இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 24

 Saint Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad

Also known as

Maria Elizabetta Hesselblad

Profile

Fifth of thirteen children born to Augusto Roberto Hesselblad and Cajsa Pettesdotter Dag. Raised in the Reformed Church of Sweden. Due to economic hard times, the family moved regularly.

Maria emigrated to New York at age 18 to seek work to support her family back in Sweden. She studied nursing at Manhattan's Roosevelt Hospital where she worked as a nurse from 1888, and did home care for the sick and aged. Her work took her into the large Catholic population of New York; her interest in the Church grew, and she came to see it as the place closest to Christ. She converted to Catholicism, receiving conditional baptism on 15 August 1902 by the Jesuit priest Giovani Hagen at Washington.

Pilgrim to Rome, Italy in late 1902, receiving Confirmation there. She returned briefly to New York, but then sailed back to Rome to start a religious life. Settled at the Carmelite House of Saint Bridget of Sweden on 25 March 1904. In 1906 she got permission from Pope Pius X to take the habit of the Brigittines (Order of the Most Holy Saviour of Saint Bridget).

She worked to restore the Order in Sweden and Italy, especially in Rome. She returned to her homeland in 1923, ministered to the poor, and tried to revitalize the Brigittine movement there. Received control of Rome's Brigittine house and church in 1931. Established Brigittine foundations in India in 1937. Saved Jews and others persecuted by the Nazis by giving them refuge in Rome; in 2004 she was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for this work.

Born

4 June 1870 at Faglavik, Alvsborg province, Sweden

Died

24 April 1957 in Rome, Italy of natural causes

Canonized

5 June 2016 by Pope Francis

Saint Wilfrid of York

Also known as

• Wilfrid of Ripon

• Vilfrido, Wilfrith

Profile

Son of a Northumbrian thegn. His mother died when Wilfrid was a boy, and he never got along with his step-mother. At age 14, partly to escape the miserable family life, he was sent to the court of Oswy, King of Northumbria (part of modern England). He studied at the monastery of Lindisfarne, England for three years, then accompanied Saint Benedict Biscop to Rome, Italy where he studied under archdeacon Boniface. He stayed in Lyon, France for three years to study the monastic life, and became a monk, but left during persecutions of the local Christians. He was appointed abbot of the monastery at Ripon, England for five years, and placed it under the Benedictine Rule. Priest.

He was instrumental in bringing Roman liturgical practice and rules to the region, working influentially at the Synod of Whitby in 664. Bishop Colman and several of his monks, opposing the new practice, withdrew to the north. Wilfrid was chosen as the new bishop and travelled to France for ordination, considering the dissenting northern bishops to be schismatics. He returned to England in 666, nearly dying at the hands of hostile pagans when his ship wrecked on the coast of Sussex. However, he had taken so long to come back that Saint Chad had been chosen to replace him. Wilfrid retired to the monastery at Ripon and evagelized in Mercia and Kent. In 669 Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury explained to Saint Chad that Wilfrid should have the see; Chad withdrew, and Wilfrid resumed the bishopric.

During his tenure Wilfrid worked to enfoce Roman ritual, founded Benedictine monasteries, and rebuilt the minster of York, all while living a simple and holy life himself. He became embroiled in political discord when he encouraged Queen Etheldrida to move to a convent when she no longer wished to live with her husband, King Ecgfrid. When Archbishop Theodore subdivided Wilfrid's diocese to reduce his influence, Wilfrid appealed to Rome. Pope Agatho ruled in Wilfrid's favour, and the three intruding bishops were removed. However, when Wilfrid returned to England King Ecgfrid accused him of buying the decision, imprisoned him at Bambrough, then exiled him to Sussex.

Wilfrid worked as a missionary in heathen Sussex. He reconciled with Archbishop Theodore, who had also been working in Sussex, in 686, and when Aldfrid became king of Northumbria, Theodore insured Wilfrid's return from exile. He served as bishop of Hexham, and then of York again. However, when he tried to consolidate the dioceses again, the king and Theodore opposed him, and Wilfrid was forced to appeal again to Rome in 704. Through a series of meetings, synods and rulings, Wilfrid became bishop of Hexham and Ripon, but not York. In the end Wilfrid accepted, deciding that the result of this turmoil was that everyone involved had agreed to the authority and primacy of the Pope and the Vatican, the principle he had fought for all along.

Born

634 in Northumbria, England

Died

709 at Oundle, Northhamptonshire, England

Patronage

• Middlesbrough, England, diocese of

• Ripon, England

Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

Also known as

• Euphrasia Pelletier

• Marie of Saint Euphrasia

• Mary Sainte-Euphrasie Pelletier

• Rose Virginie Pelletier

• Rose-Virginie Pelletier

Profile

Born during the French Revolution. Studied at Tours, France. Joined the Refuge of Our Lady of Charity at Tours on 20 October 1814, an order devoted to rescuing "fallen" women and those in danger of going on the game. She took the name Marie-Euphrasie, and made her religious profession on 9 September 1817. Superioress on 26 May 1825.

Founder of The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (Good Shepherd Sisters) at Tours on 11 November 1825, and established their monastery at Angers, France on 31 July 1829; this congregation has the same mission, but is a contemplative order. She was recognized as Superior-General of the Congregation on 9 January 1831, and received approval from Pope Gregory XVI on 16 January 1835.

The Congregation has sisters working in Italy, Germany, Belgium, England, Algeria, the United States, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Austria, India, Chile, Malta, the Netherlands, Australia, and Myanmar. By the end of her life, there were over 2,000 sisters established in 100+ houses on five continents; this rapid expansion led to her being known as a patron of travellers.

Born

31 July 1796 at Noirmoutier, Vendée, France as Rose Virginie Pelletier

Died

24 April 1868 at Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France of natural causes

Canonized

2 May 1940 by Venerable Pope Pius XII

Patronage

travellers

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

 புனிதர் ஃபிடேலிஸ் 

(St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen)

மறைப்பணியாளர், குரு, மறைசாட்சி:

(Religious, Priest and Martyr)

பிறப்பு: அக்டோபர் 1577

சிக்மரிங்ஞன்

(Sigmaringen)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 24, 1622

க்ருஸ்ச், சீவிஸ் இம் ப்ரட்டிகவ் (தற்போதைய ஸ்விட்சர்லாந்து நாட்டின் பகுதி)

(Grüsch, Seewis im Prättigau (Now part of Switzerland)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

முக்திப்பேறு பட்டம்: மார்ச் 24, 1729 

திருத்தந்தை பதின்மூன்றாம் பெனடிக்ட்

(Pope Benedict XIII)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: ஜூன் 29, 1746

திருத்தந்தை பதினான்காம் பெனடிக்ட்

(Pope Benedict XIV)

முக்கிய திருத்தலம்:

வெல்ட்கிர்ச்சேன் கபுச்சின் துறவு மடம், ஃபெல்ட்கிர்ச், ஆஸ்திரியா

(Capuchin friary of Weltkirchen (Feldkirch, Austria)

நினைவுத் திருவிழா: ஏப்ரல் 24

பாதுகாவல்: மறைபரப்பு பேராயம்

புனிதர் ஃபிடேலிஸ், கப்புச்சின் (Capuchin friar) சபையை சேர்ந்த கத்தோலிக்க அருட்பணியாளரும், கல்வியில் சிறந்த பேரறிஞரும், மறைசாட்சியும் ஆவார். இப்புனிதர் தற்போதைய ஸ்விட்சர்லாந்து நாட்டின் "சீவிஸ் இம் ப்ரட்டிகவ்" (Seewis im Prättigau) எனுமிடத்தில் தமது எதிர்ப்பாளர்களால் கொலை செய்யப்பட்டார்.

“மார்க் ராய்" (Mark Roy) என்ற இயற்பெயர் கொண்ட ஃபிடேலிஸ், தற்போதைய ஜெர்மனி நாட்டின் சிக்மரிங்கன் என்ற நகரில் கி.பி. 1577ம் ஆண்டு, அக்டோபர் மாதத்தில் பிறந்தார். இவரது தந்தையார் பெயர் "ஜான் ரே" (John Rey) ஆகும். நல்ல வசதியான குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்த ஃபிடேலிஸ், "பிரைபெர்க்" (University of Freiburg) பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் சட்டம் மற்றும் தத்துவம் ஆகியன கற்றார். தாம் பயின்ற பல்கலையிலேயே தத்துவம் கற்பித்த இவர், சட்ட கல்வியில் முனைவர் பட்டம் வென்றார். தமது மூன்று ஆசிரியர் நண்பர்களுடன் இணைந்து இத்தாலி, ஃபிரான்ஸ், ஸ்பெயின், போன்ற ஐரோப்பிய நாடுகளுக்கு பயணம் மேற்கொண்டு புதிய மொழிகளை கற்று ஆழ்ந்த அறிவை பெற்றார்.

ஏழைகளின் வழக்கறிஞர்:

மார்க் ராய், தனது வழக்கறிஞர் பணியை 'என்சிசீம்' நகரில் "ஏழைகளுக்கு நீதி" என்ற இலட்சியத்துடன் தொடங்கினார். செல்வந்தர்களால் ஏமாற்றப்பட்ட மற்றும் வஞ்சிக்கப்பட்ட ஏழை மக்களின் வழக்குகளை எடுத்து நடத்தி நீதியை நிலைநாட்டினார். எவ்வித இலாபத்தையும் எதிர்பாராமல் இலட்சியம் ஒன்றை மட்டுமே முன்னிறுத்தியதால் சக வழக்கறிஞர்களின் இன்னல்களுக்கு உள்ளாகி மனமுடைந்தார்.

கப்புச்சின் துறவி:

பணம், பொருள், பதவி என்ற உலகத்தின் போக்கும், நீதிமன்றங்களில் நீதிக்கு தண்டனை கிடைப்பதையும், ஏழைகள் அநியாயமாக நசுக்கப்படுவதையும் கண்டு மனம் நொந்து, தனக்கு உகந்த பணி இதுவன்று என உதறித் தள்ளி, செபத்திலும், தபத்திலும், தனது பாதையை செலுத்தினார். ஏழைகளுக்கு பணி செய்ய கப்புச்சின் சபையை நாடினார், ஆனால், இவரது செல்வ செழிப்புடைய குடும்பப் பின்னணி, மிகப்பெரிய படிப்பு ஆகியவை தடையாக இருந்தாலும் தொடர்ந்து போராடி கப்புச்சின் சபையில், கி.பி. 1612ம் ஆண்டு, அக்டோபர் மாதம், 4ம் தேதி, குருத்துவ அருட்பொழிவு பெற்றார்.

மறைபரப்பு பேராயத்தின் முதல் மறைச்சாட்சி:

பிரிவினை சபையினருக்கு சுவிஸ், பிரிகாளியா, பிரட்டிக்காவு, மேயன்பெல்ட் மற்றும் சுவபேயா பகுதிகளில் நற்செய்தியை முழங்கி பலரை மீண்டும் கத்தோலிக்க விசுவாசத்திற்கு மனம் திருப்பினார். இதனால் பிரிவினை சபையினரின் கடும் கோபத்துக்கு உள்ளானார்.

கி.பி. 1622ம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், 24ம் நாளன்று, சீவிஸ் என்ற ஊரில் உள்ள ஆலயத்தில் சில ஆஸ்திரிய அரசு சிப்பாய்களின் பாதுகாவலுடன் மறையுரையாற்றுகையில் கால்வினிஸ்ட் கிளர்ச்சியாளர்களால் (Calvinist agitators) தாக்குதலுக்கு ஆளானார். அவரை நோக்கி வெடித்த துப்பாக்கி குண்டிலிருந்து அதிசயமாக தப்பினார். உடனே அவர் அங்கிருந்த ஆஸ்திரிய சிப்பாய்களாலும் சில கத்தோலிக்க மக்களாலும் பாதுகாப்பாக வெளியேற்றப்பட்டார். எதிர் சபை நண்பர் ஒருவர் அவருக்கு தங்க இடம் தர முன்வந்தார். ஆனால், தமது வாழ்க்கை கடவுள் கைகளில் உள்ளது என்று கூறி மறுத்த ஃபிடேலிஸ், தமது இருப்பிடத்துக்கு திரும்பும் வழியில், ஆயுதம் தாங்கிய சுமார் இருபது கால்வினிஸ்ட் கிளர்ச்சியாளர்களால் (Calvinist agitators) வழி மரிக்கப்பட்டார். அவர்கள் அவரை கத்தோலிக்க விசுவாசத்தை கைவிட வற்புறுத்தினர். ஆனால், ஃபிடேலிஸ் தமது விசுவாசத்தை கைவிட மறுத்ததால் இரக்கமற்று கொலை செய்யப்பட்டார்.

கி.பி. 1746ம் ஆண்டு, புனிதர் பட்டமளிக்கப்பட்ட இப்புனிதர், ஆறு மாதங்களின் பின்னர் மறைசாட்சியாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டார்.

Also known as

• the poor man's lawyer

• Mark Rey

Profile

Lawyer and philosophy teacher. Disgusted by the greed, corruption, and lack of interest in justice by his fellow lawyers, Mark Rey abandoned the law, became a priest, became a Franciscan friar with his brother George, changed his name to Fidelis, and gave away his worldly wealth to poor people in general and poor seminarians in particular. He was served his friary as guardian, and worked in epidemics, especially healing soldiers. He led a group of Capuchins to preach to Calvinists and Zwinglians in Switzerland. The success of this work, and lack of violence suffered by mission was attributed to Fidelis spending his nights in prayer. He was, however, eventually martyred for his preaching.

Born

1577 at Sigmaringen, Hohenzollern, Germany as Mark Rey

Died

murdered 24 April 1622 at Grusch, Grisons, Switzerland

Beatified

24 March 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII

Canonized

29 June 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV

Saint William Firmatus

Also known as

William Firmatus of Tours

Profile

Canon and physician at Saint-Venance. Because of a divine warning against avarice, William gave all his possessions to the poor and spent the rest of his life on pilgrimages and as a hermit at Savigny and Mantilly. Known for his closeness to nature, his love of wildlife, and the unusual communication he seemed to have with animals. Legend says that at Dardenay during a drought, he saved the people by striking the ground with his pilgrim's staff, causing a spring of water to appear.

Died

1103 of natural causes

Patronage

against headache

Saint William Firmatus

Readings

It is said of him that even the wildest birds would approach him without fear, and come and eat out of his hand, and take refuge under his clothes from the cold. When he sat by a pond near his cell, the fish would swim to his feet and readily allow themselves to be taken up by the servant of God, who put them back into the water without hurting them.

One day his clerk came running to him, and told him that a wild boar was ravaging the garden, and destroying nearly all the vegetables. William went to the fierce animal, and took it gently by the ear. The wild boar, as tame as a lamb, let itself be led by the saint into his cell; there it passed the night, and was only liberated early the next morning, after a kindly warning not again to destroy gardens belonging to its clergyman. It should be added that Saint William made the wild boar fast all night in his cell. - from "The Little Bollandists" by Monsignor Paul Guérin, 1882

Saint Egbert of Rathemigisi

Also known as

• Egbert of Iona

• Egbert of Lindisfarne

• Egbert of Northumbria

• Egbert of Ripon

• Ecgberht...

Profile

Born to the Northumbrian nobility. Benedictine monk at the monastery of Lindisfarne, England. Unsuccessfully worked to stop King Egfrith from invading Ireland in 684. Studied at Rathmelsigi monastery, (modern Mellifont, County Louth) Ireland, and then served as a teacher to newer brothers. Once, near death from plague, he prayed for a longer life to have time to do penance; he vowed to live in exile, and never returned to England. Priest. Travelling bishop. Sent Saint Wigbert, Saint Willibrord of Echternach and other missionaries to evangelize the pagans of Friesland. He wanted to go to the foreign missions himself, but was instructed in 688 by a vision of Saint Boisil to work for reform of monastic life. In 716 he finally accepted the assignment, and travelled to Iona to the houses following the Rule of Saint Columba. There he spent 13 years gently, prayerfully convincing the monks to accept Roman ways, especially in the method of computing Easter. Died immediately following the celebration of Easter Mass.

Born

c.639 in Northumbria, England

Died

24 April 729 at the island of Iona, Scotland of natural causes

Saint Benedetto Menni

Also known as

• Angelo Ercole Menni Figini

• Angelo Menni Figini

• Benedict Mennu

• Benito Menni

• Brother Benedetto

• Brother Benedict

Profile

Son of Luigi Menni and Luisa Figini, the fifth of fifteen children in the family. Brother in the Order of Saint John of God Hospitaler. Studied philosophy and theology at the Seminary of Lodi, Italy and then in the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome, Italy. Ordained in 1866. By order of Pope Pius IX, in 1867 he began the restoration of the Saint John of God Order in Spain and Portugal. Founder of the Congregation of Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 31 May 1881. A real Samaritan, he made the care of the elderly, abandoned children, polio victims and the mentally ill the guide of his life.

Born

11 March 1841 at Milan, Italy as Angelo Ercole Menni Figini

Died

• 24 April 1914 at Dinan, France of natural causes

• relics at the Mother House of the Congregation of Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Ciempozuelos, Spain

Canonized

21 November 1999 by Pope John Paul II

Saint Mary Salome

Also known as

• Salome the Myrophore

• Irene (Greek equivalent to Salome)

Profile

Wife of Zebedee. Mother of Saint John the Apostle, and Saint James the Greater. May have been a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the "three Marys," the holy women who ministered to Jesus during his earthly ministry, and may have accompanied him on his travels. Witnessed Christ's death on the cross, his entombment, and his resurrection. Mark mentions Salome as one of the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on the morning of the Resurrection.

One gospel story that shows Jesus and Salome has her asking Jesus what places her sons will have in His Kingdom. Jesus responds that it is the Father who assigns places in the Kingdom and that James and John will have to follow His own example of humility and sacrifice to earn places there.

Legend says that after the Resurrection she went to Veroli, Italy and spent the rest of her life there spreading the Good News.

Saint Ivo of Huntingdonshire

Also known as

• Ivo of Ramsey

• Ive, Ives, Ivia, Yves, Yvo

Profile

Bishop. Hermit at Huntingdonshire, England. The city of Saint Ives (formerly Slepe), Huntingdonshire (modern Cambridgeshire), England is named for him. His gravesite was lost for years, but in 1001 four bodies were uncovered in an unmarked grave; one bore a bishop's insignia. A local layman had a vision that this was the body of Ivo, and all four were translated to the Ramsey Abbey. A spring soon appeared near the site of their interment, its waters known for healing miracles. A later vision convinced the brothers at Ramsey to keep the relics with the bishop's seal, and return the bodies of the three companions to Slepe.

Died

Huntingdonshire, England of natural causes

Patronage

Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire, England

Saint Mellitus of Canterbury

Also known as

Mellitus of London

Profile

Abbot of Saint Andrew's Abbey on the Coelian Hill in Rome, Italy. Sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great as a missionary to England in 601. Worked for three years in Kent. Bishop of London, England in 604. Exiled to France for refusing to give Communion to apostates. Recalled to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury, England in 619.

Died

24 April 624 of natural causes

Patronage

against gout (he suffered from it, and pilgrims to Canterbury who had it were directed to his tomb)

Saint Anthimos of Nicomedia

Also known as

Anthime, Anthimus, Antimo, Antimus, Antym

Additional Memorials

• 27 April (Martyrologium Hieronymianum; Roman Martyrology prior to 2001) • 28 December as one of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

Profile

Bishop of Nicomedia. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian for refusing to sacrfice to idols.

Died

• beheaded in 303 in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey)

• basilica erected over his tomb by Justinian

Our Lady of Bonaria

புனித_பொனரியா_அன்னை 

ஏப்ரல் 24

1370 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஸ்பெயினிலிருந்து இத்தாலிக்கு ஒரு கப்பல் புறப்பட்டு வந்தது. அந்தக் கப்பல் இத்தாலியில் உள்ள சார்தினியா (Sardinia) என்ற தீவுக்கு வந்தபோது, கடலில் பெருங் கொந்தளிப்பு ஏற்பட்டது. 

இதனால் கப்பல் தளபதி பயணிகளிடம், "கப்பலில் உள்ள பொருள்களை எல்லாம் கடலில் தூக்கப் போட்டால்தான் நாம் அனைவரும் உயிர் பிழைக்க முடியும்" என்று சொல்ல, பயணிகள் யாவரும் கப்பலில் இருந்த எல்லாப் பொருள்களையும் கடலில் தூக்கி எறிந்தார்கள்.‌ அதில் கனமான ஒரு மரப்பெட்டியும் அடங்கும்.

பயணிகள் கனமான மரப்பெட்டியைத் தூக்கிக் கடலில் வீசிய பிறகுதான் கடலில் புயல் அடங்கியது.

இவ்வாறு தூக்கி வீசப்பட்ட மரப்பெட்டி மறுநாள் கரை ஒதுங்கியது. அதைப் பார்க்கத் தீவில் இருந்த எல்லாரும் வந்தனர். அவர்கள் அப்பெட்டியைத் திறக்க எவ்வளவோ முயற்சி செய்தும் முடியவில்லை. அப்பொழுது கூட்டத்திலிருந்து சிறுவன், "இங்குள்ள துறவிகளில் ஒருவரை அழைத்து இதைத் திறக்கச் சொன்னால், அவரால் எளிதாகத் திறக்க முடியும்" என்று கத்தினான். 

உடனே அங்குத் துறவி ஒருவர் வரவழைக்கப்பட்டார். அவர் மரப்பெட்டியைத் திறக்கும் போது மிக எளிதாகத் திறந்து கொண்டது. அந்த மரப்பெட்டிக்குள் புனித கன்னி மரியா ஒரு கையில் குழந்தை இயேசுவை ஏந்தியவராய், இன்னொரு கையில் விளக்குத் தண்டை ஏந்தியவராய் இருந்தார்.

பின்னர் புனித கன்னி மரியாவின் இந்தத் திருவுருவம் துறவிகள் மடத்தில் வைக்கப்பட்டது. பின்னாளில் அங்கு ஒரு கோயில் எழுந்தது. மக்கள் புனித கன்னி மரியாவிடம் வேண்டியபோது அவர்கள் வேண்டிய வரம் கிடைத்தது. சார்தினியாத் தீவில் இருந்த மலேரியாவும் ஒழிந்தது.

இத்திருத்தலத்தை 2008 ஆம் ஆண்டு திருத்தந்தை பதினாறாம் பெனடிக்ட்டும், 2013 ஆம் ஆண்டு திருத்தந்தை பிரான்சிசும் பார்வையிட்டனர் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது

Profile

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the form of a statue of Mary and the Christ Child that was washed up at a Mercedarian monastery near Cagliari, Italy on 25 April 1370, apparently from a shipwreck the night before. Legend says that the locals tried to open the crate it was in, but only one of the Mercedarian monks could get the it open.

Patronage

Sardinia, Italy

Saint Bova of Rheims

Also known as

Beuve, Boba, Bona

Profile

Born a Merovingian princess, the daughter of King Sigebert of Austrasia; sister of Saint Balderic, aunt of Saint Doda of Rheims. Called to the religious life, she rejected a series of marriage proposal to become the first abbess of the Saint Peter monastery in Rheims, France.

Died

• 673 of natural causes

• relics at the Saint-Pierre Monastery, Rheims, France

Saint Diarmaid of Armagh

Also known as

Dermot

Profile

Bishop of Armagh, Ireland in 834. Renowned for his learning. Driven from his see by the usurper Foraunan in 835, Diarmaid ruled for a year from Connacht, and then returned in 836. In 841 the see was destroyed by Vikings.

Born

Irish

Died

c.852 of natural causes

Saint Mary of Cleophas

Also known as

Mary of Clopas

Profile

Mother of Saint James the Lesser. Sister of Our Lady. Present at the Crucifixion, and went to Christ's tomb on Easter morning. All else that we know about her is legend.

Saint Deodatus of Blois

Also known as

Dié, Deodato

Additional Memorial

22 August (Azeglio, Italy)

Profile

Hermit near Blois, France. The town of Saint-Dié, France grew up around his cell. Bishop.

Died

c.525 of natural causes

Patronage

Azeglio, Italy

Saint Sabas the Goth of Rome

Also known as

Sabas Stratelates

Profile

Military officer of Gothic descent. Tortured and murdered with 70 unnamed companions in the persecutions of Aurelian for the crime of visiting Christians in prison. Martyr.

Died

drowned in 272 in Rome, Italy

Saint Hermirzius

Also known as

Erminio

Profile

Martyr.

Died

• Rome, Italy, date unknown

• relics enshrined in a gilded wooden urn in the church of Saint Benedict in Perugia, Italy on 23 April 1662

Saint Authaire of La-Ferté

Also known as

Oye of La-Ferté

Profile

Father of Saint Ouen of Rouen. Courtier to King Dagobert I of France. Known for his charity for the poor.

Died

7th century

Patronage

La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre, France

Saint Doda of Rheims

Also known as

Deuteria, Dode

Profile

Niece of Saint Balderic and Saint Bova of Rheims. Nun at and then abbess of the Saint Peter monastery in Rheims, France.

Died

• 7th century

• relics at the Saint-Pierre Monastery, Rheims, France

Saint Lupicinus of Lipidiacum

Also known as

Lupicino

Profile

Sixth century wanderer and hermit, known for his piety, for carrying a large stone on his head as an act of penance, and for his healing with sick by making the sign of the cross over them.

Saint Alexander of Lyon

Profile

Friend and worker with Saint Epipodius of Lyon. Imprisoned, scourged until his ribs showed, and executed with 34 companions during the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius.

Born

Greek

Died

178 in Lyons, France

Saint Gregory of Elvira

Also known as

Gregory Bæticus

Profile

Bishop of Elvira, Spain in 375. Fought Arianism in his diocese, refusing to compromise with heretics or heresy. Wrote a number of works on the faith and scripture.

Died

c.394

Saint Eusebius of Lydda

Profile

Convert to Christianity after seeing the courage and faith of Saint George. Martyred for that conversion on the day after George's death.

Died

c.304 in Lydda, Palestine

Saint Leontius of Lydda

Profile

Convert to Christianity after seeing the courage and faith of Saint George. Martyred for that conversion on the day after George's death.

Died

c.304 in Lydda, Palestine

Saint Longinus of Lydda

Profile

Convert to Christianity after seeing the courage and faith of Saint George. Martyred for that conversion on the day after George's death.

Died

c.304 in Lydda, Palestine

Saint Neon of Lydda

Profile

Convert to Christianity after seeing the courage and faith of Saint George. Martyred for that conversion on the day after George's death.

Died

c.304 in Lydda, Palestine

Saint Tiberio of Pinerolo

Profile

Soldier of the Theban Legion. Martyr.

Died

3rd century near Pinerolo, Italy

Saint Dyfnan of Anglesey

Profile

Founded a church in Anglesey, Wales.

Born

Wales

Died

5th century

Saint Honorius of Brescia

Profile

Hermit near Brescia, Italy. Bishop of Brescia c.577.

Died

c.586

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 23

 Saint George

 புனிதர் ஜார்ஜ் 

(St. George of Lydda)

மறைசாட்சி:

(Martyr)

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 280

லிட்டா, சிரியா பாலஸ்தீனா, ரோம பேரரசு

(Lydda, Syria Palaestina, Roman Empire)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 23, 303

நிக்கோமீடியா, பெர்த்தினியா, ரோம பேரரசு

(Nicomedia, Birthynia, Roman Empire) 

ஏற்கும் சமயம்: 

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

கிழக்கு கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபைகள்

(Eastern Catholic Churches)

ஆங்கிலிக்கன் சமூகம்

(Anglican Communion)

லூதரனியம்

(Lutheranism)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

கிழக்குத் திருச்சபைகள்

(Church of the East)

ஓரியண்டல் மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Oriental Orthodoxy)

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையுடன் ஒத்திசைவுள்ள பிரேசிலிய மதம் அல்லது திருச்சபை

(Umbanda - Syncretic Brazilian Religion)

முக்கிய திருத்தலங்கள்: 

புனித ஜார்ஜ் தேவாலயம், லிட்டா, இஸ்ரேல்

(Church of Saint George, Lydda, Israel)

சித்தரிக்கப்படும் வகை: 

ஓர் படைவீரராக கவச உடை அணிந்து, 

கையில் சிலுவை முனை கொண்ட ஈட்டியை ஏந்தி, 

வெண்குதிரையில் அமர்ந்த வண்ணம் பறக்கும் நாகம் அல்லது இறக்கையுள்ள முதலையை (Dragon) கொல்பவராகச் சித்தரிக்கப்படுகிறார். 

மேற்கத்திய சபைகளில் கவசம் அல்லது கேடயம் அல்லது பட்டியில் புனித ஜார்ஜின் சிலுவை காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பாதுகாவல்: 

உலகின் பல பகுதிகளைப் பாதுகாப்பதாக நம்பப்படுகிறது.

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 23

புனிதர் ஜார்ஜ், ரோமன் படைத்துறையில் பணியாற்றிய ஓர் கிரேக்க வீரர் ஆவார். இவரது தந்தை ஆசிய மைனரைச் சேர்ந்த "கப்பாடோசியா" (Cappadocia) எனுமிடத்தில் இருந்த "கெரோன்ஷியஸ்" (Gerontius) என்பவராவார். இவரது அன்னையார் "லிட்டா" (Lydda) நகரைச் சேர்ந்த "பொலிக்ரோனியா" (Polychronia) ஆவார். தற்போது இசுரேலில் உள்ள இந்த நகரம் கி.மு. 333 முதலே அலெக்சாண்டர் கைப்பற்றிய பின்னர், கிரேக்கர்கள் வாழும் நகரமாக இருந்தது.

புனிதர் ஜார்ஜ் முதலில் ஒரு படைவீரராக பணியாற்றினார். பின்னர் ரோமன் படைத்துறையில் அதிகாரியாக பதவி ஏற்றம் பெற்றவர், பின்னர் கிறிஸ்தவ படையில் சேர்ந்து பணியாற்றியுள்ளார். கிறிஸ்தவர்களால் வேத சாட்சியாக வணங்கப்படுபவர். 

கத்தோலிக்க (மேற்கத்திய கிழக்கு ரைட்டுகள்), ஆங்கிலிக்க, கிழக்கு மரபுவழி, மற்றும் கிழக்கத்திய மரபுவழி திருச்சபைகளின் புனிதர்களின் வரலாற்றில் புனிதர் ஜார்ஜ் மிகவும் வணங்கப்படும் புனிதர்களில் ஒருவராக உள்ளார். புனிதர் ஜார்ஜும் டிராகனும் கதை மூலமாக இவர் நினைவு கூறப்படுகிறார்; பதினான்கு புனித உதவியாளர்களில் ஒருவராவார். இவரது திருவிழா ஏப்ரல் 23 அன்று கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. படைத்துறை புனிதர்களில் மிக முக்கியமானவராக கருதப்படுகிறார்.

புனிதர் ஜார்ஜ், பாலஸ்தீன நாட்டில், விட்டா என்ற ஊரில் கொனிஸ்டாட்டின் அரசன் காலத்திற்கு முன்பு மறைசாட்சியாக இறந்தார். இவர் எப்படி இறந்தார் என்பதைப்பற்றி தெளிவாக அறியமுடியவில்லை. இருப்பினும் சில வரலாறுகள் இவ்வாறு கூறுகின்றது.

அவர் முதலிலிருந்த படையில், தான் வகித்த பெரிய பதவியைக் கிறிஸ்துவுக்காக உதறி தள்ளிவிட்டு, தன் உடைமைகள் அனைத்தையும் ஏழைகளுக்கு கொடுத்துவிட்டு வந்துள்ளார். பின்பு தமக்கென்று எதையும் வைத்துக்கொள்ளாமல், உலக கவலைகளுக்கு இடம் கொடுக்காமல், விசுவாசம் என்ற மார்பு கேடயத்தை அணிந்து கொண்டார். பிறகு கிறிஸ்துவுக்காக தன் உயிரை தியாகம் செய்யவும் துணிந்தார். 

கிறிஸ்துவின் துணிச்சலான போர்வீரரான இவர், தூய ஆவியால் உந்தப்பட்டு, அன்பு என்னும் நெருப்பால் ஈர்க்கப்பட்டார். சிலுவையின் வெற்றிக்கொடியை ஏந்தி இறுதிவரை விசுவாசத்திற்காக போராடினார். தீமையின் இருப்பிடமாகிய அலகையை வெற்றி கொண்டார்.

தன்னுடன் இருந்த தோழர்களையும், பாடுகளை துணிவுடன் ஏற்று போரிட ஊக்குவித்தார், அவர் உடல் எதிரிகளிடம் ஒப்படைத்தபோது, அவரின் ஆன்மாவை மட்டும் இறைவன் பாதுகாத்தார் என்பதில்தான் இவர் கிறிஸ்துவின் மீது கொண்டிருந்த விசுவாசம் வெளிப்பட்டது.

இவரது உருவம் உலகின் பல்வேறு நாடுகளில் அஞ்சல் துறையினரால் பயன்படுத்தப்படுவதுபோல் மற்ற யாருடைய உருவமும் வெளிவருவதில்லை. இவ்வாறு அஞ்சல்தலை மூலமும் இவருக்கு வணக்கம் செலுத்தப்படுகின்றது. இந்த முத்திரைகளில் புனிதர் குதிரைமீது அமர்ந்து அலகையுடன் போரிடுவதை பார்க்கலாம். இதில் அவர் பொய்மைக்கு எதிராக பெற்ற வெற்றியை காணலாம். இவர் வாழும்போதே இறைவன் இவர் வழியாக ஏராளமான அற்புதங்களை செய்துள்ளார்.

இவர் பல நிலபகுதிகளையும் தொழில்களையும் அமைப்புக்களையும் நோயாளிகளையும் காப்பதாக நம்பப்படுகிறது. இவரது பாதுகாவலில் உள்ள நிலப்பகுதிகளில் இந்தியாவும் ஒன்று. மற்றும் - ஜார்ஜியா, இங்கிலாந்து, எகிப்து, பல்கேரியா, அரகொன், காத்தலோனியா, ரூமேனியா, எத்தியோப்பியா, கிரீசு, ஈராக், லித்துவேனியா, பாலஸ்தீனம், போர்ச்சுகல், செர்பியா, உக்ரைன் மற்றும் ரஷியா ஆகியன முக்கிய நிலப்பகுதிகள் ஆகும்.

Also known as

• Jirí, Jordi, Zorzo

• Victory Bringer

Additional Memorials

• 3 November (Russian Orthodox)

• fourth Sunday in June (Malta)

• third Sunday in July (Gozo)

• 23 November (Georgia)

Profile

Soldier. Martyr. That's all we know for sure.

Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, then rode away.

Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the 15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback. The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Died

tortured and beheaded c.304 at Lydda, Palestine

Patronage

• against herpes • against leprosy • against plague • against skin diseases • against skin rashes • against syphilis • agricultural workers • Aragon • archers • armourers • Boy Scouts • butchers • Canada • Cappadocia • Catalonia • cavalry • chivalry • Crusaders • England • equestrians • Ethiopia • farmers • field hands • field workers • Georgia • Germany • Greece • halberdiers • horsemen • horses • husbandmen • knights • lepers • Lithuania • Malta • Montenegro • Order of the Garter • Palestine • Palestinian Christians • Portugal • riders • Romanian Army • saddle makers • saddlers • Serbia • sheep • shepherds • soldiers • Teutonic Knights • 2 dioceses • 181 cities •

Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu

Also known as

• Maria Gabriella

• Mary-Gabrielle Sagheddu

Profile

Born to a family of shepherds. As a child she was described as obstinate, critical, protesting, and rebellious - but loyal, and obedient; she would say no to a request - but act on it at once. At 18 she became gentler, her temper abated, she became involved in prayer and charity, and joined "Azione Cattolic," a Catholic youth movement. At 21 she entered the Trappestine monastery of Grottaferrata. When she was accepted, her attitude finally became "Now do what You will." When the community's leader explained a request for prayer and offering for the great cause of Christian Unity, Maria Gabriella felt compelled to offer her young life to the cause. Though she'd never been sick before, she suddenly developed tuberculosis. In a mere 15 months spent in prayer for Unity, it took her to her death.

Born

17 March 1914 at Dorgali, Sardinia, Italy

Died

• 23 April 1939 during Vespers of tuberculosis

• body found incorrupt in 1957

• relics in a chapel at the Monastero Trappiste Vitorchiano near Viterbo, Italy

Beatified

25 January 1983 by Pope John Paul II

Patronage

• against bodily ills or sickness

• against death of parents

• against impoverishment or poverty

• ecumenism

• sick people

Saint Adalbert of Prague

 புனிதர் அடால்பர்ட்

(St. Adalbert of Prague)

ஆயர் மற்றும் மறைசாட்சி:

(Bishop and Martyr)

பிறப்பு: 956

லிபைஸ் நாட் ஸிட்லினோ, பொஹேமியா, ஸ்செச்சியா

(Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia, Czechia)

இறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 23, 997

ட்ரூசோ, ப்ருஷியா

(Truso, Prussia)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

(Eastern Orthodox Church)

புனிதர் பட்டம்: 999

திருத்தந்தை இரண்டாம் சில்வஸ்ட்டர்

(Pope Sylvester II)

முக்கிய திருத்தலம்: 

க்நீஸ்னோ, ப்ராக்

(Gniezno, Prague)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 23

பாதுகாவல்:

போலந்து, பொஹேமியா, எஸ்டேர்கோம் உயர்மறைமாவட்டம்

(Poland, Bohemia, Archdiocese of Esztergom)

"வோஜ்டெக்" (Vojtěch) எனும் இயற்பெயர் கொண்ட புனிதர் அடால்பர்ட், பொஹேமியா'வின் மறை பணியாளரும், "ப்ராக்" மறைமாவட்ட ஆயரும் (Bishop of Prague), "ஹங்கேரிய" (Hungarians), "போல்ஸ்" (Poles) மற்றும் "ப்ருஷியன்" (Prussians) மக்களின் மறைபோதகரும் ஆவார். இவர், "பால்டிக் ப்ருஷியன்" (Baltic Prussians) இன மக்களை கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்கு மனம் மாற்றும் முயற்சியில் மறைசாட்சியாக கொல்லப்பட்டார்.

தற்போது, "செக் குடியரசு” (Czech Republic), “போலந்து” (Poland), “ஹங்கேரி” (Hungary) மற்றும் “ஜெர்மனி” (Germany) ஆகிய நாடுகளால் பெரிதும் போற்றப்படும் புனிதரான அடால்பர்ட், அக்காலத்தில் கிறிஸ்துவின் நற்செய்திகளின் எதிர்ப்பு ஒருபோதும் இவரை சோர்வடையச் செய்யவில்லை.

பொஹெமியாவின் (Bohemia) பிரபுத்துவ குடும்பமொன்றில் பிறந்த இவருடைய தந்தையார் “ஸ்லாவ்னிக்” (Slavník) ஆவார். இவரது தாயார் “ஸ்ட்ரேசிஸ்லாவா” (Střezislava) ஆவார். சிறு வயதிலேயே பெரும் நோயோன்றினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு பிழைத்த இவரை கடவுளின் சேவையில் அர்ப்பணித்திட இவரது பெற்றோர் தீர்மானித்திருந்தனர்.

சிறந்த கல்விமானான இவர், தமது ஆரம்ப கல்வியை "புனிதர் அடால்பர்ட்" (Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg) எனும் புனிதரிடம் கற்றார். தமது “உறுதிப்பூசுதல்” (Confirmation) திருவருட்சாதனம் பெரும் நிகழ்வின்போது, தமது ஆசிரியருக்கு மரியாதை செலுத்தும் விதமாக, ஆசிரியரது பெயரையே தமது ஆன்மீக பெயராக ஏற்றார். 

981ம் ஆண்டு, இவரது ஆசிரியரான "புனிதர் அடால்பர்ட்" (Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg) மரித்ததும், இவர் பொஹேமியா திரும்பினார். பிறகு, "ப்ராக்" மறைமாவட்ட ஆயரும் (Bishop of Prague) “டயட்மார்” (Dietmar of Prague) என்பவர், இவரை கத்தோலிக்க குருவாக அருட்பொழிவு செய்வித்தார். 982ம் ஆண்டு, ஆயர் “டயட்மார்” (Dietmar of Prague) மரித்துப் போகவே, தமது 27 வயதிலேயே ப்ராக் (Prague) மறைமாவட்டத்தின் ஆயராக இவர் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டார். அவரது நற்பணிகளை எதிர்த்தவர்களின் வற்புறுத்தலால் எட்டு வருடங்களின் பின்னர் நாட்டை விட்டு வெளியேற நேர்ந்தது.

காலப்போக்கில், ப்ராக் மக்கள் அவரை தங்களது ஆயராக திரும்பி வர வேண்டினார்கள். ஆனால், குறுகிய காலத்திலேயே ஆலயத்தின் பரிசுத்தம் கெடும் வகையில், விபச்சார குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்ட ஒரு பெண்ணை கையை பிடித்து இழுத்து மான பங்கம் செய்ததாக பொய்க்குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்டு மீண்டும் நாடு கடத்தப்பட்டார்.

ஹங்கேரியில் சிறிது காலம் மறைபோதனை செய்த பின்னர், "பால்டிக்" கடற்கரையோரம் (Baltic Sea) வசித்த மக்களுக்கு நற்செய்தி போதிக்க சென்றார். அவரும் அவருடன் சென்ற இரு நண்பர்களும் "பாகனீய குருக்களால்" (Pagan Priests) மறைசாட்சியாக கொல்லப்பட்டனர்.

Also known as

• Adalbert of Praha

• Apostle of Bohemia

• Apostle of the Prussians

• Apostle of the Slavs

• Adalberto, Adelbert, Adalbert, Voitech, Voytech, Voytiekh, Wojciech

Profile

Born to the Bohemian nobility. He took the name of Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg, the archbishop who healed, educated and converted him. Bishop of Prague (in the modern Czech Republic on 10 February 982. Friend of Emperor Otto III. Adalbert encouraged the evangelization of the Magyars, and worked on it with Saint Astricus. Opposed by the nobility in Prague and unpopular in the area, he withdrew to Rome, Italy and became a Benedictine monk, making his vows on 17 April 990; Pope John XV sent him back to Prague. anyway. Founded the monastery of Brevnov. Met more opposition from the nobility, and returned to Rome. There being no hope of his working in Prague, he was allowed to (unsuccessfully) evangelize in Pomerania, Poland, Prussia, Hungary, and Russia. He and his fellow missionaries were martyred by Prussians near Koenigsberg or Danzig at the instigation of a pagan priest. Not long before his death, Adalbert met and was a great inspiration to Saint Boniface of Querfurt.

Born

c.957 in Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia (part of modern Czech Republic) as Voytech

Died

• struck in the head on 23 April 997 in Pomerania near Danzig (in modern Poland)

• relics forcibly taken to Prague in 1039

Canonized

999

Patronage

• Bohemia

• Czech Republic

• Poland

• archdiocese of Prague, Czech Republic

• Prussia

Blessed Teresa Maria of the Cross

Also known as

• Bettina (childhood nickname)

• Teresa Adelaide Cesina Manetti

• Teresa Maria de la Cruz

• Teresa Maria della Croce

• Teresa Maria Manetti

Profile

Daughter of Salvatore Manetti and Rosa Bigagli, Teresa had one brother, Adamo Raffaello; she lived her whole life in her small village, and her father died when Teresa was three years old. She was always known as a pious child, and made her First Communion on 8 May 1859. A natural organizer, when she was 18 years old Teresa gathered a group of young women who lived in common and worked as teachers of poor children; they were inspired by the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila, and had a special devotion to her. She organized and joined a group of Carmelite tertiaries on 16 July 1876, taking the name Teresa Maria of the Cross. Joined the Discalced Carmelites on 12 July 1888. Over the next few years she started schools in several Italian cities, each with it's little group of Carmelite teachers. Her Institute of teaching nuns received approval from Pope Saint Pius X on 27 February 1904 as the Suor Carmelite di Santa Teresa di Firenze (CSTF; Carmelite Sisters of Saint Teresa of Florence) with a mission to teach and care for children, especially orphans. Like her inspiration, Saint Teresa of Avila, Teresa of the Cross met with much resistance to her work with the poor, much slander about her personal life, and a long period of spiritual dryness, but all who met her commented on the air of joy and peace she brought to her work.

Born

2 March 1846 at Campi Bisenzio, Florence, Italy as Teresa Adelaide Cesina Manetti

Died

• 3 April 1910 at Campi Bisenzio, Florence, Italy of natural causes

• relics translated to the monastery church at Campi Bisenzio on 22 April 1912

Beatified

19 October 1986 by Pope John Paul II

Patronage

people ridiculed for their piety

Blessed Adalbert III of Salzburg

Profile

Son of King Ladislas II of Bohemia and Gertrude of Austria; grand-son of Emperor Henry IV. Norbertine monk. Canon of the Stahov monastery. Deacon. Archbishop of Salzburg, Austria in 1168. The position included secular power as well as ecclesiastical, and Adalbert began exercising his authority without formal approval of the Emperor. The Emperor considered this an offense, and briefly replaced Adalbert as bishop. Adalbert struggled to regain his authority, and to win allies he unlawfully gave away Church property; his priests petitioned for a new election for archbishop, but Pope Alexander III supported Adalbert. Through a series of political maneuvers, Adalbert managed to keep his see until formally deposed in May 1174. Re-elected Archbishop of Salzburg on 19 September 1183, this time with the emperor's support, and this time he held the see until his death, this time taking seriously his duties as shepherd of the Church and parishioners.

Born

1145 in Bohemia

Died

• 8 April 1200 in Salzburg, Austria of natural causes

• buried in front of the Saint Andrew altar in the cathedral of Salzburg

Beatified

• no formal Vatican beatification

• devotion began within the Premonstratensians soon after his death

Saint Gerard of Toul

Also known as

Gerhard

Profile

Born to the nobility, he was known as a pious boy, and received a good education in Cologne, Germany. Priest. Following the death of his mother by a lightning strike, Gerard wanted a life of quiet prayer and penance, and became canon of the cathedral in Cologne. His reputation for piety spread, however, and he was chosen bishop of Toul, France on 3 March 963. Fought to prevent secular authority from interfering in Church matters. Rebuilt the cathedral there, and established many religious houses in his diocese. The houses had associated schools taught by Greek and Irish monks. Noted for his active prayer life and endless study of scripture and the saints, and as an effective preacher who did extensive work with the poor.

Born

935 at Cologne, Germany

Died

• 23 April 994 in Toul, France

• interred in the choir loft of the Cathedral of Toul

Canonized

1050 by Pope Leo IX

Patronage

Gerardmer, France

Blessed Helen del Cavalcanti

Also known as

• Helen Valentini

• Helen of Udine

• Helena Valentini of Udine

Profile

Daughter of Count Maniago. Married at age 15 to a knight named Anthony del Cavalcanti. Happily married for 25 years, and mother of several children. Widow. Augustinian tertiary, noted for her charity and austerity. Took a vow of silence, speaking only on Christmas night. Had an ongoing fight with worldly temptation, and given to ecstatic trances. Had the gift of healing. Spent her last three years bed-ridden; she preferred a pallet of stones and straw to a bed.

Born

at Udine, Italy

Died

• 23 April 1458 of natural causes

• relics in the cathedral of Udine, Italy

Beatified

27 September 1848 by Pope Pius IX (cultus confirmed)

Patronage

• against temptations

• widows

Saint Pusinna of Champagne

Profile

She lived many of her adult years as a hermit in her parent's house. Hermitess in Binson, Chalons-en-Champagne, France.

Born

5th-century Corbie, France

Died

• 6th century in Binson, Chalons-en-Champagne, France

• buried near her hermitage in Binson

• relics transferred to the Herford Abbey in Germany in 860

• relics transferred to the Wundhusen Abbey in Thale

• relics transferred to Quidlinburg Abbey

• some relics transferred to the cathedral in Herford, Germany in 1490

• relics re-discovered and re-enshrined in 1854 during renovation of the cathedral tower

• some relics transferred to the church of Saint John the Baptist in Herford; they were re-enshrined under the church chancel altar in 2007

• some relics taken to Paderborn Cathedral, and to parish churches in Herford and Heddinghausen on 9 January 1944

Patronage

Herford, Germany

Blessed Giorgio di Suelli

Also known as

George Suelli

Profile

Born to a family of house slaves. Granted his freedom in order to persue a vocation to the priesthood. Bishop of Suelli, Italy. Known for his personal piety, his concern to be a pastor to his people, and as a miracle worker.

Born

• 11th century Cagliari, Italy

• his mothers had been childless, it was late in her life, and she was visited in a dream by an angel who foretold the birth

Died

• 23 April 1117 at Suelli, Italy of natural causes

• buried at the Suelli cathedral

Beatified

1609 by Pope Paul V

Patronage

• against famine

• Lanusei, Italy, diocese of

• Suelli, Italy

Saint Ibar of Meath

Also known as

Iberius, Ibhar, Ivor

Profile

Uncle and teacher of Saint Abban. disciple of Saint Patrick. Missionary in south Ireland with Saint Kiaran, Saint Ailbe, Saint Declan and others. Preached in Leinster and Meath. About 480 he settled at Begerin where he built an oratory and cell; his holiness attracted many would-be students. He founded Beggery Monstary on the island of Beg-Eire, and served as its abbot. Bishop of Begerin, Wexford, Ireland. Spiritual director of Saint Brigid's convent at Kildare, Ireland.

Born

5th century Ulster, Ireland

Died

c.500 of natural causes

Patronage

Begerin, Ireland

Blessed Giles of Assisi

Also known as

Aegidius

Profile

Friend and third follower of Saint Francis of Assisi. Sent as a missionary to Muslims in Tunis, but had no success. Upon his return, he lived at various places in Italy where for the rest of his days he was in demand as a spiritual advisor; his "Sayings" have been printed in many editions. Assigned later to the hermitage of Fabriano where he led a life of quiet contemplation.

Born

c.1190 in Assisi, Umbria, Papal States (in modern Italy)

Died

23 April 1262 at Perugia, Italy of natural causes

Saint Marolus of Milan

Profile

Grew up in Syria. Moving to Rome, Italy where he became a good friend of Pope Innocent I. Bishop of Milan, Italy in 408. Worked with refugees and victims of a Visigoth invasion of his diocese.

Born

Mesopotamia

Died

• 23 April 423 of natural causes

• buried in the Church of Saint Nazarius and Celsus in Milan, Italy

Saint Fortunatus of Vienne

Profile

Deacon. Sent by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons to evangelize around Vienne, France. Martyr.

Died

scourged, had their legs crushed, were bound to wheels in motion, stifled with smoke while stretched on the rack, and finally run through with a sword in 212 at Valence, France

Saint Achilleus of Vienne

Profile

Deacon. Sent by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons to evangelize around Vienne, France. Martyr.

Died

scourged, had their legs crushed, were bound to wheels in motion, stifled with smoke while stretched on the rack, and finally run through with a sword in 212 at Valence, France

Saint Felix of Vienne

Profile

Priest. Sent by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons to evangelize around Vienne, France. Martyr.

Died

scourged, had their legs crushed, were bound to wheels in motion, stifled with smoke while stretched on the rack, and finally run through with a sword in 212 at Valence, France

Saint George of San Giorio

Also known as

Georg, Giorgio, Giorio, Jorio

Profile

Martyr. Later writers associate him with the Theban Legion, but they were in an entirely different location.

Died

c.286 in San Giorio, Italy

Blessed Giles of Saumur

Profile

Chaplain to King Saint Louis IX. Accompanied the king on Crusade. Bishop of Damietta, Egypt in 1243. Archbishop of Tyre, Lebanon in 1245.

Died

1266 at Dinant, Belgium of natural causes

Blessed Gerard of Orchimont

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot in Florennes, Belgium from 1126 to 1136.

Died

1138 of natural causes

Martyrs of Africa

Profile

A group of Christians murdered for their faith in northern Africa. Little information has survived but their names. The ones we know are - Catulinus, Chorus, Faustinus, Felicis, Felix, Nabors, Plenus, Salunus, Saturninus, Silvius, Solutus, Theodora, Theodorus, Theon, Ursus, Valerius, Venustus, Victorinus, Victurus, Vitalis

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஏப்ரல் 22

St. Alexander

Feastday: April 22

Patron: of pipodius is the patron saint of bachelors, victims of betrayal and of torture

Death: 178

Martyr and missionary, a companion of St. Caius. Little is known of the background of either Alexander or Caius. They were active in Apamea, Phrygia, a center of the Montanist heresy. Preaching there, the two were martyred during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Epipodius (French: Épipode) and his companion Alexander (died 178) are venerated as Christian saints. Their feast day is 22 April, and Alexander is additionally commemorated on April 24 in the Eastern Orthodox Church.[1] Epipodius was a native of Lyon; Alexander was said to be a native of Phrygia, and a physician by profession.[2] They were both martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

Life

The earliest mention of Epipodius and Alexander is in a homily of St. Eucherius, about 440. Epipodius was born in Lyon and Alexander was a Greek, originally from Phrygia. Of distinguished birth, they were close friends since their childhood schooldays. Epipodius is said to have been a confirmed celibate bachelor, who devoted his time to Christian works.

In the aftermath of the Persecution in Lyon in the summer of 177, Epipodius and Alexander, having been denounced as Christians, left the city and retired to a nearby village. There they found refuge in the house of a poor Christian widow situated north-west of the hill of Fourvière. They were betrayed to imperial authorities by a servant. Both men were subsequently imprisoned, tortured, and condemned. According to Alban Butler, after enduring torture on the rack, Epipodius, the younger of the two, was beheaded. Alban Butler says that Alexander, after suffering an extended and brutal beating, was crucified and died almost immediately.[3] another account says that he died of the beatings and ill treatment in gaol.[4]

Veneration

The Christians privately carried off their bodies, and buried them on a hill near the city; which place became famous afterwards for the great number of miracles, which were wrought there.[5] The tomb was originally outside the walls of the city, but later enclosed within them. St. Gregory of Tours says, that in the sixth century, their bodies, lay deposited with that of St. Irenæus, in the Church of St. John, now called St. Irenæus, under the altar, where the relics of these two holy martyrs were found 1410.[3]

Epipodius is venerated as the patron saint of bachelors, victims of betrayal, and victims of torture.

St. Authaire

Feastday: April 22

Death: 7th century

Confessor and patron of La-Feste-sur-Jouarre, in France. He was a courtier of King Dagobert I, ruler of Frankish Austrasia and king of the Franks and was a father of St. Oys of Rouen.

St. Epiphanius and Alexander

Feastday: April 22

Death: 178

Martyrs of Lyons, France. They were young when they died. Epidodius was beheaded.

Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu

Feastday: April 22

Patron: of Ecumenism

Birth: 1914

Death: 1939

Beatified: 25 January 1983, Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, Rome, Italy by John Paul II

Blessed Sister Maria Gabriella Sagheddu was a Trappist nun. She was born in Sardinia in 1914 and died of tuberculosis in the Trappist monastery of Grottaferrata in 1939. Because of her spiritual devotion to Christian unity, she was beatified by pope John Paul II in 1983.

Maria Sagheddu (17 March 1914 – 23 April 1939), also known by her religious name Maria Gabriella, was an Italian Roman Catholic nun and a professed member from the Trappists.[1] Sagheddu had an intense spiritual devotion to ecumenism – something for which she had offered her life – since she desired that all would become one in Jesus Christ. Her childhood saw her noted as stubborn and obstinate though her increased activeness in teaching catechism and joining Azione Cattolica saw those qualities melt and become gentleness and careful attentiveness.[2][3]

Sagheddu was beatified in Rome in 1983.[1]

Life

Maria Sagheddu was born to shepherds in Dorgali on 17 March 1914 as the fifth of eight children to Marcantonio Sagheddu and Caterina Cucca. Her father and one brother died in 1919 as did two other brothers sometime in their childhood.[1] Sagheddu was said to be obstinate as a child but was also known to be obedient; she was also described as being prone to laziness on occasion.[2] Once she concluded her initial education as a child she had to leave school to help out at home where she showed herself serious and endowed with a great sense of care and dutiful obedience. Yet she was often quick to criticize what she disliked and quick to ask for what she wanted.[3] There was one occasion when her mother asked her to throw out some potato peels though she ignored this despite her mother's firm insistence that she do so. Sagheddu relented and did this but returned a moment later with the peels in hand in which she decided she did not want to throw them. Sagheddu was ranked among the best at her school where she was alert and intelligent; she excelled in arithmetic most of all her other subjects.

The death of her little sister Giovanna Antonia (whom she was closest to and was born in 1915) in 1932 prompted her to deepen her faith and she decided to enroll in Azione Cattolica not long after this.[2] It was there that she began to instruct the local children and adolescents in the faith and also to help the aged of the region.[1] In the process she began to augment her spiritual and contemplative life; she at first taught catechism with a stick in hand. But the local priest took the stick from her on one occasion and replaced it with a note that said: "Arm yourself with patience, not a stick". Sagheddu accepted the criticism and changed her methods from that moment on.

Father Meloni helped her in entering the religious life for he was the single individual she had confided her dream in. Her mother approved this but reproached her for not having told her sooner. One brother even disapproved of her decision and believed that she would bring nothing more than disgrace upon their home.[3][2] On 30 September 1935 she entered the Trappists at their convent in Grottaferrata near Rome where she was given the religious name of Maria Gabriella; she was clothed in the habit for the first time on 13 April 1936 and made her vows on 31 October 1937 which marked the Feast of Christ the King.[3] The abbess of the convent at that time there was Mother Maria Pia Gullini whose enthusiasm for ecumenism (a fruit of the efforts of Abbé Paul Couturier) was passed on to the others there. Sagheddu became an ardent devotee to this cause and she offered herself as a spiritual sacrifice for the unification of the Christian Church during the special week for Christian unification in 1938.

Sagheddu fell ill with tuberculosis after a diagnosis in Rome and suffered with the disease for fifteen months before she died during the evening on 23 April 1939: the doctors had declared her condition incurable in May 1938.[2] The significant fact here is that the Gospel reading for that week included the words: "There will be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16). Sagheddu's remains are kept in a chapel at a Trappistine convent at Vitorchiano near Viterbo and were found to be incorrupt in 1957 upon exhumation.[1]

Spirituality

Sagghedu was moved by a profound feeling of thanks to God for imparting his grace to her and for calling her to consecrate herself to Him and to unite with Him. Sagheddu also found rest from anxious bouts through a complete and trusting abandonment of herself to the will of God to whom she placed total trust in.

Pope John Paul II referred to her in his papal encyclical Ut Unum Sint in which he said:

Praying for unity is not a matter reserved only to those who actually experience the lack of unity among Christians. In the deep personal dialogue which each of us must carry on with the Lord in prayer, concern for unity cannot be absent. ...It was in order to reaffirm this duty that I set before the faithful of the Catholic Church a model which I consider exemplary, the model of a Trappistine Sister, Blessed Maria Gabriella of Unity, whom I beatified on 25 January 1983. Sister Maria Gabriella, called by her vocation to be apart from the world, devoted her life to meditation and prayer centered on chapter seventeen of Saint John's Gospel, and offered her life for Christian unity. ...The example of Sister Maria Gabriella is instructive; it helps us to understand that there are no special times, situations or places of prayer for unity. Christ's prayer to the Father is offered as a model for everyone, always and everywhere.[4]

Beatification

Blessed Maria Gabriela first class ex corp. relic of the Trappist Cistercian nun. "Ut Unum Sint"

The beatification cause opened in Frascati in 1958 and she became titled as a Servant of God though the formal introduction of the cause came under Pope Paul VI on 15 July 1965. Pope John Paul II named her as Venerable on 4 May 1981 after confirming her life of heroic virtue. Sagghedu was beatified on 25 January 1983 in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which was the same observance which motivated her decision to offer her life to God. In doing so John Paul II both affirmed the holiness of her actions and set her up as a role model for Christians to follow more so as it related to ecumenism and ecumenical efforts.

After Sagghedu's death it was noted that in her bible the seventeenth chapter of John's Gospel had become yellowed and worn from being often read. It is in this chapter that Jesus appeals to the God the Father on behalf of His disciples. But of particular significance are verses 11 and 21 in which Jesus prays "that they may be one, as we also are" (John 17:11) and "that they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:21). These verses are used as a motto for the ecumenical movement.

The current postulator for the cause is the Trappist nun Augusta Tescari

 Pope Saint Soter

 புனிதர் சொத்தேர் 

(St. Soter)

12ம் திருத்தந்தை:

(12th Pope)

இயற்பெயர்: சொத்தேர் (Soter)

பிறப்பு: ----

ஃபோண்டி, காம்பானியா, ரோம பேரரசு

(Fondi, Campania, Roman Empire)

இறப்பு: கி.பி 174

ரோம், ரோம பேரரசு

(Rome, Roman Empire)

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

(Roman Catholic Church)

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஏப்ரல் 22

திருத்தந்தை புனித சொத்தேர் (Pope Soter), கி.பி. இரண்டாம் நூற்றாண்டின் பிற்பகுதியில் உரோமை ஆயராகவும், திருத்தந்தையாகவும் ஆட்சிப்பொறுப்பில் இருந்தார். வரலாற்றில் இவர் 12ம் திருத்தந்தை ஆவார். இவரது ஆட்சிக்காலம் கி.பி. 162-168 அளவில் தொடங்கியது என்றும், கி.பி. 170-177 அளவில் நிறைவுற்றது என்றும் வத்திக்கானிலிருந்து (Vatican) வெளியாகும் "திருத்தந்தை ஆண்டுக் குறிப்பேடு" (Annuario Pontificio) என்னும் நூல் கூறுகிறது.

பிறப்பும் பெயரும்:

இவரது பெயர் மீட்பர், விடுதலை அளிப்பவர் எனப் பொருள்படும் கிரேக்க சொல்லிலிருந்து வந்தாலும், இவர் கிரேக்கர் அல்லர். ஒருவேளை இவர் கிரேக்க பின்னணியிலிருந்து வந்திருக்கலாம். இவர் இத்தாலி (Italy) நாட்டில் கம்பானியா (Campania) பகுதியில் ஃபோந்தி (Fondi) என்னும் நகரில் பிறந்தார்.

"இரக்கம் மிகுந்த திருத்தந்தை":

வரலாற்றில் சொத்தேர் "இரக்கம் மிகுந்த திருத்தந்தை" (Pope of Charity) என்று அறியப்படுகிறார். திருத்தந்தையாகப் பொறுப்பேற்ற சிறிது காலத்திலேயே, சொத்தேர் உரோமைத் திருச்சபையிலிருந்து காணிக்கை பிரித்து அதை கிரேக்க நாட்டில் கொரிந்து (Dionysius of Corinth) திருச்சபைக்கு அனுப்பிவைத்தார். தேவையில் உழன்ற கொரிந்து திருச்சபைக்கு உதவி செய்த சொத்தேர் எழுதிய மடல் கிடைக்கப்பெறவில்லை. ஆனால் தாம் பெற்ற உதவிக்கு நன்றிகூறி கொரிந்து நகர் ஆயர் தியோனேசியுசு சொத்தேருக்கு எழுதிய நன்றி மடல் இன்றும் உள்ளது.

சீர்திருத்தங்கள்:

இவரே திருமணம் குருவால் ஆசிர்வதிக்கப்பட்டால் தான் முறையான திருவருட்சாதனம் ஆகும் என ஒழுங்கு அமைத்தார்.

இயேசுவின் உயிர்த்தெழுதல் விழா ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும் உரோமையில் கொண்டாடப்பட வேண்டும் என்று சொத்தேர் அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக அறிவித்தார்.

இறப்பும் அடக்கமும்:

இவரது விழாநாளும், கி.பி. 296ம் ஆண்டு இறந்த திருத்தந்தை காயுஸின்  விழா நாளும் ஏப்ரல் 22 ஆகும். புனிதர்களின் பெயர்ப் பட்டியலை அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக வழங்குகின்ற "உரோமை மறைச்சாட்சியர் நூல்" (Roman Martyrology) என்னும் ஏடு சொத்தேர் பற்றிக் கீழ்வருமாறு குறிப்பிடுகிறது:

"உரோமையில் திருத்தந்தை புனித சொத்தேரின் விழா கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. இவர் தம்மை நாடிவந்த நாடுகடத்தப்பட்ட ஏழைக் கிறிஸ்தவர்களுக்குத் தாராளமாக உதவிசெய்தார். சுரங்கங்களில் வேலை செய்ய அனுப்பப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு இரக்கம் காட்டினார் என்று கொரிந்து நகர் தியோனீசியுசு புகழ்ந்துள்ளார்".

தொடக்க கால திருத்தந்தையர் அனைவரும் மறைச்சாட்சிகளாக இரத்தம் சிந்தி இறந்தார்கள் என மரபுச் செய்தி இருந்தாலும், "உரோமை மறைச்சாட்சியர் நூல்" (The Roman Martyrology), சொத்தேருக்கு மறைச்சாட்சி (Martyr) என்னும் அடைமொழி கொடுக்கவில்லை.

திருத்தந்தையர் சொத்தேரும், காயுசும் (Pope Caius) மறைச்சாட்சிகளாக இரத்தம் சிந்தி இறந்தார்கள் என்பதற்கு அடிப்படை இல்லை என்று "கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையின் பொது நாள்காட்டி" (General Roman Calendar) (1969 திருத்தம்) கூறுகின்றது.

கல்லறை

சொத்தேர் இறந்ததும் புனித கலிஸ்து கல்லறைத் தோட்டத்தில் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார். மற்றொரு மரபுப்படி, அவர் புனித பேதுருவின் கல்லறை அருகே அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார். பின்னர், திருத்தந்தை இரண்டாம் செர்ஜியுஸ் காலத்தில் சொத்தேரின் உடல் புனிதர்கள் சில்வெஸ்தர் மற்றும் மார்ட்டின் என்பவர்களின் கோவிலில் புதைக்கப்பட்டது.

இன்னொரு மரபுப்படி, அவரது உடலின் ஒரு பகுதி எசுப்பானியா நாட்டில் தொலேதோ நகர் பெருங்கோவிலில் பாதுகாக்கப்படுகிறது.

Also known as

• Pope of Charity

• Sotero

• Soterius

• Soterus

Profile

Nothing is known of his life before he was chosen 12th pope c.166, and not much is known of his pontificate. Forbade women to burn incense in services. Ratified that matrimony was a valid sacrament only if blessed by a priest. Inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome.

Born

at Fondi, Italy

Papal Ascension

c.166

Died

• tradition says he was martyred c.175, though no evidence has survived

• buried in the Callistus cemetery in Rome, Italy

Pope Saint Caius I

Also known as

• Caius the Dalmatian

• Cayo, Gaius

Additional Memorial

11 August (Eastern calendar)

Profile

Some unreliable early documents indicate he was from Spalato in Dalmatia, may have been a relative of Emperor Diocletian, and the uncle of Saint Susanna. However, nothing reliable is known of his early life.

Pope in a time of peace before the last great persecution of Rome, and little concerning his papacy has survived. Decreed that before a man could be bishop, he must first be porter, reader, exorcist, acolyte, sub-deacon, deacon, and priest. Divided the districts of Rome among deacons.

Originally listed as a martyr based on the tales of his suffering during the Diocletian persecutions, these did not begin until years after his death, and there is no evidence of his suffering or martyrdom. This lack of verifiable information led to his name being dropped from the Martyrology.

Papal Ascension

17 December 283

Died

• 22 April 296 of natural causes

• buried in the chamber next to the papal crypt in the Catacombs of Saint Callistus on the Appian Way

Saint Opportuna of Montreuil

புனித_ஆப்பர்சூனா (-770)

ஏப்ரல் 22

இவர் (#StOppertunaOfMontreuil) பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டைச் சார்ந்தவர். இவருக்கு குரோத்கேங் (Chrodegang) என்றொரு சகோதரர் இருந்தார். அவர் நார்மண்டியில் ஆயராக இருந்தார். ஒருமுறை அவர் உரோமைக்குச் சென்று, திரும்பி வரும் வழியில் கொல்லப்பட்டார்.

ஆப்பர்சூனா வளரும் போதே இறைவன்மீது ஆழமான நம்பிக்கை கொண்டவராய் வளர்ந்தார். இவர் பெரியவரான போது, பெனடிக்ட் துறவு அவையில் சேர்ந்து துறவியானார்.

தாழ்ச்சிக்கும் கீழ்ப்படிதலுக்கும் ஒறுத்தல் முயற்சிகளுக்கும் மிகப் பெரிய எடுத்துக்காட்டாக விளங்கிய இவர் படிப்படியாக உயர்ந்து, துறவு மடத்தின் தலைவியானார். 

ஒரு சமயம் இவருடைய மடத்தில் இருந்த ஒரு  கழுதையை விவசாயி ஒருவர் திருடிவிட்டார். இது குறித்து இவர் விவசாயியிடம் கேட்டபொழுது அவர் மறுத்துவிட்டார். இதை முன்னிட்டு இவர் இறைவனிடம் வேண்டிய பொழுது, விவசாயியின் நிலத்தில் உப்பு மலை பெய்தது. இதைக் கண்டு மிரண்டு போன விவசாயி, தான் திருடிய கழுதையைக் கொண்டு வந்து, இவரிடம் ஒப்படைத்து, செய்த தவறுக்காக மன்னிப்புக் கேட்டார். 

இவ்வாறு அற்புதங்கள் பல செய்த இவர் 770 ஆம் ஆண்டு இறையடி சேர்ந்தார்.

Also known as

Opportune

Profile

Sister of Saint Chrodegang of Séez. Niece of Saint Lanthilda. Benedictine nun and abbess at the convent near Almenêches, France, receiving the veil from her brother. Legend says that a peasant stole a donkey from her convent and refused to acknowledge his crime. Opportuna turned it over to God; the next day the farmer's field was sown with salt. The peasant returned the donkey AND gave the field to the nuns.

Born

at castle of Exmes, Argentan, Normandy, France

Died

• 22 April 770 from a brief illness compounded by grief from the death of her brother

• relics taken to the priory of Moussy, France, in 1009, and then to Senlis, France

• in 1374 her right arm and a rib were taken to Paris, France to a church built in her honor

• part of her head remains at Moussy

• her left arm and part of her skull are at Almenêches

• one jaw is in the priory of Saint Chrodegang of Metz at Isle-Adam

Blessed Francis of Fabriano

Also known as

Francis Venimbeni

Profile

Born to a wealthy family, the son of Compagno Venimbeni, a physician, and Margaret di Federico. Studied humanities and philosophy, then joined the Franciscans in 1267, at age 16; he spent part of his novitiate studying under the companions of Saint Francis of Assisi. Friar. Priest who offered his Masses for souls in Purgatory. Missionary in the region of his house. A man of endless prayer and work, he insisted that this brother friars stay strictly orthodox in their preaching and teaching, and to insure they had the proper background, used his family money to purchase an extensive library for them. Wrote on matters of theology and philosophy, but only time scraps of his work have survived.

Born

2 September 1251 in Fabriano, Ancona, Italy

Died

22 April 1322 of natural causes

Beatified

1 April 1775 by Pope Pius VI (cultus confirmation)

Saint Epipodius of Lyon

Profile

Friend of and worker with Saint Alexander of Lyon. Imprisoned, tortured, and martyred during the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius. Though he never joined an order, Epipodius was a confirmed celibate bachelor, devoting his time to work with and for God. Betrayed to imperial authorities by a servant. Martyr.

Born

2nd century at Lyon, France

Died

• beheaded in 178

• relics at the church of Saint Irenaeus at Lyon, France

• miracles reported at the tomb

Patronage

• bachelors

• betrayal victims

• torture victims

Pope Saint Agapitus I

Also known as

Agapetus I

Additional Memorial

20 September (date of internment in Saint Peter's Basilica)

Profile

Son of a priest named Gordian; his father was murdered. Archdeacon of the priests of Rome, Italy. Elected pope when a very old man, he reigned for less than a year. Died while on a mission to prevent the invasion of Italy by Justinian. He failed in that, but succeeded in having the Monophysite Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, replaced by the more orthodox Mennas.

Born

in Rome, Italy

Papal Ascension

13 May 535

Died

• 22 April 536 in Constantinople of natural causes

• interred in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

Saint Altfried of Münster

Also known as

Altfrid, Altfrith

Profile

Monk. Priest. Fifth abbot of the monastery of Werden, Germany. Abbot of the monastery of Helmstedt, Germany. Nephew of Saint Liudger, first bishop of Münster, Germany; related to Saint Gerfried of Münster, the second bishop; Altfried served as third bishop from 839 until his death ten years later. He wrote a biography of Saint Liudger.

Born

9th century, possibly in Friesland (in modern Netherlands)

Died

• 22 April 849 of natural causes

• buried in the Liudgerid crypt at the monastery of Werden, Germany

Blessed Stephen of Nagyvárad

Also known as

Stephen of Hungary

Profile

Franciscan friar. Imprisoned for his faith, he escaped and sought shelter in Sarai Batu (modern Selitrennoye, Russia). To save himself from his persecutors, he denied that he was Christian and announced his conversion to Islam. He immediately repented this apostasy, declared that he was a Christian, and was executed. Martyr.

Born

Naggyvarad, Transylvania (modern Oradea, Romania)

Died

• sentenced to burn at the stake, the fire was twice miraculously extinguished, so his killers stoned him and finally stabbed him with a sword on 22 April 1334 in Sarai Batu (modern Selitrennoye, Russia)

• the site of his death became known for miraculous healings

Saint Leonidas of Alexandria

Also known as

Leonides

Profile

Wealthy and pious layman. Father of seven sons, the eldest of whom was the philosopher Origen, whom he raised and taught. Philosopher and rhetorician. Imprisoned and martyred by command of Laertus, Governor of Egypt, during the persecutions of emperor Septimius Severus. All his property was confiscated, and his family reduced to complete poverty until they were "adopted" by a wealthy Christian woman.

Died

beheaded in 202 at Alexandria, Egypt

Patronage

large families

Saint Theodore of Sykeon

Also known as

• Theodore of Siceone

• Theodore of Sikion

• Theodore the Sykeote

Profile

Son of a pagan imperial messenger. Convert. Monk. Priest. Bishop of Anastasiopolis, Galatia. Founded monasteries. Had the gift of healing. Miracle worker. Warded off a plague of insects by prayer. Supported the cultus of Saint George.

Born

at Sykeon, Galatia

Died

c.613

Patronage

• against rain

• difficult marriages

• for rain

Saint Senorina

Profile

Related to Saint Rudesind of Mondoñedo. Raised by her aunt, Abbess Godina at the convent of Saint John of Venaria, Italy. Senorina joined the convent as a nun and eventually became its abbess. She later moved the convent and sisters to Basto, Portugal.

Died

982

Blessed Adalberto of Ostrevant

Profile

Born to the wealthy 8th century nobility, he was the Count of Ostrevant, and served in the Frankish royal court. Married and the father of ten daughters, including Blessed Ragenfreda. Adalberto was known for his piety and charity, and help found the convent in Denain, Hainault where his daughter was abbess.

Died

22 April c.790

Saint Euflamia

Profile

Soldier. Imperial Roman legionaire. Martyr.

Died

• buried in the cemetery of Saint Priscilla in Rome, Italy

• re-interred under the main altar of Saint Peter's Basilica

• relics transferred to Cherasco, Italy in 1623 by Pope Gregory XV

Patronage

Cherasco, Italy

Saint Virginio

Profile

Soldier. Imperial Roman legionaire. Martyr.

Died

• buried in the cemetery of Saint Priscilla in Rome, Italy

• re-interred under the main altar of Saint Peter's Basilica

• relics transferred to Cherasco, Italy in 1623 by Pope Gregory XV

Patronage

Cherasco, Italy

Saint Aceptismas of Hnaita

Also known as

Acepsimas

Profile

Bishop of Hnaita, Persia. Over 80 years old, he was tortured and martyred in the persecutions of King Sapor II.

Died

beaten to death on 10 October 376 in Persia

Saint Lucius of Laodicea

Profile

First-century convert, and may have been on of the 72 chosen by Jesus as missionaries. Bishop of Laodicea. Mentioned by Saint Paul the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans. Martyr.

Saint Apelles of Smyrna

Also known as

Apellius of Smyrna

Profile

First century convert. Bishop of Smyrna. Saint Paul greeted him as "approved in Christ" in Romans 16. Martyr.

Saint Joseph of Persia

Profile

Priest. Martyred with Saint Acepsimas in the persecution of King Shapur II.

Died

376 in Persia

Saint Arwald

Profile

Son of a prince on the Isle of Wight. Martyred by the then-pagan King Caedwalla on the day after his baptism.

Died

686

Saint Helimenas

Profile

Priest. Martyred when Decius invaded Mesapotamia.

<

Died

beheaded c.250 at Babylon

Saint Maryáhb

Profile

Priest. Martyred in the persecutions of Shapur II.

Died

341 in Persia

Saint Leo of Sens

Profile

Bishop of Sens, France for 22 years.

Died

541

Saint Abel McAedh

Profile

Holy Irish woman.

Born

Irish

Martyrs of Persia

Profile

Bishops, priests, deacons and laity who were martyred in Persia and celebrated together. Several of them have their stories related in the Acta of Saints Abdon and Sennen.

• Abdiesus the Deacon

• Abrosimus

• Aceptismas of Hnaita

• Aithilahas

• Azadanes the Deacon

• Azades the Eunuch

• Bicor

• Chrysotelus

• Helimenas

• James

• Joseph

• Lucas

• Mareas

• Milles

• Mucius

• Parmenius

• Tarbula