parishioners, but spent most of his time as archbishop in exile. Martyr.

Died

strangled to death in 350 in Cukusus, Armenia

Saint Melaine of Rennes November 6

 Saint Melaine of Rennes

Also known as

• Apostle of France

• Melan, Melanie, Melanio, Melanius, Melen, Mellion, Mullion

Profile

Monk. Bishop of Rennes, France during the 5th and 6th centuries when the Franks were conquering all of Gaul. Nearly eliminated idolatry in his diocese. Close friend and advisor to King Clovis. Required his priests to stop "wandering from cabin to cabin, celebrating Mass on portable altars, accompanied by women who administered the chalice to the faithful." Had a brief conflict with British evangelists who tried to introduce Celtic liturgical forms, confusing the new converts. Played a leading role at the Council of Orleans in 511.

Born

in Placet, Brittany (in modern France)

Died

• c.535 of natural causes

• the abbey of Saint Melaine, Rennes, France was built around his tomb

Patronage

• Mullion, Cornwall, England

• Saint Mellyan, Cornwall, England

Representation

• bishop standing on a devil

• bishop driving a devil before him

• dead bishop on a sailing ship carrying his body upstream

Blessed Thomas Ochia Jihyoe November 6

 Blessed Thomas Ochia Jihyoe

Also known as

• Thomas Jihyoe di Sant'Agostino

• Thomas of Saint Augustine

• Kintsuba

Additional Memorial

28 September as one of the Augustinian Martyrs of Japan

Profile

Born to a Christian family, his parents were both catechists, and both died as martyrs. Thomas attended a Jesuit school in Arima, Japan, and when he felt a call to religious life, he continued his studies in Macao. In 1622 he went to Manila, Philippines to study, and there he joined the Augustinians, making his profession in 1624. He studied theology at Cebú, Philippines, and was ordained a priest. Father Thomas returned to Japan in 1631 to minister to Christians during an imperial persecution. Authorities who did not realize his vocation let him visit Christian prisoners, many of whom were missionaries. When the government realized he was conducting a ministry to them, he was forced flee and lived for a while in a cave, the subject of an intense man-hunt. From there, he used disguises, tricks and the name Kintsuba to minister to Christians in the region for years until finally caught, tortured for months, ordered repeatedly to denounce Christianity, and when he would not, he was executed. Martyr.

Born

c.1602 in Omura, Nagasaki, Japan

Died

hanged upside down on 6 November 1637 in Hill of Martyrs, Nishizaka, Nagasaki, Japan

Beatified

24 November 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI

Blessed Christina of Stommeln November 6

 Blessed Christina of Stommeln

Also known as

• Christina Bruzo

• Christina Bruso

• Kristina...

Profile

Born to wealthy farmers Heinrich and Hilla Bruso. Though she learned to read, Christina could not write. At the age of five she received a vision of Jesus, and at age ten believed that she became a bride of Christ. When she was 12, the girl's parents arranged a marriage for her, but she ran off to become a Beguine nun in Cologne, Germany; her extravagant piety caused the nuns to question her sanity, and Christina went home where she taken in by the parish priest, Johannes. Throughout her life she and people near her would be tormented by what were considered demonic attacks - she was thrown around the room, her feet stabbed by invisible forces, and similar physical attacks. She received the stigmata in 1268, and it would return each Easter thereafter. In 1288 the mystical experiences ended and Christina spent the rest of her life living as a cloistered Beguine nun. The Swedish Dominican monk, Peter of Dacia, was a long-time correspondent and recorded many of the incidents involving her.

Born

24 July 1242 at Stommeln, duchy of Juilliers (part of modern Germany)

Died

• 6 November 1312 in an alms house in Cologne, Germany of natural causes

• buried in Stommeln, Germany

• relics moved to Nideggen, Germany in 1342

• relics moved to Jülich, Germany on 22 July 1569

• on 16 November 1944 the church was bombed, but the relics survived

• her skull shows marks and indentations corresponding to a crown of thorns

Beatified

12 August 1908 by Pope Saint Pius X (cultus confirmed)