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13 January 2023

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஜனவரி 14

 Blessed Petrus Donders


Also known as

Peter, Peerke



Profile

Son of Arnold Denis Donders and Petronella van den Brekel. Peter grew up poor, rarely getting to school, working at home and in a local factory with his brother Martin, and dreaming of becoming a priest. With the help of local priests and a wealthy patron, he enter the seminary at the College of Herlaar at age twenty-two, initially working as a servant while he studied. At age twenty-six her applied to the Franciscans, Jesuits and Redemptorists, but was turned down by each. Ordained on 5 June 1841 after nearly ten years of work.


Missionary to the Dutch colony in Surinam, Dutch Guiana, arriving in Paramaribo on 16 September 1842. Evangelized and ministered to plantation slaves, constantly in touch with his superiors to complain of the terrible treatment of the workers. He baptized at least 1200 in his first couple of years, and worked among the sick during an epidemic in 1851. Transferred to the leper colony of Batavia in 1856. There he ministered to both the body and soul of the 600 or so patients. His constant harassment of the colonial authorities resulted in much better care for the patients.


When the Redemptorists arrived in Surinam in 1866 to take charge of the mission, Peter joined the Order, becoming a 57 year old novice in 1866, and making his final vows on 24 June 1867. He then returned to Batavia with a crew of Redemptorists ready to help the lepers. With the added help, Father Peter expanded his work, and began to evangelize the Indians in the region. He learned their languages and had made a good start on the work when his health failed. His superiors transferred him to easier assignments, but as the end approached, Peter returned to Batavia where he worked with the patients until his end.


Born

27 October 1805 at Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands


Died

• 14 January 1887 at Batavia, Saramacca, Surinam of natural causes

• buried there


Beatified

• 23 May 1982 by Pope John Paul II

• on 11 April 1978, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared miraculous the cure of Louis John Westland from osteomyelitis by Blessed Peter's intercession




Saint Felix of Nola

நோலா நகர் புனிதர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ் 

குரு:

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 3ம் நூற்றாண்டின் ஆரம்பம்

நோலா, கம்பானியா, இத்தாலி

இறப்பு: கி.பி. 250

நோலா, கம்பானியா, இத்தாலி

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஜனவரி 14

பாதுகாவல்: நோலா, இத்தாலி

நோலா நகர் புனிதர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ், இத்தாலி (Italy) நாட்டின் பண்டைய "நேப்பிள்ஸ் மற்றும் சிசிலி" (Naples and Sicily) இராச்சியங்களின் தலைநகரான "நேப்பிள்ஸ்" (Naples) நகரில் வசித்திருந்த கிறிஸ்தவ குரு ஆவார். அவர், ஏழைகளுக்குக் கொடுக்கும் பொருட்டு தமது உடைமைகளை விற்றார். ஆனால், ரோமப் பேரரசன் "டேசியஸ்" (Roman emperor Decius) என்பவனது ஆட்சி காலத்தில் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு, கிறிஸ்தவ விசுவாசத்திற்காக துன்புறுத்தப்பட்டார். அவர், ரோமப் பேரரசன் "டேசியஸ்" அல்லது "வலேரியன்" ஆகியோரது துன்புறுத்தலின்போது ஒரு  மறைசாட்சியாக மரித்துவிட்டார் என்று நம்பப்படுகிறது. ஆனால், வாழும் காலத்தில் சித்திரவதைகளை அனுபவித்த இவர், கத்தோலிக்கர்களின் பொது நாள்காட்டியில் (General Roman Calendar), விசுவாசத்தின் ஒப்புரவாளராக (Confessor of the Faith) பட்டியலிடப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

ஃபெலிக்ஸ், சிரியா நாட்டில், ரோம இராணுவத்தில் (Syrian Centurion) பணியாற்றி, இத்தாலியிலுள்ள நோலா நகரில் ஓய்வு பெற்ற "ஹெர்மியாஸ்" (Hermias) என்பவரது மகன் ஆவார்.  தமது தந்தையின் மரணத்திற்குப் பிறகு, ஃபெலிக்ஸ் தமக்குள்ள சொத்துக்கள் மற்றும் உடைமைகள் அனைத்தையும் விற்று, அதன் வருமானத்தை ஏழைகளுக்கு அளித்தார். தாம் ஆன்மீக வாழ்க்கை முறையை பின்பற்றினார். ஆயர் (Bishop) தூய "மேக்சிமஸ்" (Saint Maximus of Nola) என்பவரால் குருத்துவ அருட்பொழிவு அளிக்கப்பட ஃபெலிக்ஸ், அவருடனேயே பணியாற்றினார்.

ரோம பேரரசர் "டேசியஸின்" (Decius) கிறிஸ்தவ துன்புறுத்துதல்களுக்குப் பயந்து, ஆயர் மேக்சிமஸ் மலைகள் மீது ஒடி ஒளிந்தபோது, அரச படைகளால் ஃபெலிக்ஸ் கைது செய்யப்பட்டார். மற்றும் அதற்கு பதிலாக அவருடைய விசுவாசத்திற்கு அடித்து துன்புறுத்தப்பட்டார். புராணங்களின்படி, ஒரு தேவதூதரால் விடுவிக்கப்பட்ட அவர், சிறைச்சாலையில் இருந்து தப்பியோடினார். அதனால் ஆயர் மேக்சிமஸுக்கு உதவ அவரால் முடிந்தது. ஆயர் மேக்சிமஸை, தனியாகவும், நோயுற்றவராகவும், உதவியற்றவராகவும் கண்ட ஃபெலிக்ஸ், ஒரு காலியாக இருந்த ஒரு கட்டிடத்தில் அரச வீரர்களிடமிருந்து அவரை மறைத்து வைத்தார்.

இருவரும் பாதுகாப்பாக உள்ளே இருந்தபோது, ஒரு சிலந்தி சடுதியில் செயல்பட்டு, அவர்களிருந்த அறையின் கதவை மறைத்தவாறு ஒரு வலையைப் பின்னியது. முட்டாளாக்கப்பட்ட அரச படையினர், சிந்தித்தவாறே, இது கைவிடப்பட்ட மிகவும் பழைய கட்டிடம் என்றவாறு, ஒளிந்திருந்த கிறிஸ்தவர்களை கண்டுபிடிக்க இயலாமல் திரும்பிச் சென்றனர். ஃபெலிக்ஸ்ஸை கைது செய்வதற்கான ஒரு தொடர்ச்சியான முயற்சி தொடர்ந்து மீண்டும் நடந்தது. ஆனால், முன்பு போலவே அந்த சிலந்தி செயல்பட்டு அவரை மறைத்தது. கி.பி. 251ம் ஆண்டு, பேரரசன் டேசியஸ் இறந்து, கிறிஸ்தவ துன்புறுத்தல்கள் முடிவடையும் வரையில் இருவரும் மறைந்திருந்தனர்.

ஆயர் மேக்சிமஸின் மரணத்திற்குப்பின், ஃபெலிக்ஸ் அடுத்த நோலாவின் ஆயர் ஆக மக்கள் விரும்பினர். ஆனால், அவர் தம்மை விட ஏழு நாட்கள் அனுபவம் கொண்ட ஒரு மூத்த குரு "குயிண்டஸ்" (Quintus) என்பவர் இருப்பதால் ஆயர் பதவியை மறுத்தார். ஃபெலிக்ஸ் ஒரு குருவாகவே தொடர்ந்தார். அவர் தனது மீதமுள்ள நிலத்தை உழுது விவசாயம் செய்து, அதில் விளைந்தவற்றை தம்மைவிட ஏழை மக்களுக்கு வழங்கினார்.

புராணங்களின் கூற்றின்படி, ஃபெலிக்ஸ் கி.பி. 255ம் ஆண்டு, பேரரசன் "வலேரியன்" (Emperor Valerian) என்பவனால், அல்லது, பேரரசன் டேசியன் (Emperor Decius) என்பவனால் கி.பி. 250ம் ஆண்டு மறைசாட்சியாக படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்டார்.


சுமார் ஒரு நூற்றாண்டின் பின்னர் வாழ்ந்திருந்த மற்றுமொரு  புனிதர் ஃபெலிக்ஸ் (Saint Felix of Nola) என்பவருடன் இவரை எண்ணி குழப்பிக்கொள்ள கூடாது. அவரது நினைவுத் திருநாள் நவம்பர் மாதம், 15ம் நாளாகும். இவரது நினைவுத் திருநாள் ஜனவரி மாதம், 14ம் நாள் ஆகும்

Also known as

• Felix the Martyr

• Felix of Inpincis

• Felice, Flin



Profile

Elder son of Hermias, a Syrian soldier who had retired to Nola, Italy. After his father's death, Felix sold off most of his property and possessions, gave the proceeds to the poor, and pursued a clerical vocation. Ordained by, and worked with Saint Maximus of Nola.


When Maximus fled to the mountains to escape the persecution of Decius, Felix was arrested and beaten for his faith instead. Legend says he was freed by an angel so he could help his sick bishop. Felix hid Maximus from soldiers in a vacant building. When the two were safely inside, a spider quickly spun a web over the door, fooling the imperial forces into thinking it was long abandoned, and they left without finding the Christians. The two managed to hide from authorities until the persecution ended with the death of Decius in 251.


After Maximus' death, Felix was chosen as bishop of Nola, but declined, favoring Quintus, a “senior” priest who had seven days more experience than Felix. He worked to farm his remaining land, and gave most of the proceeds to people even poorer than himself. Much of the little information we have about Felix came from the letters and poetry of Saint Paulinus of Nola, who served at a porter at the door of a church dedicated to Saint Felix, and who gathered information about him from churchmen and pilgrims.


Though Felix died of natural causes, he is normally listed as a martyr because of the torture, imprisonment, and privations he experienced in the persecutions.


Born

3rd century at Nola, near Naples, Italy


Died

• c.255 of natural causes

• buried at Nola, Italy

• for centuries his tomb was the site of pilgrimages


Patronage

• against eye disease

• against eye trouble

• against false witness

• against lies

• against perjury

• domestic animals

• eyes

• Nola, Italy


Representation

• cobweb

• deacon in prison

• spiderweb

• young priest carrying an old man (Maximus) on his shoulders

• young priest chained in prison with a pitcher and potsherds near him

• young priest with a bunch of grapes (symbolizes his care of the aged Maximus)

• young priest with a spider

• young priest with an angel removing his chains



Saint Devasahayam Pillai

அருளாளர் தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை 

மறைசாட்சி:

பிறப்பு: ஏப்ரல் 27, 1712

பள்ளியாடி, நட்டாலம், கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டம், திருவாங்கூர் அரசு, இந்தியா

இறப்பு: ஜனவரி 14, 1752 (வயது 39)

ஆரல்வாய்மொழி, திருவாங்கூர் அரசு, இந்தியா

ஏற்கும் சமயம்: 

கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை இலத்தீன் ரீதி

முக்திப்பேறு பட்டம்: டிசம்பர் 2, 2012

திருத்தந்தை பதினாறாம் பெனடிக்டின் பெயரால், 

கர்தினால் ஆஞ்செலோ அமாத்தோ 

புனித ஃபிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியார் பேராலயம், கோட்டாறு மறைமாவட்டம்

முக்கிய திருத்தலங்கள்: 

புனித ஃபிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியார் பேராலயம், கோட்டாறு மறைமாவட்டம்

நினைவுத் திருவிழா: ஜனவரி 14

சித்தரிக்கப்படும் வகை: சங்கிலியால் கட்டப்பட்டவாறு

அருளாளர் தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை (Blessed Devasahayam Pillai) இன்றைய குமரி மாவட்டத்தின் நட்டாலம் கிராமத்தில் கி.பி. 1712ம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், 23ம் நாள், நாயர் குல இந்து குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து, கத்தோலிக்க கிறிஸ்தவ சமயத்தைத் தழுவி மறைச்சாட்சியாக உயிர்துறந்தார். அவரது இயற்பெயர் நீலகண்ட பிள்ளை ஆகும். கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையில் திருமுழுக்கு பெற்றபோது அவருக்கு "கடவுளின் கருணை" என்னும் பொருள்படும் "லாசரஸ்" (Lazarus) என்னும் பெயர் வழங்கப்பட்டது. அதுவே தமிழில் "தேவசகாயம்" என்று வழங்கப்படுகிறது.


இவர் கி.பி. 1752ம் ஆண்டு, ஜனவரி மாதம், 14ம் நாள், ஆரல்வாய்மொழியில் உள்ள காற்றாடி மலை என்னும் இடத்தில் அன்றைய திருவாங்கூர் ஆட்சியாளர்களின் ஆணைப்படி சுட்டுக் கொல்லப்பட்டார்.

தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை இறந்த இடம் இன்று தேவசகாயம் மவுண்ட் என்றும், ஆரல் குருசடி என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

அவர் இறந்த இடத்திற்குச் சென்று மக்கள் இறைவேண்டல் நடத்தத் தொடங்கினார்கள். இவ்வாறு, அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக "மறைச்சாட்சி" என்னும் பட்டம் அவருக்கு வழங்கப்படுவதற்கு முன்னரே பொதுமக்கள் பார்வையிலும் செயல்பாட்டிலும் அவர் மறைசாட்சியாகவே கருதப்பட்டார். கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக அவரை மறைசாட்சி என்றும் "முத்திப்பேறு பெற்றவர்" (அருளாளர் - Blessed) என்றும் கி.பி. 2012ம் ஆண்டு, டிசம்பர் மாதம், 2ம் நாள் பிரகடனம் செய்தது.

இந்நிகழ்ச்சி கோட்டாறு மறைமாவட்டத்துக்கு உட்பட்ட நாகர்கோவில் கார்மேல் மேனிலைப்பள்ளி வளாகத்தில் சிறப்பாக நடந்தேறியது.

பிறப்பு:

மறை சாட்சி தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை இன்றைய குமரி மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள நட்டாலம் என்னும் கிராமத்தில் கி.பி. 1712ம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், 23ம் நாளன்று நாயர் குலத்தில் பிறந்தார். இவரின் இயற்பெயர் நீலகண்ட பிள்ளை என்பதாகும். சிறுவயதிலேயே சமஸ்கிருதம், கலை ஆகியவற்றை படித்து அறிந்தார். வளர்ந்ததும், வில் வித்தை, வர்ம கலைகள், போருக்கான ஆயுதங்களைப் பயன்படுத்தும் முறைகளையும் படித்து அறிந்தார்.

அதன் பின்னர் இவர் மார்த்தாண்ட வர்மாவின் அரண்மனையான பத்மநாபபுரம் கோட்டையில் பணியில் அமர்த்தப்பட்டார். அதன் பின்பு இவருக்கும் கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டத்தில் திங்கள் சந்தைக்கு அருகே உள்ள மேக்கோடு என்னும் ஊரைச் சேர்ந்த பர்கவியம்மாளுக்கும் திருமணம் நடைபெற்றது.

மனமாற்றம்:

கி.பி. 1741ம் ஆண்டு, குளச்சல் துறைமுகத்தைப் பிடிக்க வந்த டச்சு படைகள் மார்த்தாண்ட வர்மாவின் படைகளால் தோற்கடிக்கப்பட்டன. டச்சு கடற்படைத் தலைவரான கத்தோலிக்க மதத்தைச் சார்ந்த “பெனடிக்டஸ் டி லெனோய்” (Benedictus De Lennoy), அவருடைய படைகளுடன் சிறை பிடிக்கப்பட்டார். இந்த வெற்றியின் நினைவாக நாட்டப்பட்ட தூண் இன்றும் குளச்சல் பகுதியில் இருக்கிறது.

நாளடைவில் இந்த “பெனடிக்டஸ் டி லெனோய்” நீலகண்ட பிள்ளையின் நண்பரானார். ஒருநாள் நீலகண்ட பிள்ளை மிகுந்த சோகமாய் இருப்பதை கண்ட அவர் நலம் விசாரித்தார் . அப்போது நீலகண்ட பிள்ளை குடும்பத்தில் நிறைய துக்க காரியங்கள் நிகழ்ந்து கொண்டிருப்பதாகவும், தங்கள் கால் நடைகள் இறந்து போவதாகவும். பயிர்கள் நாசமடைந்து போவதாகவும், பொருளாதார ரீதியாகப் பெரும் நஷ்டம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவித்தார்.

அப்போது திருவிவிலியத்தில் உள்ள யோபுவின் கதையை சொல்லி, “பெனடிக்டஸ் டி லெனோய்” அவருக்கு கிறிஸ்தவத்தை அறிமுகப்படுத்தினார். நாளடைவில் கிறிஸ்தவத்தின் மீது நல்ல நம்பிக்கை வந்ததும் திருமுழுக்குப் பெற்று கிறிஸ்தவராக நீலகண்ட பிள்ளை விருப்பம் கொண்டார். திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டத்தின் வடக்கன்குளம் கத்தோலிக்க தேவாலயத்தின் பங்குத்தந்தையாகப் பணிபுரிந்த “ஜியோவன்னி பட்டிஸ்டா புட்டரி” (Rev. Father: Giovanni Battista Buttari) நீலகண்ட பிள்ளைக்குத் திருமுழுக்கு வழங்கி, "தேவசகாயம்" என்னும் பொருள் தருகின்ற "இலாசரஸ்" (Lazarus) என்னும் பெயரைச் சூட்டினார்.

கத்தோலிக்க மதத்திற்கு மாறியதும் தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை பலரிடமும் இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவை பற்றிப் போதித்து, பலரை கிறிஸ்தவ மதத்திற்கு மனம் மாற்றினார். அவரின் மனைவியும் ஞானப்பூ எனும் பெயருடன் திருமுழுக்கு பெற்று கத்தோலிக்க கிறிஸ்தவர் ஆனார்.

இறப்பு:

இவர் இந்து சமய பாரம்பரிய நாயர் குடும்பங்களில் இருந்த மூட நம்பிக்கைகளை எதிர்த்தார். எனவே இவருக்கெதிராகப் பல பொய் குற்றச்சாட்டுகள் அரசாங்க அதிகாரிகளால் சுமத்தப்பட்டன. பலரும் அவரை மீண்டும் இந்து மதத்திற்கு மதம் மாறும்படி நிர்ப்பந்தித்தார்கள். மேலும் மிகக் கடுமையாக எச்சரிக்கப்பட்டார். கிறிஸ்துவுக்காகத் தனது உயிரையும் கொடுக்க சித்தமான தேவசகாயம், தமது கிறிஸ்தவ விசுவாசத்தில் உறுதியாக இருந்தார்.

இதனால் கோபம்கொண்ட ராஜா மார்த்தாண்ட வர்மா, அவரை மரண தண்டனைக்காகச் சிறையில் அடைத்தார். அவருடைய உடம்பில் கரும்புள்ளியும், செம்புள்ளியும் குத்தப்பட்டன. கைகள் பின்புறமாகக் கட்டப்பட்டு கழுத்தில் எருக்கம்பூ மாலை அணிவிக்கப்பட்டு எருமை மாட்டின் மீது பின்னோக்கி அமரவைத்து, அவரைக் கேவலப்படுத்தும்படியாகவும், கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்கு மாறினால் இப்படித்தான் மற்றவருக்கும் இருக்கும் என்பதற்கு பாடமாகவும், அவரை ஊர் ஊராக அழைத்துச் சென்றார்கள்.

கி.பி. 1752ம் ஆண்டு, ஜனவரி மாதம், 14ம் நாள், தென் திருவாங்கூர் மன்னராக ஆட்சி செய்த மார்த்தாண்ட வர்மா காலத்தில், குமரி மாவட்டத்தில், ஆரல்வாய்மொழியில் உள்ள காற்றாடி மலை என்னும் இடத்தில் தேவசகாயம் சுட்டுக் கொல்லப்பட்டார். தான் இறப்பதற்கு முன்பாகத் தன்னை சந்தித்த குருவிடமிருந்து நற்கருணை பெற்றுகொண்டார். தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளையின் உடல் காட்டில் எறியப்பட்டது. குமரி மாவட்ட கத்தோலிக்க மக்கள் அவரது உடல் பகுதிகளை எடுத்து, நாகர்கோவிலில் உள்ள கோட்டாறு புனித சவேரியார் ஆலயத்தில் அடக்கம் செய்தனர்.

மறைசாட்சி பட்டம் அளிக்கும் விழா:

2012ம் ஆண்டு, டிசம்பர் மாதம் 2ம் நாள், தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ள கோட்டாறு மறைமாவட்ட சவேரியார் முதன்மை ஆலயத்தை அடுத்துள்ள கார்மேல் மேனிலைப்பள்ளி வளாகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற சிறப்பு நிகழ்ச்சியின்போது தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை "மறைச்சாட்சி" (martyr) என்று அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டார். அப்போது அவருக்கு "முக்திப்பேறு பெற்றவர்" (Blessed) என்னும் பட்டமும் அளிக்கப்பட்டது. இது தொடர்பாகத் திருத்தந்தை பதினாறாம் பெனடிக்ட் வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கையைத் திருத்தந்தையின் பிரதிநிதியாகச் செயல்பட்ட கர்தினால் ஆஞ்செலோ அமாத்தோ வாசித்தளித்தார்.

கர்தினால் ஆஞ்செலோ அமாத்தோ, இச்சிறப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிக்குத் தலைமைதாங்குவதற்காக ரோமிலிருந்து கோட்டாருக்கு வருகை தந்தார். அந்நிகழ்ச்சியில் தமிழகத்திலிருந்தும், இந்தியாவின் பிற பகுதிகளிலிருந்தும், பிற நாடுகளிலிருந்தும், பல கத்தோலிக்க சமயத் தலைவர்களும், ஒரு இலட்சத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்ட மக்களும், கலந்துகொண்டனர். தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளை பக்தி, கிறிஸ்தவர் அல்லாத பிற சமயத்தினர் நடுவிலும் நீண்ட காலமாக இருந்து வருவதைத் தொடர்ந்து பல சமயத்தினர் சிறப்பு விழாவில் பங்கேற்றனர்.

அருளாளர் தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளைக்கு மறைசாட்சி பட்டம் அளிக்கும் நிகழ்வை முன்னிட்டு, கோட்டாறு மறைமாவட்ட சவேரியார் முதன்மை பேராலயத்தில் இவருடைய கல்லறை புதுப்பிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 2012ம் ஆண்டு, டிசம்பர் மாதம், 2ம் நாள், அக்கல்லறையைச் சந்தித்து அங்கு இறைவேண்டல் நிகழ்த்திட ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மக்கள் கூடினர்.

அருளாளர் நிலைக்கு உயர்த்தப்பட்டு பீட வணக்கத்திற்குரியவர் என்ற நிலையில், விரைவில் புனிதராக அறிவிக்கப்படுவதற்கு அனைத்து பணிகளும் விரைவாக நடந்தன. இந்தியாவின் முதல் மறைசாட்சி (martyr) புனிதராக அறிவிக்க திருத்தந்தை (போப்) பிரான்சிஸ் அவர்கள் 21-02-2020 அன்று புனிதர் பட்டத்திற்கு பரிந்துரைக்கும் பேராயத்தின் திட்டத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டார்.

புனிதர் பட்டம்   திருத்தந்தை பிரான்சிசு, அருளாளர் தேவசகாயம் பிள்ளையைப் புனிதர் நிலைக்கு உயர்த்துவதற்கு ஒப்புதல் தெரிவித்து அதிகாரப் பூர்வமான ஆவணத்தில் 2020ஆம் ஆண்டு பிப்ரவரி மாதம் 21ஆம் நாள் கையெழுத்திட்டார்

அதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக, 2022ஆம் ஆண்டு மே 15ஆம் தேதி தேவசகாயம் புனிதர் நிலைக்கு உயர்த்தப்பட்டார்.இந்தியாவில் பொதுநிலையினர் (சாதாரண மனிதர்) புனிதராக உயர்த்தப்படுவது இதுவே முதல் முறை

Also known as

Lazarus, Neelakandan, Neelam, Nilakandan, Nilam


Profile

Devasahayam was raised a high-caste Hindu, knew Sanskrit, Tamil and Malayalam, and was trained martial arts and archery. He was married, and held a civil service job in the royal treasury. Beginning in 1741, he learned about Catholicism from a French prisoner of war, converted to the faith, and was baptized on 14 May 1745 in the diocese of Kottar, India, taking the name Devasahayam, the Tamil equivalent of the meaning of the name Lazarus.



Lazarus drew the ire of and fell into confrontation with authorities because he mixed with lower castes, something not acceptable for higher-caste people. He was arrested on 23 February 1749 for his faith, he was tortured and abused, and then for three years was hauled from village to village as an example of what would happen to Christian converts. He spent the time in prayer and teaching any who would listen, and priests would sneak him Communion in his cell. Martyr.


Born

23 April 1712 in Nattalam, Tamil Nadu, India


Died

• shot by firing squad 14 January 1752 in Aralvaimozhi, Tamil Nadu, India

• body thrown onto a rock pile and left for wild animals

• remains recovered and buried in front of the altar of the Church of Saint Francis in Kottar, India


Beatified

2 December 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI


Canonized

• 15 May 2022 by Pope Francis

• the canonization miracle involved a 24-week fetus who stopped moving and whose heart stopped beating in India in 2013; the mother, who was Catholic and had a devotion to Blessed Lazarus, began praying for his intercession for the baby; within an hour, she felt the baby kicking, tests showed that the heart beat had resumed, and the infant was later born with no complications

Born: April 23, 1712, Palliyadi, India 

Died: January 14, 1752, Aralvaimozhi, India 

Spouse: Gnanapoo 

Canonized: Will be canonized on 15 May 2022, in Vatican City by Pope Francis 

Resting place: Kottar, Nagercoil, India 

Patronage: India; Persecuted Christians 

Pope Francis approved the Sainthood of an Indian martyr, Blessed Lazarus, called Devasahayam Pillai. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints announced the canonization on November 9. 

Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Devasahayam Pillai and six other Blesseds during a Canonisation Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on May 15, 2022. 

Who is this Devasahayam Pillai? 

The saint-to-be Devasahayam Pillai is an 18th-century Hindu married man who converted to Catholicism.   Devasahayam Pillai was born in 1712 in the hamlet called Nattalam of Vilavancode Taluka,  the present district of Kanyakumari. His parents Vasudevan Namputhiri and Devaki Amma named him Nilam, also expanded as Nilakandan, both being two forms of the same name of the Hindu God Siva. 

When Nilam grew up into an adult, he had a position in the king's royal court.  People added "Pillai" to his name. "Pillai was a suffix added to the names of those born in a high caste  and who also rise to a high position in the society. That is how Nilam was also known as Nilam Pillai or Nilakandan Pillai. The family of Nilam was rooted in the Hindu faith and his father was serving as a priest in the Siva temple at Nattalam. 

Where did  Devasahayam Pillai get so skilled? 

As a youth of the Nair caste, Nilakandan was trained in the art of warfare, together with the study of the languages Tamil, Malayalam and Sanskrit. As a Nair by birth, he spoke Malayalam at home. But he was living in a region where Tamil was the spoken language of the majority. 

Besides the languages, Nilakandan was like all the Nair youth of his days, probably taught archery, varmasastra (the South Indian martial art based on the science of human physique), and weapons of war. It is possible that during his Education, which was mostly private, in some way he came in contact with the Catholic faith. 

What was the Devasahayam Pillai work experience? 

Nilakandan Pillai started his career as a soldier. He did well in that profession and excelled his fellow soldiers in the maturity of judgment and firmness of mind. Later on, he was also an official in the Nilakandaswamy temple at Padmanabhapuram. He was a palace official, working in the king's treasury. 

The job later brought him to Udayagiri fort as in one charge of accounts, while the modernization of the fort was in progress under the efficient leadership of Eustache de Lannoy between the years 1741 and 1745. Nilakandan Pillai was the paymaster to the construction labourers of the fort. 

What are Devasahayam Pillai's distinctive qualities? 

Nilakandan Pillai was by nature active, energetic and committed to his duties. Therefore, he was also dear to his superiors, especially to the king. He was a good person: enthusiastic, ingenious, and natural inclination to oppose evil and do good. He was remarkably regarded for his high education, sharp intelligence and his upbringing in martial arts. 

Did you know about Devasahayam Pillai's virtuous Married Life? Nilakandan was wealthy and possessed rich wealth in terms of properties. He was educated and well-placed in society and did not have any habits unbecoming of a good person. The near and dear ones admired him that many families came forward to offer him their daughter's hand. But he finally married Bhargaviammal, a woman from a traditional family. Nilakandan Pillai married Bhargaviammal of the village of Mekkodu, near Eraniel, belonging to his caste. 

How did Devasahayam Pillai encounter Christianity? 

It is possible that some of those who trained him in the South Indian martial art and varmasastra were Catholics. It is possible that ,he came in contact with the Catholic faith in his dealings with them somehow. As an educated person, he could have read some Christian books on Malayalam and Tamil, with both of which he was very well-versed. 

During the first months after he joined the Travancore army, De Lannoy fought under general Duijvenschot on the side of Travancore. De Lannoy also served as an instructor in the use of flintlocks. In 1742, De Lannoy reorganized the palace guards and got them fully trained in three months. The palace guards were so trained that they came to be armed and dressed like the Europeans. Marthanda Varma was pleased with that and made De Lannoy commander of the palace guards. De Lannoy trained the palace guards in three months so well that Marthanda Varma could send back the Madurai troops, thus saving 60,000 Rupees per month for the king. 

The king was so pleased that he appointed De Lannoy successor to Duijvenschot as Venattu Kapittan (Captain of Venad). 

The work of Nilakandan Pillai brought him in touch with De Lannoy again. Frequent high-level contacts brought them together and an intimate friendship blossomed between them. They would often spend time in personal conversation, which sealed their friendship. 

Devasahayam Pillai  in crisis mode. 

In 1744 by God's Providence, he had been submitted to heavy trials. Then he was not in a position to understand the nature of this recovery. 

Nilakandan Pillai shared with De Lannoy about the losses he had incurred. Nilakandan Pillai wondered whether the gods were angry with him even though he performed all his religious duties. He was also afraid if some persons were against him and had carried out some sort of black magic against him, whereas, in reality, he had no enemies at all. Thus Nilakandan Pillai was beset with a lot of doubts and fears. 

De Lannoy consoled his friend Nilakandan by sharing with him his faith as a Christian. He narrated to him the story of Job in the Old Testament, a personification of unconditional trust in God in the face of unbearable tragedies. Nilakandan listened to him with great consolation. He was impressed by Job's sense of absolute confidence in God, which was not evident in his knowledge of the Hindu faith. 

Thus the Word of God was sown on the soil of Nilakandan's heart. The ongoing discussions between both convinced Nilakandan Pillai of the truths of the Christian faith and he decided to get baptized. He expressed his decision to his friend De Lannoy. It is an eloquent example of the evangelization ministry of a layperson. 

Conversion Starting with His Wife. 

 The first Objection against the baptism came from his wife. After about three months by the grace of God and from the instructions from Devasahayam Pillai, she agreed to embrace Christian Faith. She was given the Christian name Theresa (Gnanapu was her old name). 

What were the result of Devasahayam Pillai’s conversion? 

He underwent both mental and physical tortures. Mental Tortures are those which are aimed at causing mental fatigue, mental strain, and shame. Physical Tortures are the kinds of physical tortures inflicted on the Servant of God Devasahayam Pillai during the three years of his long wait to martyrdom. 

When he was arrested, he was put in a narrow prison, as small as an oven: five palms high, one cubit broad and a little more than one cubit long. The prison's door was just two palms high. 

He was paraded on buffalo with hands tied behind and sitting backward. It was a shameful South Indian way of treatment meted out to persons to be punished. All along the way, some people mocked him and cursed him. 

He was given thirty blows with canes each day. Once there were thirty-five wounds or scars on his body. The laceration of the skin was done by means of "a certain thorny scourge resembling a file" to make the application of the chilli powder. They also tormented his face. He was locked in a Prison cell with a few pots of boiling water kept around him with red hot chili powder in it, that he might suffocate and change his mind.  he was thrown into a prison which was full of biting ants called kadierumbu (red ants) and also he was thrown with poisonous Snakes and scorpions. He survived miraculously. 

How the Mid-night Execution happen? 

At the dead of midnight on January 14, 1752, he was shot dead. The place for the execution was on the fringe of the wild Aralvaimozhy forest. It was a deserted place, inaccessible to ordinary human beings. The spot was called Kattadimalai (now called "Devasahayam Pillai Mount), meaning the mountain with an unceasing flutter of winds. 

The dead body of Devasahayam rolled down to the ground. From this ground, pious Catholics have been taking out a handful of the earth as medicine for their ailments. Touching this blood-stained sacred ground stands a cluster of hillocks, which when the one near the sacred ground is a rock when struck by an object produces in the pleasant sound of a bell as it were to express its joy in having witnessed the death of a courageous Christian. In Tamil, the hillock is called mania dichan parai -  the rock with the sound of a bell. It is said that this rock came rolling down from the mountain top, making a bell-like sound at the time of his death. 

What were Devasahayam Pillai's Canonization Efforts? 

According to the report submitted by the then Bishop of Cochin (under whom Kanyakumari church was then functioning) in 1756, the Christian martyrdom of Devasahayam Pillai was promptly intimated to the Vatican. Prominent witnesses to his saintliness and martyrdom include Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar. In 1780, Kariattil Ouseph Malpan submitted a petition to the Vatican for canonization of Devasahayam Pillai. 

In 1984, a group of laypersons from the diocese of Kottar, especially members of Nagercoil Catholic Club, once again took the initiative to seek the beatification of Devasahayam. This is unusual for a layman, but he is regarded as one who was devoted to Christ. 

After a series of initiatives by the diocese of Kottar and much deliberation, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council (TNBC), later in 2004, duly recommended his beatification, following scrutiny of available historical evidence, in consultation with others. 

In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues" – a major step towards beatification – and Pillai was then referred to as "Venerable." He was declared a Martyr and Blessed on December 2, 2012, at a solemn ceremony held in the Diocese of Kottar at Carmel Higher Secondary School Grounds, Nagercoil, near his burial. The Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Angelo Cardinal Amato, presided at the function as Delegate of Pope Benedict XVI. Now Pope Francis approved his Sainthood and will be formally canonized on May 15, 2022. 

A Prayer To Blessed Devasahayam 

Blessed Devasahayam, for the love of Christ, you have willingly and patiently underwent torments and tortures for three years, and willingly sacrificed your life and obtained the joy of eternal life and the veneration at the alters as God's great reward. We praise and thank God for blessing you with this glorious life. 

You set apart your whole life for preaching on the Kingdom of God, leaving behind all the worldly pleasures of wealth, status, name, fame and glory. You as a true Disciple of Christ, faithfully put into practice the values of the Gospel, the equality and Fraternity of all people on earth. 

Assist us to follow you in leaving behind all the worldly pleasures and help us to live as children of the kingdom of God and put into practice faithfully the values of the Gospel so that we may one day enter into eternal life to be with God and your company forever and ever. 

O! Blessed Devasahayam, Glorious Martyr! Pray For Us


Saint Nino of Georgia


Also known as

• Apostle of Georgia

• Chrétienne, Christiana, Enlightener, Nano, Nina, Ninny, Nino, Nune, Nuneh, Nunia



Profile

Slave. Not originally from Georgia, she may have been brought there by her master when he emigrated, she may have been the spoils of war, or she may have fled her own war-racked homeland and become enslaved after her move to more peaceful Georgia.


She cured a dying child by placing her hair shirt on him, and praying over him. News of this miracle reached the Queen of Georgia, who was suffering an unspecified but untreatable malady. She sent for Nino who replied, “I am a slave. My place is not in a palace.” The Queen went to Nino, who cured her by prayer.


The royal family offered her any reward; she asked that they convert. The recently healed queen was willing, but King Mirian was not. However, soon after, while on a hunt, he found himself surrounded by wild animals. He made one of those well-known deals with God, offering to convert if he survived. The animals left, and in 325 the king asked Constantine for priests and bishops to spread the faith throughout Georgia.


This good work begun, Nino retired to live as a prayerful recluse on a mountainside at Bodbe Monastery, Kakheti, Georgia.


Born

various sources place this as Cappadocia (most sources), Rome, Jerusalem, or Gaul (modern France)


Died

• c.320 at Bodbe Monastery, Kakheti, Georgia of natural causes

• buried in the Cathedral of Mtskheta, Georgia


Patronage

• Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Christiana

• Georgia


Representation

• Georgian cross

• grapevine cross



Blessed Alfonsa Clerici


Profile

The eldest of ten children born to Angelo and Maria Romano Clerici; hers was a poor but pious family with two of her brothers becoming monks, one sister a Sister of the Precious Blood. Received a Master's degree from the College of the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Monza, Italy. Taught in Lainate, Italy from 1880 to 1883. During her time in college and her work as a teacher, Alfonsa had felt a call to religious life, but her work helped support her family, and she stayed with it. She finally answered the call, and on 15 August 1883 joined the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in Monza. Teacher at the College in Monza. Director of the College on 22 November 1898.



Born

14 February 1860 in Lainate, Milan, Italy


Died

• 13:30 on 14 January 1930 in Vercelli, Italy of a cerebral haemorrhage suffered on the night of 12 to 13 January 1930 while at prayer

• buried in Vercelli

• in 1965 she was re-interred in the cemetery chapel of the College of the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Monza, Italy


Beatified

• 23 October 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI

• beatification recognition celebrated in the Piazza of San Eusebio, Diocese of Vercelli, Italy with Archbishop Angelo Amato as chief celebrant

• the beatification miracle involved the healing of a nearly-fatal heart condition of Mr Nedo Frosini following the prayers of his wife, Carla Demi Frosini, for the intervention of Blessed Alfonsa



Blessed Godfrey of Cappenberg

காப்பன்பெர்க் துறவி கோட்ஃப்ரீட் 

பிறப்பு 

1097, 

காப்பன்பெர்க், ஜெர்மனி

இறப்பு 

13 ஜனவரி 1127, 

இல்பென்ஷ்டட் Ilbenstadt, ஜெர்மனி

இவர் தனது 25 வயதுவரை சாதாரண வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்தபோதும் மிகவும் பக்தியானவராக திகழ்ந்தார். இவர் அர்ன்ஸ்பெர்க்கை Arnsberg சார்ந்த யூட்டா Jutta என்ற பெண்ணை திருமணம் செய்து வாழ்ந்தார். திருமணமானபோதும் அவரின் சகோதரர் ஓட்டோ Otto என்பவருடன் சேர்ந்து வாழ்ந்தார். தன் சகோதரருடன் சேர்ந்து மறைப்பரப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டு, ஊர் ஊராகச் சென்று மறையுரை ஆற்றினார். 1120 ஆம் ஆண்டு சாண்டன் Xanten நகர் நோர்பெர்ட் Norbert நிறுவிய சபைக்கு பெருமளவில் உதவினார். 

பின்னர் அச்சபையில் சேர்ந்து தானும் ஓர் துறவியானார். 1122 ஆம் ஆண்டு கோட்பிரிட் அச்சபையின் நிரந்தர உறுப்பினரானார். மிகச் சிறந்த மறையுரையாளரான இவர் ஓட்டோவுடன் இணைந்து அச்சபையை பரப்பினார். கோட்பிரீட் தன் மனைவி யூட்டாவையும் இறைவழியில் செல்ல வழிகாட்டினார். அவரை வைத்து பெண்களுக்கான பாடல்குழு ஒன்றை ஏற்படுத்தினார். பின்னர் நிரந்தரமாகவே இவ்வுலக வாழ்விலிருந்து விடுபட்டு தன்னை முழுமையாக இறைவனுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்தார். இவர் தனது 30 ஆம் வயதிலேயே இறந்தாலும் இறைப்பணியை மக்களின் மத்தியில் வேரூன்ற செய்தார். எண்ணிலடங்கா துறவற மடங்கலை கட்டி எழுப்பிய இவர் வாழும்போதே புனிதராக கருதப்பட்டார்.


Also known as

• Godfrey of Ilbenstadt

• Godfrey of Kappenberg

• Gaufrid, Geoffrey, Geoffroy, Geofroi, Gioffredo, Godefrid, Godefridus, Godefroid, Godfrey, Goffredo, Goffrey, Gofrido, Gotfrid, Gothofred, Gottfrid, Gottfried, Jeffrey



Profile

Descendant of Charlemagne through his father, of the dukes of Swabia through his mother. Wealthy count in Westphalia with extensive lands. Layman, married to a noble woman. After being brought to an active faith by his friend Saint Norbert of Xanten, Godfrey turned his castle into a Premonstratensian abbey, and in the face of violent family opposition, gave his lands and wealth over to Norbert for use by the Church. He, his brother and his servant, Blessed Giselbert of Cappenberg, then joined the order as monks; Godfrey's wife and two sisters tooks vows as nuns in a convent he founded for them nearby. Built several hospitals and other houses. Was studying for the priesthood when he died.


Born

1097 at Cappenberg Castle, Westphalia, Germany


Died

• 13 January 1127 at the abbey of Ilbenstadt, Germany of natural causes

• relics in churches in Ilbenstadt and Cappenberg, Germany


Representation

• Praemonstratensian monk carrying bread in a bowl with two loaves at his feet

• Praemonstratensian monk holding a church

• Praemonstratensian monk holding a skull



Saint Sava


Also known as

• Rastko Nemanjic

• Sabas, Sabbas



Profile

Prince of Serbia, the son of King Stephen I Nemanya. He took the name Sava (Sabas) when he became a monk at Mount Athos. His father later surrendered his crown and became a monk, too, and together they founded the monastery at Chilanari as a house for Serbs. Sava returned home in 1207 when a quarrel between his brothers, Stephen II and Vulkan, broke into civil war. Sava brought monks with him, founded several monasteries, and began the reformation and education of his country, where religion and education had fallen to a low estate. Metropolitan of a new Serbian hierarchy by Emperor Theodore II Laskaris at Nicaea, being reluctantly consecrated by Patriarch Manuel I in 1219. Crowned his brother Stephen II as King of Serbia in 1222. He finished the uniting of his people that had been begun by his father. Translated religious works into Serbian, and gave his people a native clergy and hierarchy. Dispatched to the Holy Land on an ecclesiastical mission, Sava died on the way home.


Born

1176 as Rastko Nemanjic


Died

14 January 1235 at Tirnovo, Bulgaria of natural causes


Patronage

Serbia, Serbs


Blessed Odoric of Pordenone

மறைப்பணியாளர் போர்டேனோனே நகர் ஓடேரிக் Oderich von Pordenone

பிறப்பு 

1286, 

போர்டேனோனே Pordenone, இத்தாலி

இறப்பு 

14 ஜனவரி 1331, 

உடினே Udine, இத்தாலி

முத்திபேறுபட்டம்: 1755 திருத்தந்தை 14 ஆம் பெனடிக்ட்

இவர் இளம் வயதிலிருந்தே மறைப்பரப்புப் பணியை ஆற்றினார். மெசபத்தோனியா, எகிப்து மற்றும் புனித நாட்டிற்கு சென்று மறைப்பணி புரிந்தார். மற்றும் இந்திய நாட்டிற்கு சென்று அங்கும் மறையை பரப்பினார். இந்திய நாட்டிற்கு கப்பலில் பயணம் செய்த போதும் கடற்கரையில் அமைந்துள்ல ஊர்களிலெல்லாம் பணியாற்றினார். பின்னர் சீனா சென்று பல இன்னல்களின் இடையிலேயும் மனந்தளராமல் பணியாற்றினார். ஏறக்குறைய 17 ஆண்டுகள் மறைப்பணியாற்றிய இவர் ஏராளமான துன்பங்களை அனுபவித்தார். பின்னர் 1331 ஆம் ஆண்டு மறைப்பரப்பு நாடுகளிலிருந்து இத்தாலி வந்தடைந்தார். 

தனது தாய் நாடான இத்தாலியிலும் மிகச்சிறந்த முறையில் மறைப்பணியாற்றினார். பின்னர் சில ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து தனது உடன்பிறந்த சகோதரரின் உதவியுடன் தான் மேற்கொண்ட அனைத்து பயணங்களைப்பற்றியும் தான் ஆற்றிய பணிகளைப் பற்றியும் விரிவாக எழுதினார். இவர் தனது மறைப்பரப்புப் பணியை ஆற்றுவதற்கு திருத்தந்தை 22 ஆம் யோஹானஸ் உடனிருந்து ஊக்குவித்து உதவினார். மறைப்பணிக்காக தன் உயிரை ஈந்த இவர் தன் பணிகளைப்பற்றி திருத்தந்தையுடன் உரையாடிக் கொண்டிருக்கும்போது இறந்தார்.

Also known as

• Odoric Mattiussi

• Odoric Mattiuzzi

• Oderic, Oderik, Odorico, Odoryk



Profile

Joined the Franciscans in 1300. Hermit. Priest. Preacher in northern Italy, drawing large crowds to his services. Missionary through the Near and Far East, preaching in Persia, China, Java, Ceylon, and Tibet from 1316 to 1330. First European to reach the capital of the Dalai-Lama. Known as a miracle worker in China. Died en route to Avignon, France to report his findings to the Pope. The written description of his travels were used as a manual for geographers of his day.


Born

1285 at Villanova, Friuli, Italy as Odoric Mattiussi


Died

14 January 1331 at Udine, Italy of natural causes


Beatified

2 July 1775 by Pope Pius VI (cultus confirmed)



Saint Fulgentius of Ecija


Also known as

• Fulgentius of Astigi

• Fulgentius of Cartagena

• Fulgencius, Fulgencio



Profile

Born to the nobility, son of Severianus and Theodora, a couple known for their piety. Brother of Saint Isidore of Seville, Saint Leander of Seville, and Saint Florentina. Bishop of Ecija, Andalusia, Spain, and a leader of the Spanish Church. Attended the Second Council of Seville in 619.


Born

Cartagena, Spain


Died

• c.633 of natural causes

• buried in the cathedral of Seville, Spain


Patronage

• Cartagena, Spain, diocese of

• San Fulgencio, Spain


Representation

with Saint Isidore of Seville, Saint Leander of Seville, and Saint Florentina



Saint Engelmaro


Profile

Born to a poor peasant family. Hermit in the forest near Passau, Germany. As his reputation for piety and wisdom spread, the people of the region came to him for advice. Murdered by a man who was envious of Engelmaro's popularity.


Born

Bavaria, Germany


Died

• night of 13 to 14 January 1100 near Passau, Germany

• the killer hid the body in a snow drift

• the body was discovered during the spring thaw

• relics transferred to the Promenstatensian church in Windberg, Germany in 1331

• a custom developed in Winberg called "searching for Engelmaro" where the villagers go "in search" of the body of Engelmaro, find it (the relics), and then take the relics in procession from the forest back to the town


Patronage

• cattle

• good weather

• harvests

• peasants


Saint Macrina the Elder


Also known as

• Macrina of Caesarea

• Macrina of Neo-Caesarea

• Macrina the Senior



Profile

Grandmother of Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Saint Peter of Sebaste, and Saint Macrina the Younger, and apparently raised Basil. Spiritual student of Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus. She and her husband lived in hiding in a forest at Pontus for seven years during the persecutions of Diocletian, nearly starving several times. Widowed.


Died

c.340


Patronage

• against poverty

• poor people

• widows


Representation

• hermitess with two stags near her

• hermitess with two hinds near her



Saint Datius of Milan


Also known as

Dacius, Dasius, Dazio



Profile

Born to the nobility, a member of the Alliati family. Known for his learning and his personal piety. Bishop of Milan, Italy c.530. Ordered the history of the Church in Milan known as Historia Datiana. Imprisoned and exiled by Arian Ostrogoths for defending orthodox Christianity. Relocated to Constantinople where he supported Pope Vigilius against Emperor Justinian in the Three Chapters Controversy of 545. Attended the Council of Constantinople in 551 which condemned the Patriarch Mennas.


Died

552 in Constantinople of natural causes



Saint Potitus


Also known as

Potito



Profile

Son of a rich pagan. Convert. Exorcised a demon from the daughter of Emperor Antoninus who then had Potitus arrested, tortured and executed for being a Christian. Martyr.


Born

Sofia, Bulgaria


Died

• beheaded with a sword in the diocese of Naples, Italy

• buried in the swampy area of the river Carapelle

• some relics enshrined in Ascoli Satriano, Italy


Patronage

• Cerignola-Ascoli Satriano, Italy, diocese of

• Tricarico, Italy



Saint Odo of Novara


Also known as

Odon



Profile

Carthusian monk. Priest. Prior at Geyrach, Slavonia. Following difficulities with his bishop, he resigned his position to become chaplain for several decades to the convent at Tagliacozzo, Italy.


Born

c.1105 at Novara, Italy


Died

1200 at Tagliacozzo, Italy of natural causes


Beatified

1859 by Pope Blessed Pius IX (cultus confirmed)



Blessed Amadeus of Clermont


Profile

Lord of Hauterives, Drôme, France. Father of Blessed Amadeus of Lausanne. With 16 of his men, he retired to become a Cistercian monk at Bonnevaux Abbey, and then he and his son moved to Cluny Abbey, both in France. Founded monasteries at Léoncel, Mazan, Montperout, and Tamis.


Born

Hauterives, Drôme, France


Died

c.1150 at the monastery at Bonnevaux, France of natural causes



Saint Barbasymas


Also known as

Barba'shmin, Barbascemin, Barbasceminus


Profile

Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon, Greece in 342. Arrested and tortured with sixteen priests in the persecutions of King Shapur II; the names of his companions have not come down to us. Barbasymas was offered a cup filled with gold coins if he would worship the Persian god; he declined. Martyred with the sixteen priests.


Died

beheaded in 346 in Persia



Blessed Pablo Merillas Fernández


Also known as

Carlos of Alcubilla de Nogales


Profile

Franciscan Capuchin priest. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.


Born

17 July 1902 in Alcubilla de Nogales, Zaragoza, Spain


Died

14 January 1937 in El Escorial, Madrid, Spain


Beatified

13 October 2013 by Pope Francis



Saint Eufrasio of Clermont


Also known as

• Eufrasio of Arvenia

• Euphrasius


Profile

Bishop of Arvenia, Aquitaine (modern Clermont-Ferrand, France). Saint Gregory of Tours wrote in praise of him.


Died

c.515 of natural causes



Blessed William de Sanjulia


Profile

Mercedarian friar and evangelist.



Died

buried in Mercedarian priory church at Barcelona, Spain



Blessed Rainer of Arnsberg


Profile

Premonstratensian monk. Canon of the monastery of Mariënweerd at Utrecht, Netherlands.


Born

early 12th century Netherlands


Died

14 January 1184 of natural causes



Saint Caldeoldus of Vienne


Also known as

Caldéold, Cadéol, Eolad


Profile

Archbishop of Vienne, France from 653 to 664. Promoted monasticism in his diocese.


Died

664 of natural causes



Saint Glycerius of Antioch


Also known as

Glicerio, Glykerios, Glicerius


Profile

Deacon. Tortured and martyred for his faith.


Died

drowned in Antioch, Syria



Saint Euphrasius the Martyr


Also known as

Eufrasio


Profile

Bishop. Martyred by Arian Vandals.


Died

in North Africa



Saint Fermin of Mende


Also known as

Firmin


Profile

Bishop of Mende, France.



Saint Successus of Africa


Profile

Martyr. No other information has survived.



Saint Felix of Rome


Profile

Priest in Rome, Italy. No other information has survived.



Saint Paul of Africa


Profile

Martyr. No other information has survived.



Martyrs of Mount Sinai


Profile

A group of 38 monks on Mount Sinai who were martyred by pagan desert Bedouins. We know little about them, have but the names of four of them – Isaias, Jesaja, Sabas and Theodolus.



Died

martyred by Bedouins



Martyrs of Raithu

Profile

A group of 43 monks in the Raithu Desert near Mount Sinai, Palestine, near the Red Sea. They were martyred for their faith by desert Bedouins. Their names have not come down to us.


Died

martyred by Bedouins

12 January 2023

இன்றைய புனிதர்கள் ஜனவரி 13

 Bl. Yvette


Feastday: January 13

Patron: of brides, large families, and widows

Birth: 1158

Death: 1228


Blessed Yvette has not been canonized, but she is considered a saint. Blessed Yvette (Jutta of Huy), Widow (Feast day - January 13) Endowed with extraordinary charisms, Yvette was a product of the development of mysticism in the Low Countries in the thirteenth century. In this she joined a select number of young women Christians such as Juliana of Cornillion, Eve of St. Martin, Isabel of Huy, Mary of Oingnies, Ida of Leau, Ida of Nivelles, Ida of Loviano, Christiana of St.-Trend, Lutgard of Tongres, and Margaret of Ypres.


She was born of a wealthy family of Huy near Liege in 1158 and when very young was married off by her parents. Five years and three children later, she was a widow at the youthful age of eighteen. There was no dearth of suitors, drawn by her uncommom beauty, but Yvette would have none of them. She dedicated herself for eleven years to caring for lepers out of surpassing love for God.



For the last thirty-six years of her life, the holy woman lived as an anchoress and had many mystical experiences. Her prayers and miracles made her famous. She succeeded in bringing her father and one of her two remaining children back to the Faith and solicitously aided the countless people who flocked to consult her in her hermitage. She died on January 13, 1228.




Yvette of Huy (1158 – 13 January 1228) was a venerated Christian prophet and anchoress. Born in Huy, Belgium, she was also known as Ivette, Ivetta, Jufta or Jutta.[1][2]


Life

Yvette was born into a wealthy, but not particularly religious family, close to the bishop of Liège. From an early age Yvette was hesitant of marriage and wished to live a religious life. [1] Her father was a tax collector.[3] However, Yvette was forced into an arranged marriage at aged thirteen. Her marriage produced three children (one died while still an infant) before she was widowed at eighteen. Like many medieval women, it was in widowhood that she gained more self-determination. She began to live a more religious life by attending mass regularly, giving to the poor, and deciding not to remarry. Her father objected to the latter two activities. He was so concerned about her excessive giving to the poor that he took her sons from her, fearing that she would give away all of their wealth. Her father and others in her family also tried to get her to remarry. He even took her to the Bishop of Leige, for whom he worked, but Yvette's Hagiography attests that when the bishop saw her devotion and humility he agreed to let her stay in holy widowhood. It was after this assurance from the Bishop that Yvette retired to a virtually derelict leper hospital in Statte, close to Huy, on the heights of the river Meuse to tend to the inmates, and more fully follow her religious calling.[1] She left her two sons in the care of their grandfather.


Ten years later, she became an anchoress and was enclosed in a chapel cell near the colony in a ceremony conducted by the abbot of Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval. From there she offered guidance to pilgrims who considered her a prophetess in the apostolic sense of having insight into the divine. She summoned priests and even the dean of the local church to her presence and confronted them about their behaviour. She was responsible for the conversion of her father and one of her two surviving sons. After a time, her power threatened the male clergy and canons. She was denounced.[3] Yvette died on 13 January 1228 in Huy, Belgium.


Her life was recorded by the Premonstratensian Hugh of Floreffe.[2] Although never formally canonised as a saint, she is classed as ‘blessed’ by the Catholic Church; feast day January 13th, the date of her death. One of her sons became a monk at the monastery of Orval and became its abbot. In time he too became classed as a ‘blessed': Eustachius of Huy, commemorated on March 13th in the Cistercian calendar.



Feast of the Baptism of the Lord


Also known as

Baptism of Christ



Memorial

• 1st Sunday after Epiphany (declared by Pope Paul VI)

• formerly celebrated on Epiphany


Profile

Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by Saint John the Baptist.



Saint Hilary of Poitiers

பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ் நகர் புனிதர் ஹிலாரி 

ஆயர், ஒப்புரவாளர், மறை வல்லுநர்:

பிறப்பு: கி.பி. 310

பிக்டாவியம், கௌல் (தற்போதைய பொய்ட்டியர்ஸ், ஃபிரான்ஸ்)

இறப்பு: கி.பி. 367

பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ்

ஏற்கும் சமயம்:

ரோமன் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபை

கிழக்கு மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

ஆங்கிலிக்கன் சமூகம்

லூதரன் திருச்சபை

ஓரியண்டல் மரபுவழி திருச்சபை

நினைவுத் திருநாள்: ஜனவரி 13

பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ் நகர புனிதர் ஹிலாரி, “பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ்” (Bishop of Poitiers) மறை மாவட்ட ஆயரும், திருச்சபையின் “மறை வல்லுனரும்” (Doctor of the Church) ஆவார். இவர் "ஆரியன் இனத்தவரின் சுத்தியல்" (Hammer of the Arians) என்றும், "மேற்கின் அதானாசியஸ்" (Athanasius of the West) என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றார். இலத்தீன் மொழியின்படி, இவரது பெயருக்கு “மகிழ்ச்சி” அல்லது “சந்தோசம்” என்றும் பொருள்படும்.

பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ் நகரில் நான்காம் நூற்றாண்டின் ஆரமபத்தில் பிறந்த இவருடைய பெற்றோர் வேறுபட்ட சபையின் "பாகன்" இனத்தவர் ஆவர். கிரேக்க மொழி உள்ளிட்ட பாகன் கல்வி இவருக்கு தரப்பட்டது. பின்னர் இவர் கற்ற பழைய மற்றும் புதிய ஏற்பாடுகளைப் பற்றிய கல்வி, இவர் கொண்டிருந்த "3ம் நூற்றாண்டில் பிலாண்டினஸ் பின்பற்றுபவர்கள் உருவாக்கிய ஒரு தத்துவ மற்றும் சமய அமைப்பு" (Neo-Platonism) கிறிஸ்தவத்திற்காக கைவிட நேர்ந்தது. பின்னர் அவர், தமது மனைவி, மற்றும் பாரம்பரியப்படி, “புனித அப்ரா” (Saint Abra) எனும் தமது மகளுடன் திருமுழுக்கு பெற்று திருச்சபையில் இணைந்தார்.

அக்காலத்தில், கி.பி. சுமார் 350ம் ஆண்டு, அல்லது 353ம் ஆண்டு, பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ் நகர மக்கள் ஹிலாரியை மிகவும் மதித்தனர். அவர்கள் அவரை தமது ஆயராக மறைமுகமாக தேர்ந்துகொண்டனர். அக்காலத்தில், மேற்கத்திய திருச்சபையை ஆரியனிசம் (Arianism) கைப்பற்றும் அச்சுறுத்தல் இருந்தது.

இந்த இடையூறுகளைத் தடுக்க ஹிலாரி நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொண்டார். “சடுர்நினஸ்” ((Saturninus) எனும், "ஆர்லஸ்" என்ற மறைமாவட்டத்தின் ஆரியன் ஆயர், (The Arian Bishop of Arles) மற்றும் அவரது ஆதரவாளர்களான "யுர்சாசியஸ் மற்றும் வலேன்ஸ்" (Ursacius and Valens) ஆகிய மரபுவழி திருச்சபைக் கிறிஸ்தவர்களின் "கல்லிசன் தலைமைக் குருக்களைக்கொண்டு" (Gallican hierarchy) திருச்சபையைக் காக்க அவர் முதல் நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தார்.

இதே காலகட்டத்தில், ஆரியர்கள் தமது எதிர்ப்பாளர்களை நசுக்க வேண்டி செய்யும் துன்புருத்தல்களைக் கண்டித்து, பேரரசர் “இரண்டாம் காண்ஸ்டன்ஷியசுக்கு" (Emperor Constantius II) ஹிலாரி ஒரு கண்டன கடிதம் எழுதினர். சரித்திர வல்லுனர்கள் இதனை, நடைமுறையில் சில பாகங்களே உள்ள (Book Against Valens) என்று குறிப்பிடுகின்றனர். இம்முயற்சிகள் ஹிலாரிக்கு முதலில் வெற்றியைத் தரவில்லை.

வனவாசத்திற்கான காரணங்கள் மறைத்தே வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன என்றாலும், ஹிலாரி ஏறத்தாழ நான்கு வருடங்கள் வெளிநாட்டில் செலவிட்டார். அதானாசியுஸின் கண்டனம் மற்றும் (Nicene) மீதான விசுவாசத்தை அவர் ஏற்க மறுத்ததாலேயே அவர் நாடு கடத்தப்பட்டதாக தகவல்கள் உறுதி செய்கின்றன.

நான்கு வருட வெளிநாட்டு வாசத்தின் பின்னர், 361ம் ஆண்டு, சொந்த மறைமாவட்டம் திரும்பிய ஹிலாரி, முதல் இரண்டு அல்லது மூன்று வருடங்களின் பெரும்பகுதியை உள்ளூர் மத குருமார்களை சமாதானப்படுத்துவதில் செலவிட்டார்.


சுமார் 360ம் ஆண்டு, ஹிலாரியின் ஊக்குவிப்பால் "டூர்ஸ்" மறைமாவட்டத்தின் பதவியேற்கவிருந்த ஆயர் மார்ட்டின் (Martin, the future bishop of Tours), "லிகுக்" (Ligugé) என்ற இடத்தில் ஒரு துறவு மடம் ஒன்றினை நிறுவினார்.

புனிதர் ஜெரோம் (St. Jerome) அவர்களின் கூற்றுப்படி, கி.பி. 367ம் ஆண்டு, பாய்ட்டியர்ஸ் நகரில் ஹிலாரி மரித்தார்.

Also known as

• Athanasius of the West

• Doctor of the Divinity of Christ

• Hammer against Arianism

• Ilario di Poitiers

• Malleus Arianorum



Profile

Born to wealthy polytheistic, pagan nobility, Hilary's early life was uneventful as he married, had children (including Saint Abra), and studied on his own. Through his studies he came to believe in salvation through good works, then monotheism. As he studied the Bible for the first time, he literally read himself into the faith, and was converted by the end of the New Testament.


Hilary lived the faith so well he was made bishop of Poitiers, France from 353 to 368. Hilary opposed the emperor's attempt to run Church matters, and was exiled; he used the time to write works explaining the faith. His teaching and writings converted many, including Saint Florence of Poitiers, and in an attempt to reduce his notoriety he was returned to the small town of Poitiers where his enemies hoped he would fade into obscurity. His writings continued to convert pagans.


He introduced Eastern theology to the Western Church, fought Arianism with the help of Saint Viventius, and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1851.


Born

315 at Poitiers, France


Died

368 of natural causes


Patronage

• against rheumatism

• against snakes

• against snake bites

• backward children

• children learning to walk

• mothers

• sick people

• 4 cities


Representation

• dragon

• serpent

• stick

• pen

• child



Blessed Francesco Maria Greco


Profile

Born to a pious family, the son of a pharmacist, he received early religious training from his mother. Though his father hoped Francesco would take over the family business, the boy felt a call to the priesthood, studied in Naples, Italy, and was ordained in the archdiocese of Cosenza-Bisignano, Italy on 17 December 1881. Parish priest at the church of Saint Nicholas in Acri, Italy through 1887; while there he organized the construction of the Caritas hospital. Diocesan archpriest in 1888. Professor of theology. Believing that anyone who understood the faith would follow the faith, Monsignor Francesco concentrated on teaching, evangelizing and catechizing the young, and setting up training for new catechists. In 1892-1893, with Sister Maria Teresa de Vincenti, he founded the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts who continue their good work with today with the poor and abandoned in Albania, Argentina, Africa, Jamaica, Italy, India, the Holy Lands and the United States.



Born

26 July 1857 in Acri, Cosenza, Italy


Died

• 13 January 1931 in Acri, Cosenza, Italy of bronchitis

• re-interred on 19 May 1961 following an exhumation as part of the canonization process


Beatified

• 21 May 2016 by Pope Francis

• beatification recognition celebrated at Cosenza, Italy, Cardinal Angelo Amato chief celebrant

• the beatification miracle involved bringing Nina Pancaro out of a coma in which she had lapsed following a severe illness and surgery; while comatose, she was visited by a dream of Father Francesco who healed her and woke her up


Patronage

Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts




Saint Kentigern


Also known as

• Kentigern of Glasgow

• Kentigern Garthwys

• Kentigern Mungo

• Kentigern of Elwy

• Cantigernus, Chentingerno, Cyndeyrn, Kentigernus, Kintigern, Mahoe, Mochaoi, Mochua, Mungho, Mungo



Profile

Grandson of the British prince Lothus; son of Saint Theneva. Hermit. Monk. Missionary to Scotland, beginning at Cathures. Bishop of the Strathclyde Britons in the area of modern Glasgow in 540. He taught and led there for 13 years, living in great austerity. Exiled in 553 during an anti-Christian uprising by local pagans, he fled to Menevia, Wales, where he stayed with Saint David of Wales. He founded a monastery at Llanelwy, and served as its first abbot. He returned to Scotland in 573, evangelizing the areas of Galloway and Cumberland. He returned to Glasgow in 581 and led his people there for his remaining 22 years. Apostle to northwest England and southwest Scotland.


Glasgow's Coat of Arms includes a bird, a fish, a bell and a tree, the symbols of Kentigern.


• The Bird commemorates the pet robin owned by Saint Serf, which was accidentally killed by monks who blamed it on Saint Kentigern. Saint Kentigern took the bird in his hands and prayed over it, restoring it to life.


• The Fish was one caught by Saint Kentigern in the Clyde River. When it was slit open, a ring belonging to the Queen of Cadzow was miraculously found inside it. The Queen was suspected of intrigue by her husband, and that she had left with his ring. She has asked Saint Kentigern for help, and he found and restored the ring in this way to clear her name.


• The Bell may have been given to Saint Kentigern by the Pope. The original bell, which was tolled at funerals, no longer exists and was replaced by the magistrates of Glasgow in 1641. The bell of 1641 is preserved in the People's Palace.


• The Tree is symbol of an incident in Saint Kentigern's childhood. Left in charge of the holy fire in Saint Serf's monastery, he fell asleep and the fire went out. However he broke off some frozen branches from a hazel tree and miraculously re-kindled the fire.


Born

c.518 at Culross, Fife, Scotland


Died

• 13 January 603 in Glasgow, Scotland of natural causes

• relics in the crypt of the Kentigern cathedral, Glasgow


Patronage

• Glasgow, Scotland

• salmon


Representation

• bell

• bird

• clock

• fish

• ring

• robin

• salmon

• tree

• trees



Saint Remigius of Rheims


Also known as

• Apostle of the Franks

• Remigius of Reims

• Remi, Remigio, Remigiusz, Romieg, Rémi, Rémy



Profile

Born to the Gallo-Roman nobility, the son of Emilius, count of Laon, and of Saint Celina; younger brother of Saint Principius of Soissons; uncle of Saint Lupus of Soissons. A speaker noted for his eloquence, he was selected bishop of Rheims (in modern France) at age 22 while still a layman, and served his diocese for 74 years. He evangelized throughout Gaul, working with Saint Vaast. Spiritual teacher of Saint Theodoric. Converted Clovis, king of the Franks, baptising him on 24 December 496; this opened the way to the conversion of all the Franks and the establishment of the Church throughout France. Blind at the time of his death.


Born

c.438


Died

• 13 January 533 of natural causes

• interred on 15 January 533

• relics transferred to the Basilica Saint-Rémy 1 October 1049


Canonized

1049 by Pope Saint Leo IX


Patronage

• against epidemics

• against fever

• against plague

• against religious indifference

• against snakes

• against throat pain

• France

• Rheims, France, archdiocese of

• Rheims, France, city of



Blessed Veronica of Milan

மிலன்நகர்_அருளாளர்_வெரோனிக்கா

(1445-1497)

ஜனவரி 13

இவர் (#BlVeronicaOfMilan) இத்தாலியில் உள்ள பினஸ்கோ என்றொரு சிற்றூரில் பிறந்தவர். 

இவரது குடும்பம் விவசாயக் குடும்பம். அதனால் இவர் தன் வீட்டுத் தோட்டத்தில் வேலை பார்த்து வந்தார். குடும்பத்தில் நிலவிய வறுமையின் காரணமாக இவரால் பள்ளிக்குச் சென்று படிக்க முடியவில்லை. 

இதுவொரு பக்கம் என்றால், இன்னொரு பக்கம் இவர் ஆண்டவர்மீது ஆழமான நம்பிக்கை கொண்டு வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். இவர் இயேசு மற்றும் மரியாவினுடைய காட்சிகளை அடிக்கடி கண்டார். ஒருமுறை மரியா இவருக்குத் தோன்றி, நல்ல எண்ணத்தோடு வாழ வேண்டும் என்றும், அடுத்தவரைப் பற்றிப் புறங்கூறக் கூடாது என்றும், இயேசுவின் பாடுகளைப் பற்றித் தியானிக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் சொல்லிவிட்டு சென்றார். 

இவருக்கு 22 வயது நடக்கும்போது பொது நிலையினருக்காக புனித அகுஸ்தினினின் சபையில் சேர்ந்து, மக்களிடமிருந்து யாசித்து உண்டு வந்தார். மேலும் இவர் சபையின் வளர்ச்சிக்காகப் பலரிடமும் உதவி வேண்டிச் சென்றார். 1494 ஆம் ஆண்டு இயேசு இவருக்கு ஒரு காட்சி கொடுத்தார். அக்காட்சியில் இயேசு இவரிடம் திருத்தந்தை ஐந்தாம் அலெக்சாண்டரிடம் ஒரு செய்தியைச் சொல்ல அனுப்பி வைத்தார். அவ்வாறு இவர் திருத்தந்தையிடம் சென்று, இயேசு சொன்ன செய்தியைச் சொல்லிவிட்டுத் திரும்பும் வழியில் இறையடி சேர்ந்தார்.

இவருக்கு திருத்தந்தை ஒன்பதாம் பெனடிக்ட்  1749 ஆம் ஆண்டு அருளாளர் பட்டம் கொடுத்தார்.

Also known as

Veronica of Binasco


Additional Memorial

28 January (Augustinian calendar)



Profile

Grew up in a poor peasant family in a small village, doing chores and working the fields. She had no formal education, and tried unsuccessfully to teach herself to read at night. She began to have religious ecstasies, visions of the life of Christ, and was taught her catechism by the Virgin Mary. Our Lady explained it in the form of three mystical letters, one that signified purity of intention, the second abhorrence of complaining, and the third a reminder to daily meditate on the Passion. Augustinian lay-sister at the convent of Saint Martha, Milan, Italy, at age 22, being instructed for three years before she was allowed to join. Assigned to beg alms in the street for the support of the house. She suffered alternating bouts of intense physical pain and religious ecstacies for years. She received a vision of Christ in 1494, and was given a message for Pope Alexander VI; she made a journey to Rome, Italy to deliver it. Following a six-month illness, she died on the date she had prophesied.


Born

c.1445 at Binasco, Italy, a small village near Milan


Died

13 January 1497 in Milan, Italy of natural causes


Beatified

• 1517 by Pope Leo X (cultus confirmed)

• 1672 by Pope Clement X (devotion extended to the entire Augustinian Order)

• 1749 by Pope Benedict XIV (added to Roman Martyrology)


Patronage

Binasco, Italy



Blessed Ivetta of Huy


Also known as

• Ivetta of Liege

• Ivette, Juette, Jufta, Jutta, Yvette



Profile

Born to family that was wealthy but indifferent to the faith. Forced into an arranged marriage at age 13. Mother of three, though one died in childhood. Widowed at age 18. She turned away all suitors to care for lepers for eleven years while she raised her children. Had an ongoing dispute with her father over her charitable spending, which he considered excessive. With her children grown, she retired from the world to become an anchoress her remaining years. Had mystical gifts including the ability to read hearts and visions of distant events. Miraculously received Communion. Converted her father and one of her children.


Born

1158 at Huy, Belgium


Died

13 January 1228 at Huy, Belgium, of natural causes


Patronage

• brides

• parents of large families

• widows


Representation

• woman in an ecstasy in a hut

• woman in religious habit with a red-hot tripod nearby

• woman in widow's weeds

• woman tending to lepers



Blessed Emil Szramek


Also known as

Emilio


Additional Memorial

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



Profile

Priest in the archdiocese of Katowice, Poland, simultaneously serving as pastor of the parish of Saint Mary in Katowice, and chancellor of the diocesan curia. Along with being a strong spiritual leader, Father Emil was an historian, specializing in his native Silesia. He wrote on a number of topics including history, social issues, ethnography, theology and literature.


On 8 April 1940 he was arrested by the occupying Nazis and over the course of several months he was imprisoned, harassed and tortured in concentration camps in Gusen, Mauthausen and Dachau. He was a particular target for the guards as he never broke, and spent his time ministering to other prisoners. Martyr.


Born

29 September 1887 in Tworków, Slaskie, Poland


Died

13 January 1942 in the prison camp of Dachau, Oberbayern, Germany by having a series of ice-cold streams of water dumped on him till he died of shock and exposure


Beatified

13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II



Saint Agrecius of Trier


Also known as

• Agricius of Trier

• Agritius of Trèves

• Agrice, Aguy



Profile

Nothing reliable is recorded about his life before his service to the Church. Patriarch of Antioch. Friend and advisor to empress Saint Helena. Named bishop of Treves, Gaul (modern Trier, Germany) by Pope Sylvester I; served for 20 years. Attended the Council of Arles in 314. Built many churches in the diocese, and made provision for the Relics of Trier, which were collected by Saint Helena during her travels through the Holy Lands. Saint Maximus and Saint Paulinus taught in Agrecius's schools, and he was acquainted with Saint Athanasius. Because of his association with several saints and with the relics of others, he became the subject of much pious fiction.


Born

Syrian


Died

335 of natural causes



Saint Vivenzio of Blera


Also known as

Viventius


Additional Memorials

• Easter Monday (pilgrimage to his hermitage)

• 2nd Sunday in May (pilgrimage to his hermitage)

• 11 December (Blera, Italy)


Profile

Priest. Bishop of Blera, Italy from 457 to 484. Noted for his vocal opposition to the pagan and corrupt local nobility. Some of them bribed Vivenzio's servants to put women's clothing in his chambers in order to accuse him of illicit relations. Vivenzio denied any wrong-doing, then moved to a nearby cave in order to do penance for the sins of his accusers. He lived there for seven years in prayer and fasting, eventually going blind; when he needed to see again in order to implement an instruction he received from God in a dream, his sight was restored.


Patronage

Blera, Italy



Blessed Francisca Inés Valverde González


Also known as

• Victoria Valverde González

• Vittoria Valverde Gonzalez

• Sister Victoria



Profile

Nun. Member of the Calasanzian Institute, Daughters of the Divine Shepherdess. Superior of the convent-school in Martos, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.


Born

20 April 1888 in Vicálvaro, Madrid, Spain


Died

13 January 1937 in the cemetery of Casillas de Martos, Jaén, Spain


Beatified

13 October 2013 by Pope Francis



Saint Berno of Cluny


Profile

For a man whose work has had such an impact, surprisingly little is known about him. May have been a member of a noble and wealthy family, but records are obscure. Benedictine monk at Saint Martin's monastery, Autun, France. Abbot of the Baume Abbey where he rebuilt, restored and reinvigorated the monastery. Spiritual director of Saint Odo of Cluny. Founded the monastery of Gigny, Bourg-Dieu, Massay, and served as its abbot. Planned, founded, and built the monastery of Cluny whose reform has had enormous influence throughout western Christendom. He served as its first abbot from 910 to 926.


Born

mid-9th century in Burgundy, France


Died

927 of natural causes



Blessed María Francisca Espejo y Martos


Also known as

• Francisca of the Incarnation

• Francisca Espejo Martos



Profile

Trinitarian nun. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.


Born

2 February 1873 in Martos, Jaén, Spain


Died

• 13 January 1937 in Casilla de Martos, Jaén, Spain

• incorrupt body enshrined at the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Casilla de Martos


Beatified

28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI



Saint Ðaminh Pham Trong Kham


Also known as

Domenico Pham Trong (An) Kham


Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam



Profile

Married lay Dominicans in the apostolic vicariate of Central Tonkin (modern Vietnam). Tortured and executed in the persecutions of emperor Tu-Duc rather than stomp on a cross as ordered. Martyr.


Born

c.1780 in Quan Cong, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam


Died

13 January 1859 in Nam Ðinh, Vietnam


Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II



Saint Giuse Pham Trong Ta


Also known as

Giuseppe Pham Trong (Cai) Ta


Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam



Profile

Married lay Dominicans in the apostolic vicariate of Central Tonkin (modern Vietnam). Tortured and executed in the persecutions of emperor Tu-Duc rather than stomp on a cross as ordered. Martyr.


Born

c.1800 in Quan Cong, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam


Died

13 January 1859 in Nam Ðinh, Vietnam


Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II



Saint Luca Pham Trong Thìn


Also known as

Luca (Cai) Thin


Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam



Profile

Married lay Dominicans in the apostolic vicariate of Central Tonkin (modern Vietnam). Tortured and executed in the persecutions of emperor Tu-Duc rather than stomp on a cross as ordered. Martyr.


Born

c.1819 in Quan Cong, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam


Died

13 January 1859 in Nam Ðinh, Vietnam


Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II



Blessed Hildemar of Arrouaise


Also known as

Heldemar, Hilmar


Profile

Court chaplain to William the Conqueror in England. Hermit in the forest of Arrouaise, Artois (in modern France) in 1090. His reputation for sanctity attracted disciples, and with them he founded the Augustinian monastery at Arrouaise. Martyr.


Born

Tounai, Belgium


Died

murdered c.1097 by a priest posing as an Augustinian novice at Arrouaise, Arras, France



Saint Hermylus


Also known as

Ermil, Ermilio, Hermellus, Hermylas, Hermyllus, Hermilio



Profile

Deacon at Singidunum (modern Belgrade, Serbia). Martyred with his servant, Saint Stratonicus, in the persecutions of Licinius.


Died

drowned in the River Danube in 315



Saint Elian of Brittany


Also known as

Allan, Eilan


Profile

Related to Saint Ismael, Saint Oudoceus, Saint Melorius, Saint Tugdual and Saint Judictel. Sixth century missionary to Cornwall, England. Llanelian in Anglesey and Llanelian in Denbigshire are named for him.


Born

in Brittany (in modern France)



Saint Glaphyra


Profile

A slave, belonging to Constantia, the wife of the emperor Licinius. To safeguard her vow of chastity, she ran to Saint Basil of Amasea. She was arrested and sentenced to death for being a runaway slave. She is considered a martyr because her running away was a direct result of her faith and personal vows.


Died

c.324



Saint Enogatus of Aleth


Also known as

Eniguet, Eniguette, Enogad, Enogat, Enougad, Enougat, Tenou-cat, Tnoucat


Additional Memorial

15 November (all the bishops of St-Malo)


Profile

Monk. Abbot of Saint Meen Abbey. Bishop of Aleth, Brittany, France.


Died

631 of natural causes



Saint Stratonicus


Also known as

Stratonico



Profile

Servant to Saint Hermylus at Singidunum (modern Belgrade). Martyred with Hermylus in the persecutions of Licinius.


Died

drowned in the River Danube in 315



Saint Peter of Capitolíade


Profile

Priest. For preaching Christianity in territory held by the Saracen prince Walid, he was mutilated and executed. Martyr.


Died

hands, feet and tongue cut off, then crucified on 13 January 715 at the Capitolíade, Batanea, Syria



Blessed Stephen of Liège


Profile

Canon of Saint Denis, Liège, Belgium. Benedictine monk at Saint Vannes monastery, Verdun, France. Founded the monastery of Saint Laurence at Liège, and served as its first abbot.


Died

1061 of natural causes



Saint Leontius of Caesarea


Also known as

Angel of Peace


Profile

Bishop of Caesarea. Worked in the Council of Nicaea in 325. Highly praised in the writings of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria.


Died

337 of natural causes



Blessed Matteo de Lana


Also known as

Matthew



Profile

Mercedarian monk at the monastery of Santa Maria degli Ulivi.



Blessed Ida of Argensolles


Profile

Benedictine nun at Saint Leonard's, Liege, Belgium. Abbess of the Cistercian Argensolles Abbey, diocese of Soissons, France.


Died

1226 of natural causes



Saint Gumesindus


Also known as

Gumismundus, Gumersindus, Gumesindo


Profile

Priest. Martyred in the persecutions of Abderrahman II.


Born

Spanish


Died

852 at Cordoba, Spain



Saint Viventius


Profile

Hermit. Priest. Travelled from Palestine to Europe. Worked with Saint Hilary of Poitiers to oppose Arianism.


Born

Samaritan


Died

400 of natural causes



Saint Erbin of Cornwall


Also known as

Erbyn, Erme, Ervan, Hermes


Profile

Fifth century relative of a Cornish chieftain. Churches are dedicated to him in Cornwall.



Saint Servusdei


Also known as

Servusdeus


Profile

Monk. Martyred in the persecutions of Abderrahman II.


Born

Spanish


Died

852 in Cordoba, Spain



Saint Designatus of Maastricht


Profile

Fifth century bishop of Maastricht, Netherlands.


Died

437



Saint Elian ap Erbin


Profile

No information has survived.


Born

5th century Welsh



Saint Andrew of Trier


Profile

Bishop of Trier, Germany. Martyr.


Died

235



Forty Martyred Soldiers at Rome


Profile

Forty soldiers martyred in the persecutions of Gallienus.


Died

martyred in 262 on the Via Lavicana, Rome, Italy