இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 9

 St. Materiana

Feastday: April 9

Patron: of Minster, Cornwall Tintagel, Cornwall Trawsfynydd, Wales

Birth: 440

Death: 6th century

A Welsh or Cornish widow. No details of her life are extant, but some Welsh churches bear her name.

Saint Materiana is a Welsh saint, patron of two churches in Cornwall and one in Wales. Alternative spellings are Madrun and Madryn. The name was corrupted to "Marcelliana" in medieval times. Another spelling of her name sometimes used is "Mertheriana" or "Merthiana", resembling the Welsh merthyr - "martyr".

Origin

Materiana is said to have been a princess of the 5th century, the eldest of three daughters of King Vortimer the Blessed, who, after her father's death, ruled over Gwent with her husband Prince Ynyr. She is said to be the "Madryn" in whose name (along with her handmaiden Anhun (Antonia)) the church at Trawsfynydd is dedicated, and Carn Fadryn/Fadrun is named. Matrona was a widespread Roman name, and there is no evidence of any purported connection with a pre-Christian goddess named Modron.

The Hymn to St Materiana in use at Tintagel calls her "Materiana, holy Mother" and prays her to "Over thy people still preside, over thy household, clothed in scarlet vesture of love and holy pride" and continues "Thy children rise and call thee blessed, gathered around thee at thy side." The 'Hymn to St Materiana' is not an ancient hymn, and of Anglican use.

Minster church

St Materiana depicted on the church banner at Minster, Cornwall

The rood screen of St Materiana's Church, Tintagel (on the left is the banner portraying St Materiana, designed by Sir Ninian Comper)

The mother church of Boscastle is Minster, dedicated to St Materiana, located in the valley of the River Valency half-a-mile east of Boscastle at grid reference SX 110 904. The original Forrabury / Minster boundary crossed the river so the harbour end of the village was in Forrabury and the upriver area in Minster. The churches were established some time earlier than the settlement at Boscastle (in Norman times when a castle was built there). The Celtic name of Minster was Talkarn but it was renamed Minster in Anglo-Saxon times because of a monastery on the site. Until the Reformation St Materiana's tomb was preserved in the church. Traditions of the saint were recorded by William Worcestre in 1478: he states that her tomb was venerated at Minster and that her feast day was 9 April.[1] However the parish feast traditionally celebrated at Tintagel was 19 October, the feast day of St Denys, patron of the chapel at Trevena (the proper date is 9 October but the feast has moved forward due to the calendar reform of 1752).

Tintagel and Trawsfynydd churches

The first church at Tintagel was probably in the 6th century, founded as a daughter church of Minster: these are the only churches dedicated to the saint though she is usually identified with Madryn, Princess of Gwent, who has a church dedicated to her at Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd.[2] At Tintagel Parish Church there are two memorials which portray St Materiana: a statue in the chancel and a stained glass window in the nave.

The Cornish historian Charles Thomas proposed that the Norman church of Tintagel and its dedication to St Materiana were due to the munificence of William de Bottreaux, lord of Boscastle rather than the Earl of Cornwall

Saint Demetrius of Sermium

Also known as

• Demetrius the Great Martyr

• Demetrius the Megalomartyr

• Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer

• Dimitri....

Additional Memorials

• 8 October (traditional on several older calendars)

• 26 October (Eastern Church)

• 8 November (Serbian Orthodox Church; Coptic Church)

Profile

Born to a wealthy, noble family and raised Christian. Well-educated, he became a professional public speaker and apologist; his explanations of Christianity brought many converts. Soldier. Deacon. Duke of Thessaly under emperor Maximian in 190. When he was found to be a Christian he was arrested and imprisoned in a bath-house during the persecutions of Diocletian. Martyr. His story was extremely popular in the Middle Ages. Reported to have appeared during a battle in 586, centuries after his death, to help defend Thessalonika. Over 200 churches in the Balkans are known to have been dedicated to him.

Born

3rd century in Thessalonia

Died

• run through with spears c.306 at Sirmium (in modern Serbia)

• relics originally housed at Sirmium and Thessalonika where they were reported to exude holy oil

• a bone relic reported to still be in a monastery on Mount Athos

Patronage

• against evil spirits

• Belgrade, Serbia

• Crusaders

• Salonica, Greece

• Thessaloniki, Greece

Blessed Antony of Pavoni

Additional Memorial

3 February (Dominicans)

Profile

Known as a pious, intelligent youth. A Dominican, he was a monk at age 15, priest at 25. Pope Urban V appointed him inquisitor-general to fight heresies in Lombardy and Genoa, Italy in 1360; he was one of the youngest men to hold that office. A complex and difficult job, it was also a near death-sentence as it put him in constant conflict with heretics. His apostolate lasted 14 years. Preacher. Elected prior in Savigliano, Italy in 1368; he built their new abbey without criticism of its luxury, a charge heretics were always anxious to bring against Catholic builders. Great friend of the poor.

Antony's preaching and his simple and unostentatious lifestyle so angered the heretics, who saw no character flaw they could use as a weapon, they decided that they must kill him. He was martyred on the Sunday after Easter; as he preached against heresy, seven heretics stabbed him.

Born

1326 at Savigliano, Italy

Died

• stabbed to death on Sunday 9 April 1374 at Bricherasio, Turin, Italy

• buried in the Dominican church at Savigliano, Italy which was a place of pilgrimage

• relics translated to the Dominican church in Racconigi, Italy in 1827

Beatified

4 December 1856 by Pope Pius IX

Patronage

lost articles

Blessed Katarzyna Faron

Also known as

• Celestyna, Catherine, Celestine

• prisoner #27989

Additional Memorial

12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II

Profile

Orphaned at age five, Katarzyna was raised by childless relatives. Entered the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in 1930, taking the name Celestyna and making pertual vows on 15 September 1938. Catechist and kindergarten teacher. During World War II she ran an orphanage, led a religious house, and continued to work as a catechist. Arrested by the Gestapo on 19 February 1942 at Brzozów, Poland, charged with conspiracy against the Nazi regime. Imprisoned in Jaslo, Poland, then Tarnów, Poland, and finally shipped to Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp where she was put to work digging ditches. Developed tuberculosis and typhoid, and her health finally collapsed completely. Martyr.

Born

24 April 1913 in Zabrzez, Malopolskie, Poland

Died

Easter morning, 9 April 1944 in Auschwitz concentration camp, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Nazi-occupied Poland

Beatified

13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland

Blessed Ubaldo Adimari

Also known as

Ubaldo da Borgo San Sepolcro

Profile

Born to the Florentine nobility, his relics indicate that he was a pretty tall individual. After a mis-spent youth, he became involved in the political and martial conflicts between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the Pope and the emperor of Germany. Soldier. He became a spiritual student of Saint Philip Benizi c.1280, had a conversion, and became a Servite friar. Priest, ordained c.1283. Assistant to Saint Philip, and was at his death bed. Prior of the Servite convent of Todi, Italy in 1285. Miracle worker; once, having broken the water jug he was using to carry water, he used the cloth of his habit as a bowel to bring water back to the convent for his brothers. Late in life he returned to the Servite convent on Monte Senario to spent his last days in prayer and penance.

Born

c.1245 in Florence, Italy

Died

• 9 April 1315 on Mount Senario, Tuscany, Italy of natural causes

• buried in the Servite church on Monte Senario near the graves of the Seven Holy Founders

Beatified

3 April 1821 by Pope Pius VII (cultus confirmation)

Saint Liborius of Le Mans

Also known as

Liboire, Liborio

Profile

Born to a noble family of Gaul. Priest. Bishop of Le Mans, France from 348. Friend of Saint Martin of Tours. Served his diocese for 45 years, building many churches. The translation of his relics from Le Mans to Paderborn, Germany led to a sister-city relation that has lasted for over 1,000 years.

Born

early 4th century Gaul (modern France)

Died

• 396 of natural causes

• some relics at Amelia, Umbria, Italy

• some relics transferred to Paderborn, Germany in 836

Patronage

• abdominal pains

• against calculi, gravel, kidney stones or gall stones

• against colic

• against fever

• archdiocese of Paderborn, Germany

• city of Paderborn, Germany

• Paderborn Cathedral

Saint Waltrude of Mons

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(ஏப்ரல் 9)

✠ புனிதர் வால்ட்ரூட் ✠

(St. Waltrude)

பிறப்பு: ---

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 9, 688 

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 9

புனிதர் வால்ட்ரூட், "மான்ஸ்" (Mons) மற்றும் "பெல்ஜியம்" (Belgium) ஆகிய இடங்களின் பாதுகாவலர் ஆவார்.

மிகவும் அழகிய பெண்ணாக வளர்ந்த இவரை, பெரும் பணம் படைத்தவர்கள் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ள விரும்பினார்கள். ஆனால், அவரது பெற்றோர்கள், அவரை, "ஹைனால்ட்" (Count of Hainault) நகரின் பிரபுவுக்கு மணமுடித்து வைத்தனர். இவர்களுக்கு நான்கு குழந்தைகள் பிறந்தன. பணி ஓய்வு பெற்ற வால்ட்ரூட்டின் கணவர் அங்கிருந்த ஒரு துறவு மடத்தில் தஞ்சமடைந்தார்.

கி.பி. 656ம் ஆண்டு, வால்ட்ரூட் தாமே ஒரு பெண் துறவியானார். அவர் தமது சொந்த பள்ளியை நிறுவினார். அதனைச் சுற்றிலும் "மோன்ஸ்" (Mons) நகரம் வளர்ச்சி காண தொடங்கியிருந்தது.

சிறைக் கைதிகளை விடுதலை செய்விப்பதில் அதிக ஆர்வம் காட்டினார். அவர்களை மீட்பதற்காக மீட்பு விலை கொடுக்க வேண்டியிருந்தது. வால்ட்ரூட், தம்மிடமிருந்த வெள்ளிப் பொருட்களை எடை போட்டு விற்றார். கைதிகள் யாவரும் மீட்பு விலை கொடுக்கப்பட்டு மீட்கப்பட்டனர். பின்னர் அவர்கள் அனைவரையும் அவர்களது சொந்த ஊர்களுக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தார். இதுபோன்ற காரணங்களால் வால்ட்ரூட் சரித்திர ஆர்வலர்களால் கொண்டாடப்படுகின்றார்.

கி.பி. 688ம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் 9ம் நாள், வால்ட்ரூட் பெல்ஜியத்திலுள்ள மோன்ஸ் (Mons) நகரில் இறந்தார். பெல்ஜியத்தில் புனித வால்ட்ரூட் மலையில் இவர் பெயரில் பேராலயமும், கல்லூரிகளும் உள்ளன. 

மோன்ஸ் (Mons) நகரில் இவர் பெயரில் அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்ட ஆலயம் ஒன்றுள்ளது. ஒவ்வோர் ஆண்டும் இந்த திருத்தலத்தில் இன்றுவரை புனித வால்ட்ரூட் திருவிழா சிறப்பாக கொண்டாடப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

Also known  as

Valdetrudis, Vaudru, Vautrude, Waldeltrude, Waldetrude, Waldetrudis, Waltrudis, Waudru

Profile

Daughter of Saint Bertille and Saint Walbert of Hainault. Sister of Saint Aldegundis. Married to Saint Vincent Madelgaire, count of Hainault, a lord in King Dagobert's court. Mother of two sons and two daughters - including Saint Landericus of Soignies, Saint Madalberta and Saint Aldetrudis. She convinced her husband to become a monk, and he is now known as Saint Vincent Madelgaire. Spiritual student of Saint Guislain. Took the veil from Saint Aubert. Founded a religious community in Mons, Belgium, but lived as a member, not a leader. Target of much slander from the secular world.

Died

9 April 686 of natural causes

Patronage

• Hainault, Belgium

• Mons, Belgium

Blessed Thomas of Tolentino

Profile

Joined the Franciscans as a young man; he was noted by his brothers for his strict adherence to the Rule of the Order. Priest. Missionary in Armenia in 1289. Envoy from King Haython II of Armenia to the papal court. Missionary in Persia (modern Iran) in 1305. Missionary to Hindustan (part of modern India) in 1320, working with Blessed James of Padua, Blessed Peter of Siena, and Blessed Demetrius of Triflis. Martyr.

Born

c.1260 in Tolentino, Italy

Died

• beheaded in 1322 at Thana, Hindustan (in modern India)

• relics recovered by Blessed Odoric of Pordenone and returned to Tolentino, Italy in 1330

• relics later enshrined in the cathedral in Tolentino

Beatified

• 1809 by Pope Pius VII (cultus confirmation)

• 1894 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmation)

Blessed Lindalva Justo de Oliveira

Also known as

Lindalwa

Profile

Born to a large family. Nun. Member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in 1986. Began working at a homeless center in El Salvador on 29 January 1991. Murdered by a man who became obsessed with her and angered that she would not give up her religious life for him. Martyr.

Born

20 October 1953 in Sitio Malhada da Areia, Açu, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Died

stabbed 44 times with a knife on 9 April 1993 in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil by Augusto da Silva Peixoto

Beatified

2 December 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI

Saint Madrun

Also known as

Madryn, Marcelliana, Materiana, Mertheriana, Merthiana, Modrun

Additional Memorial

9 June (Trawsfynydd, Wales)

Profile

Born a princess, the daughter of King Vortimer Fendigaid. Married to Prince Ynyr. Queen of Gwent. While on pilgrimage, she received a dream in which she was told to build a convent where she slept; the church there has survived to today. Mother of Saint Ceidio; she helped him evangelize the area around Minster in Cornwall. Widow.

Born

c.440

Patronage

Trawsfynydd, Wales

Saint Gaucherius

Also known as

Gauquerio, Gaucherio, Gaucher, Gautier, Gaultier, Walter

Profile

Hermit near Limousin, France, probably supporting himself as a wood cutter. Founder and abbot of the Augustinian canons regular monastery of Saint John at Aureil, Limousin. Friend and benefactor of Saint Stephen of Muret.

Born

1060 near Maulan, France

Died

9 April 1140 from injuries received in a fall in a riding accident near Limoges, France

Canonized

1194 by Pope Celestine III

Patronage

wood cutters

Saint Hugh of Rouen

Profile

Benedictine monk at Fontenelle Abbey. Primicerius of Metz, France. Bishop of Rouen, France in 722. Bishop of Paris, France. Abbot at Fontenelle. Abbot at Jumieges. He used these positions, several of which he held at once, to inspire and support piety and learning in his diocese, and among his monks. He eventually resigned all his offices and retired to Jumieges as a choir monk.

Died

730 at Jumieges Abbey, France of natural causes

Saint Acacius of Amida

Also known as

Acacio, Acathius

Profile

Bishop of Amida, Mesopotamia (modern Diyarbakir, Turkey). Noted for his work with, and charity to Persian prisoners of war. To pay their ransom, he melted down the altar pieces and sacred vessels of his church. This is impressed the Persian King Bahram V so much that he ended the persecution of Christians in his domain.

Died

c.421 of natural causes

Saint Casilda of Toledo

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(ஏப்ரல் 9)

✠ புனிதர் கஸில்டா ✠

(St. Casilda of Toledo)

பிறப்பு: ---

இறப்பு: கி.பி. 1050

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 9

புனிதர் கஸில்டா, ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்கம் மற்றும் கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபைகளின் புனிதராக ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளப்பட்டவர் ஆவார்.

கஸில்டா, பத்தாம் நூற்றாண்டில், ஸ்பெயின் (Spain) நாட்டின் “டோலேடோ” (Toledo) மாகாணத்தின் இஸ்லாமிய மத தலைவர் ஒருவரது மகளாகப் பிறந்தவர் ஆவார்.

இயற்கையிலேயே இரக்க குணம் கொண்ட கஸில்டா, கிறிஸ்தவ கைதிகளின் மீது மிகுந்த இரக்கம் காட்டினார். தமது இஸ்லாமிய மதத்தின்மீது விசுவாசம் கொண்டிருந்த இவர், தினந்தோறும் கிறிஸ்தவ கைதிகளுக்கு ரொட்டிகளை மறைவாகக் கொண்டுவந்து கொடுப்பதை வழக்கமாகக் கொண்டிருந்தார். ஒருநாள் அவர் கிறிஸ்தவ கைதிகளுக்கு கொடுப்பதற்காக ரொட்டிகளை தமது ஆடையில் மறைத்து எடுத்துச் செல்கையில், எதிர்ப்பட்ட இஸ்லாமிய போர் வீரர்களால் சோதனையிடப்பட்டார். அவர்கள் அவரை சோதித்தபோது, அவரது ஆடையில் மறைவாக வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த ரொட்டிகள் அழகிய ரோஜா மலர்களாக மாறினவாம்.

கஸில்டா தமது இளம் வயதில் நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டார். உள்ளூர் அரேபிய மருத்துவர்கள் அவரை குணப்படுத்துவார்கள் என்ற நம்பிக்கை அவரிடம் இல்லாதிருந்தது. அதனால், அவர் உள்ளூர் மருத்துவர்களின் சிகிச்சையை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவில்லை.

வடக்கு ஸ்பெயினிலுள்ள “ஸான் விகென்ஸோ” (San Vicenzo) திருத்தலத்திற்கு புனித பயணம் மேற்கொண்டால் தமது நோய்கள் தம்மை விட்டு விலகும், தாம் குணமடைவோம் என்று கஸில்டா நம்பினார். அவரைப் போலவே நோய்வாய்ப்பட்ட மக்கள் திருத்தல புனித பயணம் மேற்கொண்டிருந்தனர். அவர்களில் அநேகர் இரத்த ஒழுக்கு நோயினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் ஆவர். கஸில்டா “ஸான் விகென்ஸோ” திருத்தலத்தின் புனித நீரை வேண்டி அருந்தினார். அவரை இந்த திருத்தலத்திற்கு இட்டுச் சென்ற சக்தி என்னவென்று இதுவரை யாருமறியார். ஆனால், வியக்கத்தக்க வகையில் அவர் குணமுற்றார்.

இதன் பிரதிபலனாக, கஸில்டா கிறிஸ்தவ மதத்தை மனமார ஏற்றார். “பர்கோஸ்” (Burgos) எனும் இடத்தில் இவர் திருமுழுக்கு பெற்றார். தனிமையிலும் தவ வாழ்வினை வாழ்ந்தார். இவர் சுமார் நூறு வருடங்கள் வாழ்ந்ததாக சொல்லப்படுகிறது. இவர் கி.பி. சுமார் 1050ம் வருடம் இறந்ததாக நம்பப்படுகிறது.

சரித்திரம் முழுதுமே, கிறிஸ்தவ மற்றும் இஸ்லாமியர்களுக்கிடையே ஒரு பதட்ட சூழ்நிலையே நிலவி வந்திருக்கிறது. சில வேளைகளில் அவை இரத்தக்களறியான போர்களாகவும் வெடித்திருக்கின்றன. கஸில்டா தமது அமைதியான, எளிய வாழ்க்கை மூலம் தம்மைப் படைத்த இறைவனுக்கு - முதலில் ஒரு விசுவாசத்திற்கும் - பின்னர் வேறொன்றுக்குமாக - சேவை செய்திருந்தார்.

Also known as

• Casilda of Briviesca

• Casilde of...

Profile

Born to Moorish parents. Convert to Christianity. Anchorite near Briviesca, Burgos, Spain.

Born

Toledo, Spain

Died

c.1050

Patronage

against sterility

Blessed Pierre Camino

Profile

Mercedarian friar. While sailing to north Africa on a mission for the Order to ransom Christians enslaved by Muslims, he was captured by Muslims, taken to Tunis, buried to the waist, and used for archery practice before finally being mutilated, blinded and murdered. Martyr.

Born

French

Died

beheaded in 1284 in Tunis, Tunisia

Saint Eupsychius of Cappadocia

Also known as

Eupsichio

Profile

Fourth century patrician in Cappadocia. During the persecutions of Julian the Apostate, Eupsychius was arrested, convicted, tortured and executed for being a Christian and for having destroyed the temple of the pagan god of fortune in Caesarea. Martyr.

Died

beheaded in 362 in Caesarea, Cappadocia

Saint Aedesius of Alexandria

Also known as

Edessa, Edesio

Profile

Brother of Saint Apphian of Caesarea. Publicly reproved a judge who had forced nuns to work in brothels in order to break them of their faith during the persecutions of emperor Maximinus. For this, he was imprisoned, tortured and executed. Martyr.

Died

drowned in 306 in Alexandria, Egypt

Saint Maximus of Alexandria

Profile

Priest in Alexandria, Egypt. When Saint Dionysius of Alexandria was exiled in 257, Maximus governed the patriarchate of Alexandria. Chosen bishop of Alexandria in 265. Studied at and supported the catechetical school in Alexandria.

Died

c.288 in Alexandria, Egypt of natural causes

Blessed James of Padua

Profile

Franciscan. Missionary. Martyred with Blessed Thomas of Tolentino, Blessed Peter of Siena, and Blessed Demetrius of Triflis while en route to evangelize Ceylon and China.

Born

Italian

Died

beheaded by Muslims in 1322 at Thama, Hindustan

Beatified

1894 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmed)

Blessed Marguerite Rutan

Profile

Religious sister in the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Martyred in the French Revolution.

Born

23 April 1736 in Metz, Moselle, France

Died

9 April 1794 in Dax, Landes, France

Beatified

19 June 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI

Saint Hedda the Abbot

Also known as

Haeddi

Profile

Benedictine abbot. He and 84 of his brother monks were martyred by invading pagan Danes.

Died

869 in Croyland, England

Saint Marcellus of Die

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Brother of Saint Petronius of Die. Bishop of Die, France. Much persecuted by Arians.

Born

Avignon, France

Died

474

Saint Heliodorus of Mesopotamia

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Bishop in Mesopotamia. Martyred in the persecution of Shapur II.

Died

c.355

Saint Brogan

Also known as

Brocan

Profile

Mentioned in the Gorman Martyrology.

Saint Concessus the Martyr

Profile

Martyr.

Saint Dotto

Profile

Sixth century abbot of a monastery in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Saint Hilary the Martyr

Profile

Martyr.

Martyrs of Croyland

Profile

A group of Benedictine monks martyred by pagan Danes - Agamund, Askega, Egdred, Elfgete, Grimkeld, Sabinus, Swethin, Theodore and Ulric.

Died

Croyland Abbey, England

Martyrs of Masyla

Also known as

Massylitan Martyrs

Profile

Group of Christians martyred in Masyla in northwest Africa.

Martyrs of Pannonia

Profile

Seven virgin-martyrs in Sirmium, Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia).

Martyrs of Thorney Abbey

Profile

A group of Hermits, hermitesses, and monks who lived in or around Thorney Abbey who were martyred together during raids by pagan Danes. We know little more than the names of three - Tancred, Torthred and Tova.

Died

869 by raiders at Thorney Abbey, Cambridgeshire, England

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 8

 St. Walter of Pontoise

Feastday: April 8

Patron: of prisoners; prisoners of war; vintners; invoked against job-related stress

Birth: 1030

Death: 1095

St. Walter of Pontoise, Abbot (Feast - April 8) Walter Gautier was born in Picardy, France, in the eleventh century. A well-educated individual, he became a professor of philosophy and rhetoric. Later, he entered the Benedictine abbey of Rebais-en-Brie. When King Philip I appointed Walter as the first abbot of a new monastery at Pontoise, Walter reminded Philip that God was the one who conferred such honors, not the king. Seeking solitude, he fled Pontoise on two occasions, but both times he was forced to return. Walter then went to Rome to ask Pope Gregory VII for release from his position so that he could follow a life of solitude. However, the Pope told Walter to use the talents God had given him, and thus Walter resigned himself to staying at Pontoise. When he spoke out against simony and the evil lives of the secular clergy, this caused great outrage, and on one occasion he was beaten and thrown into prison. After his release, Walter continued to live a life of mortification, spending entire nights in prayer. After establishing the foundation of a convent in honor of Mary at Bertaucourt, Walter died on Good Friday in the year 1095.

For other people named Gaultier, see Gaultier (disambiguation).

Saint Walter of Pontoise (French: Saint Gautier, Gaultier, Gaucher; c. 1030 – c. 1099) was a French saint of the eleventh century. Born at Andainville,[3] he was a professor of philosophy and rhetoric before becoming a Benedictine monk at Rebais (diocese of Meaux). A story told of him is that while a novice, Walter took pity on an inmate at the monastery prison, and helped the prisoner to escape.[2]

Philip I appointed him abbot of a new foundation at Pontoise, despite Walter's protestations. The foundation of Pontoise was initially dedicated to Saint Germanus of Paris but then was dedicated to Saint Martin. The discipline at this new foundation was lax, and Walter fled the house several times to avoid this responsibility.[4]

Walter left his position at Pontoise to become a monk at Cluny under Hugh but he was forced to return to Pontoise.[4] A story told of him was that he once took the road to Touraine and hid himself on an island in the Loire, before being led back to the abbey.[3] He also escaped to an oratory near Tours dedicated to Cosmas and Damian before being recognized by a pilgrim there.[4]

After being forced to return again, this time Walter decided to go to Rome to appeal directly to the pope. Walter gave Pope Gregory VII his written resignation, but Gregory ordered him to assume his responsibilities as abbot and never leave again.[4]

Thereafter, he campaigned against the abuses and corruptions of his fellow Benedictines, and was beaten and imprisoned. He resumed his work after being released. He founded, in 1094, at Berteaucourt-les-Dames near Amiens, a monastery for women, with the assistance of Godelinda and Elvige (also spelled Godelende and Héleguide).[4][5]

Veneration

Walter was buried in the abbey at Pontoise. He was canonized by Hugh the Archbishop of Rouen in 1153, and was the last saint in Western Europe to have been canonized by an authority other than the pope.[6][7] “The last case of canonization by a metropolitan is said to have been that of St. Gaultier, or Gaucher, abbat [sic] of Pontoise, by the Archbishop of Rouen, A.D. 1153. A decree of Pope Alexander III, A.D. 1170, gave the prerogative to the pope thenceforth, so far as the Western Church was concerned.”[6]

During the French Revolution, his body was translated to the cemetery of Pontoise, and was later lost.[4] The College of Saint Martin of Pontoise, now an Oratorian foundation, celebrates his feast.

St. Aedesius

Feastday: April 8

Death: 306

Martyr and brother of St. Apphian. Aedesius, a Christian of some note in Caesarea, now part of modern Israel, witnessed the persecution of Christians, the result of Emperor Diocletian's policies. He publicly rebuked the local Roman officials who were placing Christian virgins in brothels as part of the persecutions. Arrested, Aedesius was tortured and then drowned.

For the Neoplatonist philosopher, see Aedesius.

Saint Aedesius of Alexandria (also Edese or Edesius[1]) (died 306) was an early Christian martyred under Galerius Maximianus. He was the brother of Saint Aphian (or Amphianus).[3] According to the martyrology, he publicly rebuked a judge who had been forcing Christian virgins to work in brothels in order to break them of their faith, so he was tortured and drowned.[3]

Western tradition

At Alexandria, in the time of Emperor Maximian Galerius, the martyr St. Aedesius, brother of the blessed Apphian. Because he publicly reproved the wicked judge who delivered to corruptors virgins consecrated to God, he was arrested by the soldiers, exposed to the most severe torments, and thrown into the sea for the sake of Christ our Lord.

— The Roman Martyrology[4]

The historian Eusebius of Caesarea[5] elaborates Aedesius' story: like his brother, he was a philosopher that converted to Christianity.[1] Perhaps because of his standing among the educated, he seems to have thought little of professing his faith before magistrates, for which he was imprisoned several times and was sentenced to work in the mines of Palestine.[1] He sought solitude in Egypt after his release, but found the persecution there was harsher under Hierocles. Aedesius was offended by the enslavement of consecrated virgins (who were forced to work in brothels), and so presented himself before the governor, whereupon he was seized by soldiers, tortured, and drowned.[1] The saint's acta are preserved in a Chaldaic text. This story is probably confused,[1] and perhaps conflated with that of the contemporary Neoplatonist philosopher, Aedesius.

Eastern tradition

The account of the Eastern Church says Aedesius and his brother were born in Patara of high-standing pagan parents.[2] The brothers converted while studying in Beirut, secretly fleeing to Caesarea to be taught by a priest named Pamphylus.[2] It is reported that Amphianus gave himself up to martyrdom, having "a twenty-year-old body but the understanding and greatness of soul of a centenarian."[2] Having tried to stop the pagan governor of the area from sacrificing to idols, he was tortured; his legs were wrapped in cotton and burned, and they threw him into the sea with a stone around his neck. Aedesius was punished by being sent to a copper mine in Palestine, and then to Egypt. In Alexandria, he spoke out against Hierocles, who had been forcing Christian "nuns, virgins and pious women" to work alongside prostitutes in brothels.[2] The account says Aedesius struck the prince, for which he was tortured and drowned in the sea like his brother.[2]

Veneration

Aedesius' feast day is celebrated on 8 April in the Roman Catholic Church. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, his feast is 2 April.[2]

In art, Aedesius is shown shipwrecked with his brother;[1] the mention of a depiction that has his legs wrapped in oiled linen before he is burned to death is probably a reflection of the Eastern story of his brother's martyrdom.

St. Perpetuus

Feastday: April 8

Death: 490

Bishop of Rours from about 464. He enforced clerical discipline and regulated feast days. Perpetuus also rebuilt the basilica of St. Martin. A will attributed to him is known now by scholars to have been a forgery composed in the seventeenth century.

Saint Perpetuus (French: Saint-Perpetue) (died 30 December 490 AD)[1] was the sixth Bishop of Tours, from 460 to 490. He succeeded his relative, probably an uncle, Eustochius, and was succeeded by another close relative, Saint Volusianus.

Born of a senatorial family, he became bishop of Tours around 460. It is said of him that he dedicated the revenues of his estates to the relief of those in need.

Appointed about 460, he guided the Church of Tours for thirty years, and it is apparent, from what little information we have, that during his administration Christianity was considerably developed and consolidated in Touraine. Shortly after his elevation, St. Perpetuus presided at a council in which eight bishops who were reunited in Tours on the Feast of St. Martin had participated, and at this assembly an important rule was promulgated relative to ecclesiastical discipline. He maintained a careful surveillance over the conduct of the clergy of his diocese, and mention is made of priests who were removed from their office because they had proved unworthy.

He built monasteries and various churches, but above all he desired to replace by a beautiful basilica (470) the little chapel that Saint Britius had constructed, to protect the tomb of St. Martin of Tours. He is noted for his great veneration for St. Martin and enlarged the place to accommodate the influx of pilgrims to the saint's tomb.

St. Gregory of Tours states that Perpetuus decreed that all of the members of his diocese should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, except for a few church festivals. He set aside several Mondays as fasts as well, especially in the period of the Christian year that became Advent. These fasts were still being celebrated in the 7th century.

Blessed Augustus Czartoryski

Also known as

• Prince August Franciszek Maria Anna Józef Kajetan Czartoryski

• Duke of Vista Alegre

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Oldest child of Prince Ladislaus and Princess Maria Amparo, daughter of the Queen of Spain; the couple had settled in Paris, France after being losing all their property and being exiled in the 1830 revolution. Both Augustus and his mother contracted tuberculosis; she died when he was six years old, and he was sent to doctors in Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Egypt in a vain search for a cure. Though he was forced to attend court functions and amusements as the son of a prince, the boy had no interest in worldly life, and early felt a call to religious vocation. He studied in Paris and in Krakow, Poland, but school was often interrupted due to his poor health; one of his tutors was Saint Jozef Kalinowski.

The turning point in the young man’s life came in May 1883 when he met Saint John Bosco. Don Bosco celebrated Mass in the family chapel of Lambert Palace in Paris, and Augustus served as a 25 year old altar boy. After making all needed arrangements to turn his rights, privileges and inheritance as the first-born to his brothers, Augustus joined the Salesian Congregation in June 1887; Don Bosco was reluctant as he did not think Augustus’s health could withstand the life of a novice and seminarian, but Pope Leo XIII intervened and convinced him. Augustus studied in Turin, Italy, received his cassock on 24 November 1887, and in early 1888 made his Salesian vows at the grave of Don Bosco. After studying in Liguria, Italy, where he became close friends with Venerable Andrea Beltrami, he was ordained a priest at Sanremo, diocese of Ventimiglia, Italy on 2 April 1892 by Blessed Tommaso Reggio. He served as a parish priest in Alassio, Savona, in the diocese of Albenga, Italy for about a year before the tuberculosis did him in.

Born

2 August 1858 in Paris, France

Died

• evening of 8 April, 1893 in Alassio, Savona, Italy of tuberculosis

• interred in in the family mausoleum in the parish crypt in Sieniawa, Poland

• re-interred in the Salesian church in Przemysl, Poland

Beatified

25 April 2004 in Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy

Saint Julia Billiart

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(ஏப்ரல் 8)

✠ புனிதர் ஜூலி பில்லியர்ட் ✠

(St. Julie Billiart)

சபை நிறுவனர்:

(Founder of Congregation)

பிறப்பு: ஜூலை 12, 1751

குவில்லி, பிகார்டி, ஃபிரான்ஸ் 

(Cuvilly, Picardy, France)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 8, 1816 (வயது 64)

நாமுர், பெல்ஜியம்

(Namur, Belgium)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

அருளாளர் பட்டம்: மே 13, 1906

திருத்தந்தை 10ம் பயஸ்

(Pope Pius X)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: ஜூன் 22, 1969

திருத்தந்தை ஆறாம் பவுல்

(Pope Paul VI)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 8

பாதுகாவல்: ஏழ்மை மற்றும் நோய்களுக்கெதிராக

புனிதர் ஜூலி பில்லியர்ட் ஒரு ஃபிரெஞ்ச் மத தலைவரும், 'நோட்ரே டேம்' எனும் ஸ்தல கத்தோலிக்க சகோதரிகளின் சபை'யின் (Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur) நிறுவனரும் ஆவார். இவரே அச்சபையின் முதலாவது தலைவரும் (Superior General) ஆவார்.

கி.பி. 1751ம் ஆண்டு ஃபிரான்ஸ் நாட்டில் தமது பெற்றோரின் ஏழு குழந்தைகளில் ஆறாவதாகப் பிறந்த ஜூலியின் தந்தை “ஜீன்-ஃபிரான்கொய்ஸ் பில்லியர்ட்” (Jean-François Billiart) ஆவார். இவரது தாயார், “மேரி-லூயிஸ்-அன்டோய்நெட்” (Marie-Louise-Antoinette) ஆவர்.

வசதி வாய்ப்புள்ள விவசாய குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்த இவர் பிறந்ததிலிருந்தே மறைக்கல்வியை நன்கு கற்று தேர்ந்து, கனிவான இதயத்துடனும், திறந்த மனதுடனும் சுற்றுப்புறமுள்ளவர்களுக்கும் மறைக்கல்வியை கற்பிப்பதில் ஆர்வமாயிருந்தார். நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டோரையும் ஏழைகளையும் உதவுவதில் ஆர்வம் காட்டினார்.

கி.பி. 1774ம் ஆண்டு இவரின் தந்தை முடக்குவாத நோயால் தாக்கப்பட்டதால், தன் தந்தையை கவனிக்கும் பொறுப்பில் ஈடுபட்டார். சில வருடங்களிலேயே அவரும் படுக்கையிலேயே கிடக்கும் நிலை வந்தது. அடுத்து சுமார் இருபது வருடங்கள் அவர் தமது படுக்கையில் இருந்தபடியே மறை கல்வி கற்பிப்பதிலும் ஆன்மீக ஆலோசனைகள் வழங்குவதிலும் ஈடுபட்டிருந்தார். அவரது தூய்மையை கேள்விப்பட்ட பலர் அவரை நாடி வந்து அவரது ஆன்மீக ஆலோசனைகளைப் பெற்றுச் சென்றனர்.

இதற்கிடையே, கி.பி. 1789ம் ஆண்டு, ஃபிரெஞ்ச் புரட்சி வெடித்தது. தப்பியோடிய குருக்களுடன் இவர் கூட்டணியாக இருந்தது புரட்சி படைகளுக்கு தெரிய வந்தபோது, இவர் சில நண்பர்களின் உதவியுடன் ஊருக்கு வெளியே தலைமறைவாக இருந்தார். அப்போதிருந்து பல வருடங்கள் தம்மால் நடக்க இயலாத நிலையிலும் வீடு வீடாக சென்று மறை பிரச்சாரத்தில் ஈடுபட்டார். ஒரு கால கட்டத்தில், அவர் தமது பேச்சுத் திறனையும் இழந்தார்.

ஆனால் இக்காலகட்டம், ஜூலியின் ஆன்மீக வெற்றியின் காரணமாகவும் அமைந்தது. ஒருமுறை அவர் கண்ட திருக்காட்சி ஒன்றில், துறவற ஆடையணிந்த பெண்கள் குழாம் ஒன்று கல்வாரி மலையில் கூடி நிற்பதையும், அசரீரி குரல் ஒன்று, "இதோ, சிலுவையை அடையாளமாக கொண்ட அமைப்பின் மகள்கள்" என்றது.

இவ்வாறு தமது வாழ்க்கையை நகர்த்திய ஜூலி, “ஃபிரான்காய்ஸ் ப்ளின் தி பௌர்டென்" (Françoise Blin de Bourdon) என்னும் ஒரு உயர்குடி பெண்ணுடன் அறிமுகம் ஆனார். அவரும் ஜூலியின் விசுவாசம் பரப்பும் ஆர்வத்தினை பகிர்ந்து கொண்டார். 1803ம் ஆண்டு, இவ்விரு பெண்களும் "நோட்ரே டாம்" (Institute of Notre Dame) என்ற அமைப்பினை தொடங்கினர். இவ்வமைப்பு, ஏழைப் பெண்களுக்கான கல்வி மற்றும் மறைக் கல்வி பயிற்சி ஆகியனவற்றில் தம்மை அர்ப்பணித்தது. அடுத்த வருடத்திலேயே அதன் முதல் அருட்சகோதரிகள் தமது மத ஆன்மீக பிரமாணம் ஏற்றனர். அதிசயமாக, அதே வருடம், ஜூலி தமது நோய்களிலிருந்து விடுபட்டார். சுமார் இருபத்திரெண்டு வருடங்களின் பின்னர் அவரால் நன்கு நடக்கவும் பேசவும் முடிந்தது.

ஏழைகளின் தேவைகளில் கவனமாக இருந்த ஜூலி, சமூகத்தின் பிற வகுப்பு மக்களுக்கும் கிறிஸ்தவ கல்வியின் அவசியத்தை உணர்ந்தார். "நோட்ரே டாம்" அமைப்பினை தொடங்கியது முதல் அவரது மரணம் வரை ஓயாமல் பணியாற்றிய ஜூலி, ஃபிரான்ஸ் மற்றும் பெல்ஜியம் ஆகிய நாடுகளில் பல்வேறு பள்ளிகளை நிறுவுவதில் சுறுசுறுப்பாக ஈடுபட்டிருந்தார். ஏழை பணக்காரன் பாகுபாடின்றி தொழில் முனையும் குழுக்களுக்கும் ஆசிரியர்களுக்கும் சேவையாற்றுவதில் அவரது பள்ளிகள் அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

ஜூலியும் ஃஃபிரான்காய்ஸும் தமது தலைமை இல்லத்தை (motherhouse) பெல்ஜியத்திலுள்ள "நாமுர்" (Namur, Belgium) என்ற இடத்திற்கு கொண்டு சென்றனர்.

கி.பி. 1816ம் ஆண்டு், “பெல்ஜியம்” (Belgium) நாட்டின் “நாமுர்” (Namur) நகரிலுள்ள இவரது சபையின் தலைமை இல்லத்தில் 64 வயதான ஜூலி மரணமடைந்தார்.

அமெரிக்க (America) நாடுகள் மற்றும் “ஐக்கிய அரசு” (United Kingdom) நாடுகளிலுள்ள "நோட்ரே டாம் பள்ளிகள்" (Notre Dame" schools) உள்ளிட்ட அநேக பள்ளிகள் மற்றும் “நோட்ரே டாம் டி நாமுர் பலகலைகழகம்” (Notre Dame de Namur University) ஆகியன, இவரை கௌரவிக்கும் விதமாக இவரது பெயரில் இயங்குகின்றன.

Also known as

• Julia of Billiart

• Julie Billart

• Mary Rose Julia Billiart

Profile

Sixth of seven children of peasant farmers Jean-François Billiart and Marie-Louise-Antoinette Debraine. She was poorly educated, but knew her catechism by heart at age 7, and used to explain it to other children. At age 14 she took a private vow of chastity, and gave her life to serving and teaching the poor. At age 22, she was sitting next to her father when some one shot at him; the shock left her partially crippled for 22 years. During the French Revoluation, a group of her friends helped organize the work she'd started. Julia was miraculously healed of her paralysis on 1 June 1804, and resumed her work. Her organization became the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame (Institute of Notre Dame; Sisters of Notre Dame), dedicated to the Christian education of girls, formally established in Amiens, France, the first vows being made by Saint Julia and two others on 15 October 1804. By the time of her death the Institute had 15 convents.

Born

12 July 1751 at Cuvilly, diocese of Beauvais, department of Oise, Picardy, France as Mary Rose Julia Billiart

Died

• 8 April 1816 at the Institute's motherhouse at Namur, Belgium of natural causes

• died while praying

Canonized

22 June 1969 by Pope Paul VI

Patronage

• against poverty

• against bodily ills or sickness

• sick people

Blessed Clement of Osimo

Additional Memorial

19 May (Augustinians)

Profile

Priest. Joined the Congregation of Hermits of Brettino, which in 1256 merged with the Augustinian Hermits. Chosen the Augustinian Provincial Prior of the Marches of Ancona, Italy in 1269. Chosen the third Augustinian Prior General on Pentecost Sunday 1271, and served till 1274, visiting houses throughout Italy and France, and participating in the Second Council of Lyons in 1274. Unanimously chosen Augustinian Prior General in 1284, and served in that position the rest of his life. He worked tireless for years with Blessed Augustine of Tarano to revise the constitutions of the Order, implementing them in 1290; they stood for centuries before a new revision was needed. As a leader, he insisted on proper observance of the Augustinian Rule, and worked to found Augustinian houses for women. He encouraged his brother friars to become educated, improved the training of Augustinian novices, founded five Augustinian schools, and supported the creation of libraries. He had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and passed some of that along to the tradition of the Augustinians. Miracle worker.

Born

1235 in Osimo or San Elpidio (sources vary), Italy

Died

• 8 April 1291 in Orvieto, Tuscany, Italy of natural causes

• buried at the Augustinian house in Orvieto; by order of Pope Nicholas IV, the burial was delayed to allow all the flocks of mourners to pay their respects

• some relics later sent to Osimo, Italy

• some relics later sent to San Elpidio, Italy

• all relics gathered and re-interred in the Saint Augustine church in Rome, Italy in the early 18th century

• re-interred in the chapel in the Augustinian General Headquarters in Rome on 4 May 1970

Beatified

1761 by Pope Clement XIII (cultus confirmation)

Blessed Domingo Iturrate Zubero

Also known as

• Dominikus Zubero

• Domenico Iturrate of the Most Blessed Sacrament

• Domingo of the Blessed Sacrament

Profile

Devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary at an early age. Trinitarian priest, taking the name Domenico Iturrate of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Born

11 May 1901 in Dima, Vizcaya, in the Basque region of Spain

Died

• 8 April 1927 in Belmonte, Spain of tuberculosis

• interred in the Trinitarian church of Algorta, Vizacay, Spain

Beatified

30 October 1983 by Pope John Paul II

Blessed Julian of Saint Augustine

Also known as

Julian Martinet

Profile

Tailor's apprentice in youth. Briefly admitted to the Franciscan monastery at Medinaceli, Spain, but was dismissed as not suited for monastic life. Tailor at Santocraz, Spain. Briefly admitted as a lay brother to the Franciscan monastery of Our Lady of Salceda, but dismissed as mentally unstable, and not suited for monastic life. He then lived as a hermit; his reputation for holiness began to grow, and he returned to the monastery of Our Lady of Salceda. Accompanied Franciscan missionaries, ringing a bell in the streets to call people to services. Became a noted preacher in his own right, and known to his brothers for his austerities.

Born

c.1550 at Medinaceli, diocese of Segovia, Castile, Spain

Died

8 April 1606 at Saint Didacus Friary, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

Beatified

1825 by Pope Leo XII (cultus confirmation)

Saint Dionysius of Alexandria

Also known as

Dionysius the Great

Profile

He studied under Origen, and eventually became the head of the catechetical school of Alexandria, Egypt. Archbishop of Alexandria. In 250 during the persecutions of Decius, Dionysius tried to flee the city, but was caught and imprisoned. He was rescued by Christians and hid in the Libyan desert until 251. During the Novatian schism, Dionysius supported Pope Cornelius, and helped unify the East. Exiled during the persecution of Valerian in 257 to the desert of Mareotis; he returned to Alexandria when toleration was decreed by Gallienus in 260. Dionysius dealt leniently with the Christians who had lapsed during the persecutions. He wrote a noted commentary on Revelations. Greek Father of the Church.

Born

c.190 in Alexandria, Egypt

Died

265 of natural causes

Saint Agabus the Prophet

Also known as

Agabos

Additional Memorial

8 March (Greek calendar)

Profile

Jewish convert. One of the 72 disciples sent out by Jesus to preach. Had the gift of prophecy, and predicted an empire-wide famine that occurred in 49. Probably the one who predicted Paul's imprisonment in Jerusalem in Acts 21:10.

Born

in Antioch

Died

in 1st century Antioch

Representation

• Carmelite holding a church

• making a prophesy

• with a dove

Blessed Libania of Busano

Profile

Born to the nobility, the daughter of Lord Armerico of Barbania, and descended from the dukes of Lombardy. Feeling a call to religious life, Libania fled home from an arranged marriage at age 15, seeking shelter at the abbey of San Benigno Futtuaria where she became a Benedictine nun, receiving the habit from Saint William. Her father built the monastery of Saint Thomas for her and some sister Benedictines in Busano, Italy, and Libania served as its first abbess.

Born

Barbania, Italy

Died

• 8 April 1064 in church at the monastery of Saint Thomas in Busano, Turin, Italy of natural causes

• legend says that the night she died, an angel appeared in her cell and led her to the church for her passing

• buried in a hidden location in the church of to prevent destruction of her relics

Saint Amantius of Como

Also known as

Amanzio di Como

Profile

Member of the imperial Roman court. Third bishop of Como, Italy. Built the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio in Como.

Born

Canterbury, England

Died

• 8 April 448 in Como, Italy of natural causes

• interred at the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio in Como

• relics transferred to the Chiesa del Gesu, Como on 2 July 1590

• relics currently in the Church of San Fedele, Como

Saint Phlegon of Hyrcania

Also known as

Flegon

Profile

First century bishop of Hyrcania, Greece. May have been one of the "70 Disciples of Christ". Martyr. Mentioned by Saint Paul the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans.

Readings

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. - Epistle to the Romans, 16:14

Saint Herodion of Patras

Also known as

• Herodian of Patras

• Rhodion of Patras

Profile

First century bishop of Patras, Greece. He may have been one of the "70 Disciples of Jesus". Martyr. Saint Paul the Apostle refers to Herodion as "my brother" or "my kinsman".

Reading

Greet Herodion, my kinsman. - Paul's Epistle to the Romans, 16:11

Blessed Gonzalo Mercador

Profile

Mercedarian friar. Bishop of Granada, Spain. Participated in the Council of Florence in 1450. On his way home from that council, he was captured, imprisoned, beaten, tortured and finally executed for his Christianity. Martyr.

Died

beheaded c.1450

Saint Asyncritus of Marathon

Profile

First century bishop of Marathon, Greece. May have been one of the "70 Disciples of Christ". Martyr. Mentioned by Saint Paul the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans.

Readings

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. - Epistle to the Romans, 16:14

Saint Dionysius of Corinth

Also known as

Denis

Profile

Second century bishop of Corinth, Greece. Some of his correspondence, including testimony about the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and correspondence with popes of the era, have survived. Fought the Marcionites and other heresies of his time.

Saint Beata of Ribnitz

Also known as

Beate, Beatrix

Profile

Born to the nobility, the daughter of Duke Heinrich of Mecklenburg. Poor Clare nun at the convent in Ribnitz, Germany. Abbess of the house in 1350.

Born

14th century Mecklenburg, Germany

Died

8 April 1399 in Ribnitz, Germany

Saint Redemptus of Ferentini

Profile

Bishop of Ferentini, Italy.

Died

586

Saint Concessa

Profile

Martyr venerated in Carthage, North Africa.

Martyrs of Africa

Profile

A group of African martyrs whose name appears on ancient lists, but about whom nothing is known but their names - Januarius, Macaria and Maxima.

Martyrs of Antioch

Profile

A group of Christians martyred together for their faith. We know little more than their names - Diogene, Macario, Massimo and Timothy.

Died

Antioch, Syria

Martyrs of Seoul

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

A group laymen who were martyred together in the apostolic vicariate of Korea.

• Augustinus Jeong Yak-jong

• Franciscus Xaverius Hong Gyo-man

• Ioannes Choe Chang-hyeon

• Lucas Hong Nak-min

• Thomas Choe Pil-gong

Died

8 April 1801 at the Small West Gate, Seoul, South Korea

Beatified

15 August 2014 by Pope Francis

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 7

 Bl. Domingo Iturrate Zubero

Feastday: April 7

Birth: 1901

Death: 1927

Beatified: 30 October 1983 by Pope John Paul II

Domingo was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary at an early age. Trinitarian priest.

St. Celsus

Catholic Online Saints & Angels

Facts

Feastday: April 7

Celsus of Armagh was a layman named Ceallach mac Aedha. He succeeded to the bishopric of Armagh (it was a hereditary See) in 1105 when he was twenty-six, was consecrated bishop, put into effect many reforms in his diocese, and ruled well and effectively. He mediated between warring Irish factions, was a friend of St. Malachy, and ended the hereditary succession to his See by naming Malachy as his successor on his deathbed. He died on April at Ardpatrick, Munster. His feast day is April 7th.

St. Aphraates

Feastday: April 7

Death: 345

A Persian hermit involved in the struggle against the Arian heresy. Aphraates was born on the Persian border with Syria. He converted to Christianity and became a hermit in Edessa moving in time to Antioch, Turkey. His hermitage attracted many, and miracles were reported. When Aphraates spoke publicly against the Arians, servant of Emperor Valens tried to murder Aphraates. When the servant died suddenly, Valens took the death as a sign from God and protected Aphraates, refusing an Arian request to exile the hermit. Aphraates is sometimes identified as the bishop of the monastery of Mar Mattai, near Mosul Mesopotamia. Possibly a martyr, he is believed to have written a many-volumed defense of the faith called the Demonstrations, which is the oldest extant document of the Church in Syria. Aphraates is often referred to as "the Persian Sage."

Aphrahat (c. 280–c. 345; Syriac: ܐܦܪܗܛ‎ Ap̄rahaṭ, Persian: فرهاد‎, Ancient Greek: Ἀφραάτης, and Latin Aphraates) was a Syriac Christian author of the third century from the Persian / Sasanian Empire who composed a series of twenty-three expositions or homilies on points of Christian doctrine and practice.[2] All his known works, the Demonstrations, come from later on in his life. He was an ascetic and celibate, and was almost definitely a son of the covenant (an early Syriac form of communal monasticism). He may have been a bishop, and later Syriac tradition places him at the head of Mar Mattai Monastery near Mosul in what is now Iraqi Kurdistan.[3] He was a near contemporary to the slightly younger Ephrem the Syrian, but the latter lived within the sphere of the Roman Empire. Called the Persian Sage (Syriac: ܚܟܝܡܐ ܦܪܣܝܐ‎, Ḥakkimā Pārsāyā), Aphrahat witnesses to the concerns of the early church beyond the eastern boundaries of the Roman Empire.

Life, history and identity

Aphrahat was born in modern-day Iran during the rule of emperor Shapur II on the border with Roman Syria around 280.[1] The name Aphrahat is the Syriac version of the Persian name Frahāt, which is the modern Persian Farhād (فرهاد). The author, who was known as "the Persian sage", may have come from a pagan family and been himself a convert from paganism, though this appears to be later speculation. However, he tells us that he took the Christian name Jacob at his baptism, and is so entitled in the colophon to a manuscript of 512 which contains twelve of his homilies. Hence he was already confused with Jacob of Nisibis,[4] by the time of Gennadius of Massilia (before 496), and the ancient Armenian version of nineteen of The Demonstrations has been published under this latter name. Thorough study of the Demonstrations makes identification with Jacob of Nisibis impossible. Aphrahat, being a Persian subject, cannot have lived at Nisibis, which became Persian only by Emperor Jovian's treaty of 363.[2]

Furthermore, Jacob of Nisibis, who attended the First Council of Nicaea, died in 338, and from the internal evidence of Aphrahat's works he must have witnessed the beginning of the persecution of Christians in the early 340s by Shapur II. The persecutions arose out of political tensions between Rome and Persia, particularly the declaration of Constantine the Great that Rome should be a Christian empire. Shapur perhaps grew anxious that the largely Syriac and Armenian Christians within his Empire might secretly support Rome. There are elements in Aphrahat's writing that show great pastoral concern for his harried flock, caught in the midst of all this turmoil.

It is understood that his name was Aphrahat from comparatively late writers, such as Bar Bahlul (10th century), Elias of Nisibis (11th), Bar Hebraeus and Abdisho. He appears to have been quite prominent in the Christian Church of the Persian Empire during the first half of the fourth century.[5] George, bishop of the Arabs, writing in 714 to a friend who had sent him a series of questions about the "Persian sage", confesses ignorance of his name, home and rank, but gathers from his works that he was a monk, and of high esteem in the clergy. The fact that in 344 he was selected to draw up a circular letter from a council of bishops and other clergy to the churches of Ctesiphon and Seleucia[4] and elsewhere (later to become Demonstration 14) is held by William Wright and others to prove that he was a bishop. According to a marginal note in a 14th-century manuscript (B.M. Orient. 1017), he was "bishop of Mar Mattai," a famous monastery near Mosul, but it is unlikely that this institution existed so early.[2]

About "The Demonstrations"

Aphrahat's works are collectively called the Demonstrations, from the identical first word in each of their titles (Syriac: ܬܚܘܝܬܐ‎, taḥwîṯâ). They are sometimes also known as "the homilies". There are twenty-three Demonstrations in all.[1] Each work deals with a different item of faith or practice, and is a pastoral homily or exposition. According to Francis Crawford Burkitt, they are intended to form "a full and ordered exposition of the Christian faith." The standpoint is that of the Syriac-speaking church, before it was touched by the Arian controversy. Beginning with faith as the foundation, the writer proceeds to build up the structure of doctrine and duty.[2]

The Demonstrations are works of prose, but frequently, Aphrahat employs a poetic rhythm and imagery to his writing. Each of the first twenty-two Demonstrations begins with each successive letter of the Syriac alphabet (of which there are twenty-two). The Demonstrations were not composed all at one time, but in three distinct periods. The first ten, composed in 337, concern themselves with Christian life and church order, and predate the persecutions. Demonstrations 11–22 were composed at the height of the persecution, in 344. Some of this group deal with matters as before, others focus on apocalyptic themes. However, four Demonstrations are concerned with Judaism. It appears that there was a movement within the Persian church by some either to become Jews or return to Judaism, or to incorporate Jewish elements into Christianity. Aphrahat makes his stand by explaining the meaning of the symbols of circumcision, Passover and Shabbat. The twenty-third Demonstration falls outside of the alphabetic system of the early works, and appears to be slightly later, perhaps near the end of Aphrahat's life. The twenty-third piece takes the symbolism of the grape, drawn from Isaiah chapter 65 and elsewhere, as its cue. It deals with the fulfilment of Messianic promise from Adam to Christ.[4] Aphrahat never strays too far from the Bible in the Demonstrations: he is not given to philosophizing. All of his gospel quotations seem to be drawn from the Diatessaron, the gospel harmony that served the church at his time. Aphrahat's mode of biblical interpretation is strikingly similar to that of the Babylonian rabbinic academies of his day. His position within the church is indicated in Demonstration 14, in which Aphrahat appears to be writing a letter on behalf of his synod to the clergy of the Persian capital, Ctesiphon-Seleucia on the Tigris.

In Demonstrations 5, Aphrahat, dealt with eschatology. Concerning the beasts of Daniel 7, he identified the first beast as Babylon; the second, Media and Persia; the third, Alexander's Macedonian empire. The four heads of the leopard were the four successors of Alexander. The fourth beast appeared to include both the Macedonian successors of Alexander and the Roman emperors. Its horns he applied to the Seleucid kings down to Antiochus, whom he identified as the Little Horn. He reduced the time, times, and half a time to one and one-half times, in order to fit the ten and a half years of Antiochus' persecution of the Jews. Aphrahat also mentioned the Persian ram and the Grecian he-goat of Daniel 8.[6]

In Demonstrations 8, Aphrahat stated that the Kingdom of Christ would not be established until the Second Advent at which time there would occur a literal resurrection of the righteous dead.[7]

Translations

The Demonstrations were originally composed in the Syriac language, but were quickly translated into other languages. The Armenian version, published by Antonelli in 1756 and containing only 19 homilies, circulated mistakenly under the name Jacob of Nisibis. Important versions in Georgian and Ge'ez exist. A few of the Demonstrations were translated into Arabic, but wrongly attributed to Ephrem the Syrian.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle

† இன்றைய புனிதர் †

(ஏப்ரல் 7)

✠ புனிதர் ஜான் பாப்டிஸ்ட் டி லா சால் ✠

(St. John Baptist De La Salle)

குரு (Priest):

லா சால் பள்ளிகளின் நிறுவனர்:

(Founder of La Salle Schools)

கிறிஸ்தவ பள்ளிகளின் சகோதரர்கள் அமைப்பின் நிறுவனர்:

(Founder of Brothers of the Christian Schools)

பிறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 30, 1651

ரெய்ம்ஸ், சம்பக்ன், ஃபிரான்ஸ் அரசு

(Reims, Champagne, Kingdom of France)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 7, 1719 (வயது 67)

ரூவென், நோர்மண்டி, ஃபிரான்ஸ் அரசு

(Rouen, Normandy, Kingdom of France)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

முக்திபேறு பட்டம்: ஃபெப்ரவரி 19, 1888

திருத்தந்தை பதின்மூன்றாம் லியோ

(Pope Leo XIII)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: மே 24, 1900 

திருத்தந்தை பதின்மூன்றாம் லியோ

(Pope Leo XIII)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 7

பாதுகாவல்:

கல்வியாளர்கள் (Educators) 

பள்ளி முதல்வர்கள் (School Principals) 

ஆசிரியர்கள் (Teachers) 

'லா சால்' பள்ளிகள் (La Salle Schools)

இளைஞர்களின் ஆசிரியர்கள் (Teachers of Youth)

'கிறிஸ்தவ பள்ளிகளின் சகோதரர்கள்' அமைப்பு (Brothers of the Christian Schools)

புனிதர் ஜான் பாப்டிஸ்ட் டி லா சால், ஒரு ஃபிரெஞ்ச் கத்தோலிக்க குருவும், கல்வி சீர்திருத்தவாதியும் ஆவார். தமது வாழ்நாளின் பெரும் பகுதியை ஃபிரான்ஸ் நாட்டின் ஏழைச் சிறுவர்களின் கல்வி மேம்பாட்டுக்காகச் செலவிட்ட இவர், கத்தோலிக்க பள்ளிகளின் முதல் நிறுவனர் என்று கருதப்படுகிறார். இவர், ஏழைக் குழந்தைகள், இளைஞர்கள் பேரில் அக்கறை கொண்டு உதவிகள் பல செய்து வந்தார். 

இவர், பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டிலுள்ள ரெய்ம்ஸ் நகரில் கி.பி. 1651ம் ஆண்டில் பிறந்தவர். மிகவும் வசதி படைத்த குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்த இவரது தந்தை பெயர் “லூயிஸ் டி லா சால்” (Louis de La Salle) ஆகும். இவரது தாயார் “நிக்கோல் டி மொயேட் டி ப்ரோயில்லெட்” (Nicolle de Moet de Brouillet) ஆவார்.

கி.பி. 1678ம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், 9ம் நாளன்று, தமது 26ம் வயதில் குருத்துவ அருட்பொழிவு செய்யப்பட்ட இவர், இரண்டே வருடங்களில் இறையியலில் முனைவர் பட்டம் பெற்றார்.

பின்னர், கி.பி. 1679ம் ஆண்டு இளைஞர்களுக்கென்று பள்ளியை நிறுவி, அப்பள்ளியின் ஆசிரியராக தாமே பொறுப்பேற்று நடத்தினார். பின்னர் கி.பி. 1684ம் ஆண்டு தம்முடன் சேர்ந்து உழைத்த நண்பர்களை ஒன்று சேர்த்து ஓர் துறவற சபையை தோற்றுவிக்க எண்ணி, திட்டங்கள் தீட்டி, இதனால் பல துன்பங்களையும் அனுபவித்தார். இருப்பினும் தம் பணியில் இறைவனின் துணையோடு தம்மை முழுவதுமாக அர்ப்பணித்தார். தாழ்ச்சியுடனும், ஏழைகளின் மீது கொண்ட பாசத்திலும் சிறந்து விளங்கிய இவர், தம் வாழ்நாள் முழுவதும் ஏழை மாணவர்களின் கல்வி முன்னேற்றத்திற்கு தம்மை முழுவதுமாக அர்ப்பணித்தார். 

அப்போது ஜான்சனிசம் (Johnsonism) என்ற நச்சுக் கலந்த கொள்கை ஃபிரான்ஸ் நாட்டை அதிர வைத்தபோது, அண்டை நாடுகளுடன் ஓயாத போரும் ஏற்பட்டது. 

இவைகள் அனைத்தும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து நாட்டில் கடுமையான பஞ்சத்தையும், பல்வேறு இன்னல்களையும் கொண்டு வந்தது. இதனால் கல்வியறிவு முழுவதும் இல்லாமல் போகவே, மீண்டும் ஏழை மாணவர்களுக்கென்று இரு பள்ளிகள் நிறுவி, நாள்தோறும் தவறாமல் ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு கற்று கொடுத்து, தங்குவதற்கென்று இல்லமும், உணவையும் அளித்து, எல்லா வழிகளிலும் ஊக்கமூட்டினார். 

காலத்திற்கேற்ப தொடக்க, மேல்நிலை பள்ளிகளை தொடங்கியதோடு ஆசிரியர் பயிற்சி பெறும் பள்ளிகளையும் தொடங்கி, பல யுத்திகளை கற்றுக் கொடுத்தார்.

குருக்களுக்கு இவரின் நிறுவனத்தில் பணிபுரிய இடமளிக்கவில்லை. இவர் கல்விப்பணியின் மூலம் "நேர்மையான கிறிஸ்தவர்களை உருவாக்குதல்" என்பதனை குறிக்கோளாக முன்வைத்திருந்தார்.

இவர் மேற்கொண்ட அனைத்து முயற்சிகளும் வெற்றியடைந்து, ஓர் முடிவுக்கு வந்தபோது, இச்சபையை தொடர்ந்து வழிநடத்த, சபை சகோதரர் ஒருவரிடம் தம் முழு பணியையும் ஒப்படைத்தார். 

தமது நெடிய உழைப்பினால் நல்ஆரோக்கியத்தையும், ஆற்றலையும் இழந்த ஜான், ஆஸ்துமா மற்றும் கீழ்வாதம் போன்ற பலவித நோய்களால் உடல் வேதனைகளை அனுபவித்தார். கி.பி. 1719ம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் மாதம் 7ம் நாள், பெரிய வெள்ளிக்கிழமையன்று ஃபிரான்ஸில் ரூவான் என்ற இடத்தில் இவர் மரித்தார்.

Also known as

Father of Modern Education

Profile

Studied for the priesthood in Paris, France, but quit to care for his brothers and sisters upon the death of his parents. When his siblings were grown, John returned to seminary. Canon of Rheims, France in 1667. Ordained in 1678. Doctor of theology in 1680.

Spiritual director of the Sisters of the Holy Infant who were devoted to teaching poor girls. Founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers or La Salle Brothers) in 1681, established and supported academic education for all boys. He liquidated his personal fortune, and his Brothers expected him to use it to further his education goals, but he surprised them by saying they would have to depend on Providence. The money (about $400,000) was given away to the poor in the form of bread during the great famine of 1683-1684. Saint John kept enough to endow a salary for himself similar to that which the Brothers received so he wouldn't be a burden on them.

He instituted the process of dividing students into grades; established the first teacher's school, started high schools and trade schools, and was proclaimed the patron of all teachers of all youth by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Born

30 April 1651 at Rheims, France

Died

• 7 April 1719 at Saint-Yon, Rouen, France of natural causes

• buried in Rouen

• re-interred Lembecq-lez-Hal, Belgium in 1906

• re-interred in the chapel at the Christian Brothers Curia in Rome, Italy on 25 January 1937

Canonized

24 May 1900 by Pope Leo XIII

Patronage

• school principals

• teachers, educators (proclaimed on 15 May 1950 by Pope Pius XII)

• Brothers of the Christian Schools

Blessed Mary Assunta

Also known as

• Assunta Maria Liberta

• Maria Assunta Pallotta

Profile

Daughter of Luigi Pallotta and Eufrasia Casali. Baptized on 21 August 1878. She grew up in Castello di Croce, Marches of Ancona, Italy. Confirmed on 7 July 1880. In 1884 she briefly attended school, learning to read and write, but she received no further formal education. On 2 March 1897 she suddenly received an understanding of her call to religious life. Made her first vows with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Rome, Italy on 5 May 1898. Moved to Florence, Italy on 3 January 1902. On 1 January 1904 she put in a request to go to China to work at a leper colony; her request was approved and she left Naples, Italy for China on 19 March 1904, arriving in Tong-Eul-Keou on 18 June 1904. She served several months as a cook in the orphanage there. In early April 1905 a wave of deadly typhus ran through the house. When one of her sisters appeared about to die, Sister Mary Assunta asked that she be taken instead; her prayer was granted.

Born

20 August 1878 as Assunta Maria Liberta

Died

• 7 April 1905 at Tong-Eul-Keou, China of typhus

• upon her death, a mysterious perfume filled the house for three days

• body found intact on 23 April 1913, but the burial robes were disintegrating

• thirty men carried the coffin 28 miles to its current resting place at Tai Yan-Fou, China

Beatified

7 November 1954 by Pope Pius XII at Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

Blessed Herman Joseph

#புனித_ஹெர்மன்_ஜோசப் (1150-1241)

ஏப்ரல் 07.

இவர் (#StHermanJoseph) ஜெர்மனியில் இருந்த ஒரு சாதாரண குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவர்.

இவர் சிறுவயது முதலே புனித கன்னி மரியாவிடம் மிகுந்த பற்றுக்கொண்டு வாழ்ந்து வந்தார்; கடுங்குளிரிலும் காலில் காலணி இல்லாமல் திருப்பலிக்குச் சென்றார்.

ஒரு நாள் புனித கன்னி மரியா இவருக்குத் தோன்றி, "நீ ஏன் இந்தக் கடும் குளிரிலும் காலில் காலணி இல்லாமல் வருகிறாய்?" என்று கேட்டதற்கு, இவர், "காலணி வாங்குகிற அளவுக்கு என்னிடம் பணம் இல்லை" என்று சொல்ல, புனித கன்னி மரியா இவரிடம், "அருகில் உள்ள பாறையில் உனக்கு வேண்டிய பணம் இருக்கிறது; அதைக் கொண்டு காலணி வாங்கிக்கொள்" என்றார்.

இதைத்  தொடர்ந்து இவர் அந்தப் பாறைக்குச் சென்று பார்த்தபோது, அங்கே காலணி வாங்குகிற அளவுக்குப் போதிய பணம் இருந்தது. அதைக் கண்டு பெரிதும் மகிழ்ந்த இவர் அப்பணத்தில் காலணி வாங்கி அணிந்து கொண்டார்.‌ பிறகு அதற்கு நன்றியாக தன்னுடைய தாயை தனக்குக் கொடுத்த ஓர் ஆப்பிள் பழத்தை புனித கன்னி மரியாவின் கையில் இருந்த குழந்தை இயேசுவுக்குக் கொடுத்தார். 

இவருக்குப் பன்னிரண்டு வயது நடக்கும்போது, நார்பட்டைன் துறவு அவையில் சேர்ந்து துறவியானார். அங்கு இவர் தனக்குக் கொடுக்கப்பட்ட மிகச் சாதாரண வேலைகளையும் மனமுவந்து செய்து வந்தார்.

இவர் அடிக்கடி புனித கன்னி மரியா, இயேசு கிறிஸ்து, யோசேப்பு ஆகியோருடைய காட்சிகளைக் கண்டார். தூய்மையான வாழ்விற்கும் தாழ்ச்சிக்கும் இவர் மிகச்சிறந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டாக விளங்கினார். இப்படிப்பட்டவர் 1241 ஆம் ஆண்டு இறையடி சேர்ந்தார். இவருக்குத் திருத்தந்தை பன்னிரண்டாம் பயஸ் 1958 ஆம் ஆண்டு புனிதர் பட்டம் கொடுத்தார்.

Also known as

Hermann Joseph

Additional Memorials

• 24 May (translation of relics)

• 21 May (diocese of Cologne, Germany

Profile

Son of Saint Hildegund. Had a great devotion to Mary from an early age, and as a child would spend his free time in prayer at the nearby church of Saint Mary. Mystic whose otherwordly experiences made him famous throughout the areas of modern Germany. Premonstratensian monk at Steinfeld, Germany; cared for the refectory and sacristy in the house, and could build or repair clocks. Priest. Mystical writer of prayers, hymns, and bible studies; his visions and ecstacies continued throughout his life. Spiritual director of a group of Cistercian nuns at Hoven, Germany.

Born

c.1150 at Cologne, Germany

Died

• 7 April 1241 in Hoven, Germany of natural causes

• buried at the Cistercian convent at Hoven

• relics transferred to a marble tomb at Steinfeld, Germany

• some relics in Cologne, Germany

• some relics in Antwerp, Belgium

Beatified

1958 by Pope Pius XII (cultus confirmed)

Blessed Ursuline of Parma

Also known as

Orsolina, Veneri, Venus

Profile

Daughter of Peter and Veneri Bertolina. At age 11 she was healed from a serious illness through the intercession of Saint Peter Martyr. At age 15, after having received a vision, she made a pilgrimage to Avignon, France to plead with anti-Pope Clement VII (Robert of Geneva) to resign in order to end the Western schism; when he refused, she travelled to Rome, Italy to ask Pope Boniface IX to resign for the same reason; when he refused, she returned to Avignon and made the same plea to Clement VI again. Benedictine Oblate nun, noted by her superiors for her deep spirituality and devotion to the contemplative life. Pilgrim to the Holy Lands in 1396. She stopped off in Venice, Italy on the way home and made such an impression that a monastery there was later dedicated to her, and civic leaders promoted her canonization.

Born

1375 in Parma, Italy

Died

• 7 April 1410 in Verona, Italy

• interred in the church of San Quentin in Parma, Italy

Saint Henry Walpole

Additional Memorials

• 25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales

• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai

Profile

Educated at Norwich, Cambridge and Gray's Inn, London, England. Adult convert to Catholicism. Studied for the priesthood at Rheims, France in 1582, and English College, Rome, Italy in 1583. Joined the Jesuits in 1584. Ordained on 15 December 1588 at Paris, France. Chaplain to the English soldiers stationed in Brussels, Belgium. Vice-governor of the College of Saint Alban at Valladolid, Spain in early 1593. Returned to England on 4 December 1593 to minister to covert Catholics around York. He was arrested the next day for the crime of priesthood, serving time in York and the Tower of London, and being repeatedly tortured before his martyrdom. One of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Born

1558 at Docking, Norfolk, England

Died

hanged, drawn, and quartered on 7 April 1595 at York, England

Canonized

25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI

Blessed Edward Oldcorne

Profile

Jesuit priest, ordained in Rome, Italy, and received into the Society in 1587. Worked in the English mission in Worcestershire for 16 years. Father Edward developed throat cancer, but kept preaching through the pain. He made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Winifred of Wales in Flintshire to seek a cure; his cancer healed, and he returned strong and healthy to his vocation.

Edward fell victim to the revenge following the Gunpowder Plot, a foolish conspiracy hatched by a small group of frustrated Catholic Englishmen to blow up the king and parliament. All it did was provide an excuse for renewed persecution of Catholics, especially Jesuits. Edward was arrested, falsely accused, and tortured on the rack for five days for information about the Plot. Martyred with Blessed Ralph Ashley.

Born

1561 at York, North Yorkshire, England

Died

hanged, drawn, and quartered on 7 April 1607 at Worcester, Worcestershire, England

Beatified

15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Saint Albert of Tournai

Also known as

Aibert, Aybert

Profile

A pious youth, Albert received a good education in the faith from his parents, and preferred to spend his time alone and in prayer. One day he heard a travelling musician sing a hymn about the holy hermit Theobald of Provins, and was immediately taken with the idea of a life of prayer and solitude. Spiritual student of a Father John at the Saint-Crespina Monastery in the diocese of Cambrai (in modern France) where he lived an extremely ascetic life. Benedictine monk at Saint-Crespina where he worked as cellar master for 23 years before retreating again to the life of a hermit. His reputation for holiness spread, and he attacted so many would-be students that Bishop Burchard of Cambrai ordained him and built a chapel in his cell so that Albert could hear confessions and celebrate Mass. Known for his devotion to the Eucharist and for endlessly praying the Rosary.

Born

c.1060 in Espain (near Tournai), Flanders, Belgium

Blessed Ralph Ashley

Profile

Worked as a cook at Douay College. Entered the English College at Valladolid on 28 April 1590 where he became a Jesuit lay brother. Ill health forced him to leave college and return to England. Along the way he was captured by Dutch heretics; he stood up to them and explained their errors. Finally landed in England on 9 March 1598.

Servant and assistant to Blessed Edward Oldcorne. Arrested on 23 January 1606 at Hindlip House, near Worcester, England in connection with the Gunpowder Plot, and for the crime of helping a priest. Transferred to the Tower of London on 3 February 1606 along with Father Garnet and Saint Nicholas Owen. Tortured for information on other Catholics and for the hiding places of priests. When they could get no information from him, he was transferred to Worcester, and condemned for his faith. Martyr.

Died

hanged, drawn, and quartered on 7 April 1607 in Worcester, Worcestershire, England

Beatified

15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Saint George the Younger

Also known as

George of Militene

Profile

Born wealthy, he used his fortune help the sick and poor until it was gone, then entered a monastery. Bishop of Mitylene, Greece; known as the Younger because there had been two previous bishops in Mitylene named George. Noted for his humility and fasting, for his gifts of healing, and his work as an exorcist. Stood against emperor Leo the Armenian and the iconoclasts. For his courage and defense of the icons he was exiled to Chersonese (near modern Sevastopol, Ukraine) for the rest of his life.

Born

c.776 at Mitylene, island of Lesbos, Greece

Died

• 816 in Chersonese (near modern Sevastopol, Ukraine) of natural causes while in exile

• his relics were returned to Mitylene, and his tomb became a scene of miraculous healings

Saint Hegesippus of Jerusalem

Profile

Born Jewish, he became an adult convert to Christianity. Hegesippus lived twenty years in Rome, Italy where he researched the early Church, but in later years he retired to Jerusalem. He was the first to trace and record the succession of the bishops of Rome from Saint Peter to his own day, and is considered the father of ecclesiastical history. Little of his writings survive, but he was highly recommended by other early writers including Eusebius and Saint Jerome. Compiled a catalogue of heresies during the first century of Christianity.

Born

in Jerusalem

Died

c.180 in Jerusalem of natural causes

Blessed Alexander Rawlins

Profile

Jailed twice in England for being such a fervent and out-spoken Catholic. Seminarian in Rheims, France in 1589. Ordained in Rheims in 1590, and then returned to England to minister to covert Catholics. Worked with Saint Henry Walpole and Saint Edmund Gennings. Imprisoned, tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I for the crime of being a priest.

Born

Oxfordshire, England

Died

hanged, drawn and quartered on 7 April 1595 in York, North Yorkshire, England

Beatified

15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Saint Brenach of Carn-Engyle

Also known as

Brynach, Bemach, Bemacus, Bernach, Bernacus, Bryynach

Profile

Contemporary of Saint Patrick. Fifth-century missionary to Wales. Converted a large part of Wales, including Brecan, ruler of South Wales who then founded many churches throughout the region. Built a cell and church at a place called Carn-Englyi (Mountain of the Angels), overhanging Nefyn in Gwynedd in Wales.

Born

Irish

Saint Phêrô Nguyen Van Luu

Also known as

• Pietro Nguyen Van Luu

• Peter Nguyen Van Luu

Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam

Profile

Priest in the apostolic vicariate of West Cochinchina (modern Vietnam). Martyred in the persecutions of emperor Tu-Duc.

Born

c.1812 in Gò Vap, Gia Ðinh, Vietnam

Died

7 April 1861 in My Tho, Tien Giang, Vietnam

Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II

Saint Finian of Kinnitty

Also known as

• Finian Cam

• Finan, Finnian

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Brendan the Navigator. Founded a monastery at Kinnitty, County Offaly, Ireland.

Born

Munster, Ireland

Died

6th-century

Patronage

Kinnitty, Ireland

Saint Gibardus of Luxeuil

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot at Luxeuil Abbey during an invasion of the Huns. He led his monks in an escape attempt, but they were caught by the Huns and the whole group martyred.

Died

c.888

Blessed Cristoforo Amerio

Profile

Mercedarian friar. Cardinal.

Died

1425 of natural causes

Saint Calliopius of Pompeiopolis

Profile

Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

crucified head downwards c.303 at Pompeiopolis, Cilicia, Asia Minor

Saint Cyriacus of Nicomedia

Profile

The only one of a group of eleven Christians martyred together in Nicomedia, Asia Minor whose name has come down to us.

Saint Peleusius of Alexandria

Also known as

Pelusio

Profile

Priest. Martyr.

Died

310 at Alexandria, Egypt

Saint Goran

Also known as

Gorran, Goron, Woranus

Profile

Lived at Bodmin, Cornwall, England in the 6th century. Several Cornish churches are named for him.

Saint Guainerth

Also known as

Weonard

Profile

Lived in the 6th century. Patron of a chapel in Herefordshire, England.

Saint Donatus of North Africa

Profile

One of a group of 13 martyrs in North Africa.

Saint Epiphanius the Martyr

Profile

Bishop. One of a group of 13 martyrs in North Africa.

Saint Saturninus of Verona

Profile

Fourth century bishop of Verona, Italy.

Saint Rufinus the Martyr

Profile

One of a group of 13 martyrs in North Africa.

Martyrs of Pentapolis

Profile

A bishop, deacon and two lectors at Pentapolis, Lybia who for their faith were tortured, had their tongues cut out, and were left for dead. They survived, and each died years later of natural causes; however, because they were willing to die, and because there were attempts to kill them, they are considered martyrs. We know little else except their names - Ammonius, Irenaeus, Serapion and Theodore

Died

c.310 at Pentapolis, Lybia

Martyrs of Sinope

Profile

200 Christian soldiers martyred together for their faith. We don't even have their names.

Died

Sinope, Pontus, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey)