Saturday, January 28, 2012

SAINT MARTIN OF LEON

Saint Martin of Leon, with Saint Isidore of Seville appearing before him.

St. Martin of Leon
Born 1130 León, Spain
Died January 12, 1203


Feastday: January 12
1130 - 1203


Augustinian confessor of Old Castile, Spain. He was famous in his lifetime for his holiness and ascetical writings. He served at San Marcelo Abbey and then at St. Isidore Abbey in Leon.

A priest and canon regular of the Augustinians; b. at Leon in Spain (Old Castile) before 1150; d. there 12 January 1203. Having been educated in the monastery of St. Marcellus at Leon, he visited Rome and Constantinople. Returning to Spain he took the religious habit at St. Marcellus; but this monastery having been secularized by the bishops he entered the collegiate church of St. Isidore in the same city. The date of his death is given us by the necrology preserved in the monastery.

He wrote commentaries on different Epistles and the Apocalypse, and left numerous discourses on the most varied subjects. His complete works were published first by Espinosa (Seville, 1782), Migne in P.L., LXXXI, 53-64, CCVIII, CCIX (Paris, 1855). The religious of St. Isidore's dedicated a chapel to Martin very early and celebrated his feast each year, but the Church has not officially included him in the list of saints.

SAINT JOHN OF RAVENNA


St. John of Ravenna

Feastday: January 12
Died: 494

 + 494. Bishop of Ravenna in Italy from 452 to 494. He saved his flock from the fury of Attila the Hun and mitigated its lot when the city was taken by Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths.




Bishop of Ravenna, Italy, who saved his people from the fury of Attila the Hun . John served as bishop from 452 to 494. He also faced the Ostrogoths, under King

Theodoric the Great, who invaded the region and became the chief political power in the years following the final deposition of the Roman emperors in the West in 476.

BLESSED JOHN GASPARD CRATZ


Bl. John Gaspard Cratz

Feastday: January 12
Died: 1737


Jesuit martyr in China. He was born at Duren, near Cologne, Germany, and entered the Jesuits in Macao in 1730. He went to China and was arrested in Tonkin in 1736. The next year, with Blessed Bartholomew Alvarez and others, he was put to death after horrible abuses and tortures.




Blesseds John Gaspard Cratz
 Emmanuel d'Abreu
 Bartholomew Alvarez and
 Vincent da Cunha, SJ MM (AC)
 Died in Tonkin (Vietnam) in 1737. These Jesuits were sent to the Kingdom of Tonkin together as missionaries in 1736. Together they were arrested in March 1736 and were beheaded there for the faith the following year. Bartholomew Alvarez (born near Braganza, Portugal) joined the Jesuits at Coimbra in 1723. Emmanuel d'Abreu (born at Arouca, Portugal, in 1708) entered the order in 1724. John Gaspard Cratz (born at Duren near Cologne, Germany), entered the Jesuits at Macao in 1730. Vincent da Cunha was another Jesuit cleric sent from Portugal to evangelize Tonkin. They were not there long before they were martyred (Benedictines).

SAINTS EPHESUS MARTYRS


Ephesus Martyrs

 Martyrs of Ephesus

Feastday: January 12
Died: 762


Forty-two monks put to death by Byzantine Emperor Constantine V for opposing the Iconoclasts. In records they are associated with Sts. Stephen and Basil.


Forty-two monks martyred at a monastery in Ephesus, modem Turkey. They were put to death by the Iconoclast Emperor Constantine V. Another source gives the number as thirty-eight.

SAINT SALVIUS OR SAINT SAUVE


Saint Salvius (Salve, Sauve)

died 625. Bishop of Amiens in the north of France. His relics were enshrined in Montreuil in Picardy.


Saint Salvius (7th century), bishop. The identity of a famous relic, presented to Canterbury Cathedral by William the Conqueror, when Lanfranc rebuilt it after the fire in 1069, is a matter of dispute. Some identify this Salvius with the bishop of Amiens, who flourished under Theodoric II and died in 625, and whose relics were transferred to Montreuil (Picardy). Feast: 12 January.

SAINT SATYRUS


St. Satyrus


Feastday: January 12
Died:  267


A martyr who was supposedly from Arabia and was put to death perhaps in Achaca for destroying a pagan idol in a miraculous fashion..



Satyrus
 Died 267. Saint Satyrus was an Arab by birth, who was martyred in Achaia (or at Antioch) for insulting an idol. Another version says that the idol fell to the ground when Satyrus made the Sign of the Cross over it (Benedictines).

Friday, January 27, 2012

SAINT EUTROPIUS


St Eutropius

Feastday: January 12
Died: 404
Sts Eutropius   &  Tigrius

Two martyrs who suffered as a result of their support of St. John Chrysostom. Members of the Church in Constantinople (Tigrius was a priest and Eutropius his lector), they were outspoken defenders of John Chrysostom who was banished from the imperial capital and later died from abuse at the hands of his captors. The two were subsequently arrested by imperial officials, charged with trying to set fire to the cathedral and senate house of Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey). Eutropius died during the torture inflicted upon him. Tigrius was exiled to Asia Minor, where he died.

SAINT TIGRIUS


St Tigrius

Feastday: January 12
Died: 404
StsTigrius  & Eutropius

Two martyrs who suffered as a result of their support of St. John Chrysostom. Members of the Church in Constantinople (Tigrius was a priest and Eutropius his lector), they were outspoken defenders of John Chrysostom who was banished from the imperial capital and later died from abuse at the hands of his captors. The two were subsequently arrested by imperial officials, charged with trying to set fire to the cathedral and senate house of Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey). Eutropius died during the torture inflicted upon him. Tigrius was exiled to Asia Minor, where he died.

SAINT CASTULUS


 Castulus ,Zoticus, Rogatus, Modestus, and Companions  Jan 12
  A group of between forty and fifty soldiers martyred in North Africa.
St. Zoticus

Feastday: January 12


Castulus  (date unknown) + Member of a group of martyrs. They were soldiers, numbering about fifty, and, included Rogatus, Modestus, and Castulus, who were put to death for the Faith in Africa. Other details of their lives are no longer available. Feast day: January 12.

SAINT MODESTUS


Modestus,Zoticus, Rogatus,  Castulus and Companions  Jan 12
  A group of between forty and fifty soldiers martyred in North Africa.
St. Zoticus

Feastday: January 12


Modestus (date unknown) + Member of a group of martyrs. They were soldiers, numbering about fifty, and, included Rogatus, Modestus, and Castulus, who were put to death for the Faith in Africa. Other details of their lives are no longer available. Feast day: January 12.

SAINT ROGATUS


 Rogatus, Modestus, Castulus and ZoticusCompanions  Jan 12
  A group of between forty and fifty soldiers martyred in North Africa.
St. Zoticus

Feastday: January 12


 Rogatus  (date unknown) + Member of a group of martyrs. They were soldiers, numbering about fifty, and, included Rogatus, Modestus, and Castulus, who were put to death for the Faith in Africa. Other details of their lives are no longer available. Feast day: January 12.

SAINT ZOTICUS


Zoticus, Rogatus, Modestus, Castulus and Companions  Jan 12
  A group of between forty and fifty soldiers martyred in North Africa.
St. Zoticus

Feastday: January 12


Zoticus (date unknown) + Member of a group of martyrs. They were soldiers, numbering about fifty, and, included Rogatus, Modestus, and Castulus, who were put to death for the Faith in Africa. Other details of their lives are no longer available. Feast day: January 12.

BLESSED VINCENT DE CUNHA


Bl. Vincent de Cunha

Feastday: January 12
Died: 1737


Vincent de Cunha, Blessed (d. 1737) + Jesuit martyr of Vietnam. He arrived inVietnam in 1736 and worked only one year be-fore being arrested. He was martyred with two

companions and Blessed Gaspard.




Blesseds  Vincent da Cunha, SJ MM (AC)
 John Gaspard Cratz
 Emmanuel d'Abreu
 Bartholomew Alvarez and

 Died in Tonkin (Vietnam) in 1737. These Jesuits were sent to the Kingdom of Tonkin together as missionaries in 1736. Together they were arrested in March 1736 and

were beheaded there for the faith the following year. Bartholomew Alvarez (born near Braganza, Portugal) joined the Jesuits at Coimbra in 1723. Emmanuel d'Abreu (born

at Arouca, Portugal, in 1708) entered the order in 1724. John Gaspard Cratz (born at Duren near Cologne, Germany), entered the Jesuits at Macao in 1730. Vincent da

Cunha was another Jesuit cleric sent from Portugal to evangelize Tonkin. They were not there long before they were martyred (Benedictines).

SAINT VICTORIAN OF ASAN OR SAN VITORIAN DE ASAN



St. Victorian of Asan



 Born in Italy; died in Spain c. 560. Saint Victorian settled for a time in France before founding Asan (now Saint Victorian) in the Aragonese Pyrenees, diocese of Barbastro.

He is highly praised by Saint Venantius Fortunatus (Benedictines).


Feastday: January 12
Born Italy
Died: 560  Spain



Saint Victorian of Asan (Spanish: San Vitorián de Asan, in Aragonese San Beturián) (died ca. 560 AD) was a Spanish saint. A native of Italy, he founded monasteries and hospices there before settling briefly in France.

He became the founder and abbot of the monastery of Asan (now called San Vitorián). Asan was situated in the Aragonese Pyrenees, in the diocese of Barbastro.

He died of natural causes.

He is mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW ALVAREZ


Bl. Bartholomew Alvarez

Feastday: January 12
Died: 1737


A Jesuit martyr of Portuguese descent. He was born near Braganza, in Portugal, and joined the Jesuits at Coimbra. Sent to Tonking, Bartholomew was arrested in 1736 and beheaded the following year.



Blesseds John Gaspard Cratz
 Emmanuel d'Abreu
 Bartholomew Alvarez and
 Vincent da Cunha, SJ MM (AC)
 Died in Tonkin (Vietnam) in 1737. These Jesuits were sent to the Kingdom of Tonkin together as missionaries in 1736. Together they were arrested in March 1736 and were beheaded there for the faith the following year. Bartholomew Alvarez (born near Braganza, Portugal) joined the Jesuits at Coimbra in 1723. Emmanuel d'Abreu (born at Arouca, Portugal, in 1708) entered the order in 1724. John Gaspard Cratz (born at Duren near Cologne, Germany), entered the Jesuits at Macao in 1730. Vincent da Cunha was another Jesuit cleric sent from Portugal to evangelize Tonkin. They were not there long before they were martyred (Benedictines).

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

SAINT ANTHONY MARY PUCCI


St. Anthony Mary Pucci
Born 16 April 1819 Vernio
Died 12 January 1892 (aged 72) Viareggio
Beatified 12 June 1952 by Pope Pius XII
Canonized 9 December 1962, Vatican City by Pope John XXIII
Feast 12 January



Servite priest born on April 16, 1819, at Poggiole, Italy, christened Eustace. He entered the Servites about 1837, taking the name Anthony Mary, and he was ordained in 1843. Assigned to Viareggio, Italy, Anthony became pastor of the parish in 1847. His entire life was spent instructing children, caring for the sick and poor, and pioneering the Holy Childhood Society. He was heroic during the epidemics of 1854 and Anthony Mary died on January 14, 1892, in Viareggio. He was canonized in 1962.

saint Antony Mary Pucci  is  Debbie Pucci's Great Great Uncle and I feel honored  knowing the bloodline of Saint Anthony are also my childrens bloodline (Nicholas,Alyssa and Ashley.My son Nick  features resemble those of  Saint Anthony.





        Saint Anthony Mary Pucci was born in good Christian parents at Poggiole, in the Diocese of Pistoia, Italy, in 1819; he was the second of the nine children. After youth marked by prayer and study, his devotion to Mart, the Mother of God, caused him to seek entrance in the Order of the Servants of Mary at the age of eighteen.

        He completed his novitiate at Florence and studied philosophy and theology at Monte Senario for six years, where he made also his solemn profession. In 1844, a year after his ordination to the priesthood, St. Anthony was sent to Viareggio as assistant pastor. In 1847, he was named pastor and for forty-five years, until his death. He fulfilled his responsibility with great love, giving an example of pure and fruitful life, singularly dedicated to God and to God’s people. In spite of his pastoral duties he continued his studies. He received the title of Master in Theology in 1850.

        Saint Anthony was prior of the community in Viareggio and Prior Provincial of the Tuscan Province for many years. In that time was a period of hostility between Church and civil authorities due to laws passed against religious orders and congregations. In these offices, mindful of the words of Saint Augustine, he preferred to be loved rather than feared by his brothers, and was happy to serve with love rather than exercised power.

        St. Anthony was characterized by humility of spirit, reserve in speaking, and abiding contact with God and love of poverty. He dedicated himself completely to his priestly ministry in order to lead all to Christ; he knew his parishioners individually, he showed them fatherly love, offering them the word of God and supporting them with his advice and direction. His charity to the needy knew no limits: he even went so far as to give a poor man the shirt off his back and because of this he was called father of the poor.

        He was a faithful minister of the sacrament of penance, dedicating several hours a day to his work. Of greatest importance to him was reconciling sinners to God, confronting the afflicted, forgiving those who had offended him, uniting those separated by hatred and violence, bringing peace to families, and assisting the sick and dying. His love for others was particularly visible during the cholera epidemic of 1854 – 1856, when day and night, almost without rest, he worked with the sick. God gave him many gifts, including discernment of spirits and the gift of healing. He was seen at times in ecstasy or raised from the ground in prayer.

        St. Anthony founded a congregation of Servite sisters in his parish for the education of youth, and he directed them with particular concern. He was a pioneer in establishing parish associations for the young children, teenagers, men, and women in order to intensify the Christian life of his community. He promoted the St. Vincent de Paul Society, recently introduced into Italy from France, and the work for the Propagation of the Faith. He founded the first permanent seaside home for the care of children. In this work of the apostolate he was supported and animated by his great love for the Eucharist and Our Lady of Sorrows to whom he solemnly consecrated his parish.

        He was stricken with pneumonia on a winter’s day after he gave his coat to a poor man on the street. A few days later, January 12, 1892, having received the sacraments, he died a holy death. The entire city, including even those hostile to the Church, wept at the death of their beloved pastor.

        At the end of the first session of the Second Vatican Council, His Holiness Pope John XXIII added his name to the list of saints on December 9, 1962. The body of Saint Anthony Maria Pucci is venerated in the Basilica of Saint Andrew in Viareggio, Italy




link
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_xxiii/homilies/1962/documents/hf_j-xxiii_hom_19621209_canonizzazione-santi_it.html



CANONIZZAZIONE DEI SANTI:
 PIETRO GIULIANO EYMARD
 ANTONIO MARIA PUCCI
 FRANCESCO MARIA DA CAMPOROSSO

OMELIA DEL SANTO PADRE GIOVANNI XXIII

Basilica Vaticana
 Domenica, 9 dicembre 1962



Sollemnis caeremonia, qua summos Ecclesiae honores decrevimus Beatis Petro Iuliano Eymard, Antonio Mariae Pucci, Francisco Mariae a Camporubeo, est profecto eiusmodi, qua vehementer animi nostri moveantur. Hic enim ritus, qui dum bisce in terris a Nobis conficiebatur, a summo Deo in caelis, tota scilicet sede illa exsultante laetitia, ratus habebatur, in memoriam nostram redigebat et quasi sub nostrum subicebat aspectum, illam sanctitatis notam, quae catholicam Ecclesiam, Christi Sponsam, distinguit.

Catholicis hominibus illud est dulce et iucundum, ex doctrinae capite, quod profitentur, Ecclesiam matrem suam amantissimam, appellare sanctam. Quod quidem multis confirmatur argumentis. Nam primum eius Conditor sanctus est, quin etiam origo et exemplar sanctitatis; sancta deinde existimanda sunt instrumenta, quibus utitur ad animos perficiendos sibi commissorum filiorum: divina nempe gratia et augusta Sacramenta; tum eius doctrina est sancta, quam a Christo Iesu acceptam inviolate custodit, strenue defendit, impigre inculcat animis, atque ut potest latissime inter gentes disseminat; multi postremo filiorum suorum, cum insigni virtute praestitissent, re ipsa supernae gloriae compotes publice pronuntiati sunt.

Haec, inquimus, explorata atque omnino certa habent christiani viri universi. Sed nemo sane dubitat, quin, praeclaro hoc praebito spectaculo, opinio sanctitatis Ecclesiae vel profundius in eorum animos descendat.

Accidit praeterea congruenter, quod sacra haec caeremonia in cursum incidit Concilii Oecumenici Vaticani II; quod nimirum eo in primis pertinet, ut sanctitatis gemma, in diademate inserta, quo Ecclesiae caput redimitur, magis magisque niteat atque splendeat. Haec namque amplissima sacrorum Pastorum congregatio, cum beati Petri Successore falli nescio coniuncta, non solum iterum proponit atque confirmat incommutabiles veritates a divino Magistro traditas; sed etiam illustrat et adhibenda suadet cotidie crebrius sacrosanta auxilia, quibus divinae gratiae efficiamur compotes et participes. Praeterea praecepta iniungit, quibus christianorum mores nitidius excolantur. Quapropter Concilium non alio spectare dicendum est quam ut hinc ostendat Christi Sponsam omne possidere, quovis nomine significetur, virtutis genus, in factis et verbis et spiritualibus cuiusvis speciei donis (1), hinc ad sanctimoniam Ecclesiae filios incendat, quibus humani generis Redemptor palam edixit: « Estote ergo vos perfecti, ecti, sicut et pater vester caelestis perf ectus est » (2).

Quibus positis facile sequitur, ut in primis christifideles in eo honeste glorientur, se talem habere Matrem, quam omnes admirari operteat, propter incredibilem pulchritudinem eidem divinitus inditam. Eius enim dignitas non gemmis, non margaritis emicat, humano visui conspiciendis, sed fulgore et gratia radiat, quae e Conditoris sui Sanguine et insignibus multorum filiorum virtutibus manant.

Sequitur tum etiam, ut, quicumque christianum profitentur nomen, ii vitae consuetudinem servare enitantur, quae a matris suae superna nobilitate nulla ex parte abhorreat, neque ab eius praeceptis et institutis sit aliena. Siquidern nemo vere affirmare potest se matrem re ipsa diligere, de cuius decore aliquid detrahere moribus suis non vereatur.



INVITO PATERNO
 AI FEDELI

Venerabili Fratelli, diletti figli, Amiamo proseguire il discorso, come a familiare colloquio, nella lingua italiana, per associare più strettamente all'intimo gaudio del Nostro cuore i numerosi fedeli, convenuti in questa Basilica, e quanti altri seguono lo svolgersi del sacro rito attraverso la radio.

Da oggi l'intera famiglia dei credenti contempla tre nuove fulgide stelle nel cielo della santità: S. Pietro Giuliano Eymard, S. Antonio Maria Pucci e S. Francesco Maria da Camporosso. E se tre Famiglie Religiose di antica e nuova tradizione — diciamo: i Sacerdoti del Santissimo Sacramento, i Servi di Maria, i Francescani Cappuccini — hanno motivo di esultare per il particolare titolo di onore, con esse è tutta la Chiesa, che si raccoglie in preghiera presso i novelli Santi per averne primizia di intercessione e di celesti favori.

La figura luminosa di ciascuno meriterebbe immediata illustrazione, che per altro non mancherà in forme molteplici e per la parola e per la penna dei sacri oratori e scrittori. A Noi piace cogliere subito una significativa affinità di insegnamenti e di esempi in questi uomini di Dio, vissuti nel corso di una stessa generazione. Nella loro vicenda terrena, pur nelle diverse attribuzioni della vocazione propria di ciascuno, splendono più fulgide tre note: vita Eucaristica, tenerissima pietà mariana, imitazione del Buon Pastore. Di qua proviene per i fedeli e per l'umanità un messaggio di intensa vibrazione.



L'EUCARISTIA FONTE
 DI OGNI SANTITÀ

1) Vita eucaristica, anzitutto, poichè nella S. Eucaristia è la fonte e il nutrimento di ogni santità. Lo diceva il Nostro Predecessore S. Leone Magno: « La partecipazione del corpo e del sangue di Cristo non ha altro effetto, che quello di farci diventare Colui, che noi riceviamo » (3).

Questa progressiva trasformazione nella vita stessa del Salvatore Divino, oh quanto è visibile nel mirabile sviluppo delle virtù dei Santi oggi canonizzati!

E quali rapporti di particolare intimità con Gesù Eucaristia si scoprono nelle loro ascensioni! Basta il nome di S. Pietro Giuliano Eymard per aprire allo sguardo il fulgore dei trionfi eucaristici, a cui egli volle dedicata, pur in mezzo a prove e difficoltà di ogni genere, la propria vita, che si prolunga nella famiglia, da lui fondata. Il fanciullo quinquenne, trovato sull'altare, reclinante il capo sulla porticina del Tabernacolo, è lo stesso che fonderà a suo tempo la Società dei Sacerdoti del SS. Sacramento e le Ancelle del SS. Sacramento, irradiando in innumerevoli schiere di Sacerdoti Adoratori il suo amore e la sua tenerezza a Cristo, vivente nell'Eucaristia. E il Santo Parroco di Viareggio non aveva immesso un profondo spirito eucaristico nelle associazioni laicali da lui promosse, come tessera di riconoscimento per il cristiano? Questa ansia di apostolato eucaristico nasceva in un cuore preso dall'amore a Gesù vit tima. I testimoni oculari ne hanno lasciato commoventi descrizioni. Identica pietà eucaristica nell'umile frate cercatore Francesco Maria da Camporosso da tutti chiamato, nonostante le sue proteste, « il Padre Santo ». E a giusto titolo, perchè il suo passaggio quaggiù ha rinnovato la fragranza dei fioretti francescani.

La vita eucaristica è l'anima segreta degli impulsi di generosità, che hanno spinto i tre Religiosi sulle vette della santità.



PERENNE FIDUCIA
 NELLA REGINA DEI SANTI

2) Pietà mariana. Accanto a Gesù si trova la Madre sua, Regina sanctorum omnium, suscitatrice di santità nella Chiesa di Dio, e suo primo fiore di grazia. Intimamente associata alla Redenzione nei disegni eterni dell'Altissimo, la Madonna, come ha cantato Severiano di Gabala « è la madre della salvezza, la fonte della luce divenuta visibile » (4). Piace pertanto alla pietà filiale considerarla all'inizio di ogni vita cristiana, accompagnarne con trepida cura l'armonioso sviluppo, coronarne la pienezza con la sua presenza materna.

Non sorprende dunque il trovare Maria Santissima, vicina e tenerissima, nella vita dei tre novelli Confessori : S. Giuliano Eymard la propone a modello degli adoratori, invocandola col titolo di « Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento »; Sant'Antonio Maria Pucci, fedele alle tradizioni del suo Ordine, fa della sede del suo apostolato la città della Madonna Addolorata, affidandole ogni più ardua impresa di sacro ministero; S. Francesco Maria da Camporosso, con filiale ardimento, non teme di inviarle i derelitti e i sofferenti, con le parole: « Andate a nome mio alla Madonna delle Grazie. Ditele che vi manda il suo servo Francesco ».

Oh quale devozione spirano i santi nel loro soprannaturale trasporto di confidenza nella intercessione della Madre di Dio e Madre nostra! Questa delicata pietà mariana ha certo favorito il compiersi del gaudio odierno.




FEDELISSIMA IMMAGINE
 DEL BUON PASTORE

3) Imitazione del Buon Pastore. Uno solo dei novelli Canonizzati ebbe la cura diretta delle anime, riproducendo in terra italiana gli esempi del santo Curato d'Ars; ma tutti e tre riproducono con fedeltà mirabile l'immagine del Buon Pastore. L'aspetto pastorale Ci dà tanta consolazione, al termine della prima sessione del Concilio Ecumenico Vaticano II, che il Signore ha voluto per un generale ravvivamento di tutte le forme della vita cristiana.

Questa irradiazione pastorale, nella testimonianza dei novelli santi, si può definire formazione di buoni preti, dall'anima fervente di adoratori, le cui schiere si sono moltiplicate in tutto il mondo, e dànno in questi giorni a Roma, nel loro Convegno Internazionale, spettacolo edificante della loro pietà. Questa irradiazione si esprime inoltre col fervore delle missioni al popolo, forma immediata ed efficace di catechesi evangelica, e con altre istituzioni di carattere parrocchiale, che furono l'alba promettente delle organizzazioni di Azione Cattolica. Irradiazione che con parola semplice si chiama apostolato del buon esempio, compiuto con instancabile zelo per seminare nelle anime l'amore di Cristo, e risvegliarvi la coerenza di propositi gravi e solenni. La stessa sollecitudine costante per la carità verso i poveri, quale si legge in particolari commoventi nella vita dei novelli Santi, è forma altissima di imitazione del Buon Pastore, che diffonde il suo influsso soave nelle anime, e gli dà la testimonianza concreta e commovente, come risposta al dilexit nos, et tradidit semetipsum pro no bis (5).



IL PERFETTO ADORATORE
 DEL SS.MO SACRAMENTO

Nous voulons ajouter maintenant un mot pour les pèlerins de langue frainaise, venus assister à la glorification de Saint Pierre-Julien Eymard, prétre, confesseur, fondateur de deux familles religieuses consacrées au culte du Saint-Sacrement.


C'est un Saint qui Nous était familier depuis de longues années déjà, comme Nous l'avons dit tout à l'heure, lorsque la Providence Nous fournit l'heureuse occasion, au temps de Notre service à la Nonciature Apostolique en France, de Nous rendre dans son pays natal, à la Mure d'Isère, près de Grenoble.

Nous avons vu là de Nos yeux le pauvre lit, la modeste cham- bre, où ce fidèle imitateur du Christ rendit sa belle àme à Dieu. Vous pouvez deviner, chers Fils, avec quelle émotion Nous évoquons ce souvenir en ce jour où il Nous est donné de lui décerner les honneurs de la canonisation!

Le corps de Saint Pierre-Julien Eymard est conservé à Paris: le Saint est présent à Rome aussi, en quelque fgon, en la personne de ses fils, les Prétres du Saint Sacrement; et c'est encore un souvenir bien doux à évoquer pour Nous que celui de ces visites que Nous faisions jadis à leur église de Saint Claude-des-Bourguignons, pour Nous unir pendant quelques instants à leurs silencieuses adorations.

A côté d'un Vincent de Paul, d'un Saint Jean Eudes, d'un Curé d'Ars, Pierre-Julien Eymard prend piace aujourd'hui dans la phalange de ces astres resplendissants qui sont la gioire et l'honneur incomparable du Pays qui les a vus naître, mais dont la bienfaisante influence s'exerce bien au-delà: dans l'Eglise tout entière.

Sa note caractéristique, l'idée directrice de toutes ses acti- vités sacerdotales, on peut le dire, ce fut 1'Eucharistie: le culte et l'apostolat eucharistiques. Nous aimons à le souligner ici, en présence des Prétres et des Servantes du Très Saint Sacrement: en présence aussi des membres d'une association qui est chère au coeur du Pape, celle des Prétres Adorateurs, ras- semblés à Rome ce jours-ci et venus nombreux honorer ce grand ami de l'Eucharistie.

Oui, chers Fils, honorez et fétez avec Nous celui qui fut un si parfait adorateur du Saint Sacrement; et à son exemple, placez toujours au centre de vos pensées, de vos affections, des  entreprises de votre zèle, cette source incomparable de toute gràce: le Mysterium fidei, qui cache sous ses voiles l'Auteur méme de la gràce, Jésus, le Verbe incarné.



DONI COPIOSI
 DI CELESTE PACE

Venerabili Fratelli e diletti figli, Sono queste le elevazioni ispirate dalla triplice glorifica zione odierna. Il cuore si riempie di commossa esultanza, e sale al labbro la lode e il ringraziamento al Signore, che ha irradiato nuovo splendore sul volto della sua Chiesa, nell'anno del Concilio Ecumenico. O Santi novelli confessori, Pietro Giuliano Eymard, Antonio Maria Pucci, Francesco Maria da Camporosso, circondate questo altare della Confessione di S. Pietro, mentre prosegue il rito Eucaristico; e con la vostra intercessione custodite nei nostri cuori lo straordinario fervore di quest'ora storica, ottenendo all'umanità i doni copiosi della celeste pace, che in Gesù Cristo ha il suo fondamento, la sua legislazione, la sua sicurezza, doni di pace che sono il gaudio della Chiesa, il conforto dei sacri Pastori, l'onore del clero e del popolo santo di Dio. Amen. Amen.


(1) Cfr. S. Cyril. Hier. Cathecheses, Migne P. G. 33 col. 1044.

(2) Matth. 5, 48.

(3) Serm. LXIII, cap. VII; Migne P. L. 54, 357.

(4) De mundi creatione, orat. VI; Migne P. G. 56, 498.

(5) Cfr. Gal. 2, 20



SAINT PAKHOM O SAINT PAKHOMIUS


Father of Spiritual Communal Monastic Life

Born . 292  Thebes, Egypt
Died 9 May 348 Egypt

Feast May 9

 Roman Catholic Benedictines and the Eastern Orthodox celebrate his feast day on May 15.


Saint Pakhom  292-348, also known as Pachome and Pakhomius , is generally recognized as the founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism. In the Coptic churches his feast day is celebrated on May 9. In the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches his feast day is celebrated on May 15



He was born in 292 in Thebes (Luxor, Egypt) to pagan parents. According to his hagiography, he was swept up against his will in a Roman army recruitment drive at the age of 20, a common occurrence during the turmoils and civil wars of the period, and held in captivity. It was here that local Christians would daily bring food and comforts to the inmates, which made a lasting impression on him, and he vowed to investigate Christianity further when he got out. He was able to get out of the army without ever having to fight, was converted and baptized (314). He then came into contact with a number of well known ascetics and decided to pursue that path. He sought out the hermit Palaemon and came to be his follower (317).

After studying seven years with the Elder Palaemon, Pachomius set out to lead the life of a hermit near St. Anthony of Egypt, whose practices he imitated until, according to legend, he heard a voice in Tabennisi that told him to build a dwelling for the hermits to come to. An earlier ascetic named Macarius had earlier created a number of proto-monasteries called "larves", or cells, where holy men would live in a community setting who were physically or mentally unable to achieve the rigors of Anthony's solitary life. Pachomius set about organizing these cells into a formal organization.

Up to this point in time, Christian asceticism had been solitary or eremitic. Male or female monastics lived in individual huts or caves and met only for occasional worship services. Pachomius seems to have created the community or cenobitic organization, in which male or female monastics lived together and had their possessions in common under the leadership of an abbot or abbess. Pachomius himself was hailed as "Abba" (father) which is where we get the word Abbot from. This first cenobitic monastery was in Tabennisi, Egypt.

He established his first monastery between 318 and 323. The first to join him was his elder brother John, and soon more than 100 monks lived at his monastery. He came to found nine monasteries in his lifetime, and after 336, Pachomius spent most of his time at his Pabau monastery. From his initial monastery, demand quickly grew and, by the time of his death in 346, one count estimates there were 3000 monasteries dotting Egypt from north to south. Within a generation after his death, this number grew to 7000 and then spread from Egypt to Palestine and the Judean Desert, Syria, North Africa and eventually Western Europe.[2] Other sources maintain that the number of monks, rather than the number of monasteries, may have reached 7000.[3][4]

He is also credited with being the first Christian to use and recommend use of a prayer rope. He was visited once by Basil of Caesarea who took many of his ideas and implemented them in Caesarea, where Basil also made some adaptations that became the ascetic rule, or Ascetica, the rule still used today by the Eastern Orthodox Church, and comparable to that of the Rule of St. Benedict in the West.

Though Pachomius sometimes acted as lector for nearby shepherds, neither he nor any of his monks became priests. St Athanasius visited and wished to ordain him in 333, but Pachomius fled from him. Athanasius' visit was probably a result of Pachomius' zealous defence of orthodoxy against Arianism.

He remained abbot to the cenobites for some forty years. When he caught an epidemic disease (probably plague), he called the monks, strengthened their faith, and appointed his successor. He then departed on 14 Pashons, 64 A.M. (9 May 348 A.D.)

Monday, January 23, 2012

SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS


St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, C.N.D.


Foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame
Born 17 April 1620

Troyes, Champagne, France [1]
Died 12 January 1700 (aged 79)

 Ville-Marie (now Montreal) New France [1]
Honored in Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church of Canada
Beatified 12 November 1950 by Pope Pius XII
Canonized 31 October 1982, Vatican City
Major shrine Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel in Montreal, Canada
Feast 12 January
Patronage against poverty; loss of parents; people rejected by religious orders


Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys (17 April 1620 – 12 January 1700, feast day: January 12), born in France, was the founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame in the colony of New France, now part of Canada.

Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, France, on 17 April 1620, the sixth of twelve children of devout parents. After her mother died when Marguerite was aged 19, she took charge of her brothers and sisters. At age 20, she felt a religious calling, and applied to the Poor Clares and the Carmelites. Neither Order would accept her, due to her family responsibilities. Later her father, a candle maker, died when she was twenty-seven.

Several years later, in 1654, the Governor of Montreal, New France, the Chevalier Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve was in France looking for teachers for France's new colony there. He went to Troyes to visit his sister, who was an canoness regular of the Congregation of Notre Dame, an enclosed religious order dedicated to the free education of children. He proposed to his sister's community that they establish a monastery and school in Montreal. The canonesses, however, did not feel equipped for such an undertaking. Instead, they suggested to the governor that he speak to Bourgeoys, who was the leader of a lay sodality attached to the monastery whose members assisted the canonesses in their educational work.Maisonneuve met Bourgeoys, and invited her to come to Montreal to teach school and religion classes. She accepted the offer and traveled to New France in order to establish her own chapel and school. She is often considered to be one of the founders of Montreal, in New France. However, because she was a woman, this status is often ignored, especially due to the circumstances under which women were governed in the 16th and 17th Centuries.

Bourgeoys then gave away her share of the inheritance from her parents to other members of the family, and she sailed for New France that same year. On arriving, she initiated the construction of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel in honor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a traditional Augustinian devotion. She opened the first school established at Ville Marie (Montreal) in 1658, in a stable which the governor had granted her.She first worked with rich children, but soon started working with both the poor and rich. She returned to France the next year to recruit more teachers, convincing four to accompany her. In 1670, she went to France again, and brought back six more women. Having braved dangerous travel and pioneer conditions, these women became the first Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame.

Bourgeoys and her Sisters helped people in the colony survive when food was scarce, opened a vocational school, taught young people how to run a home and farm. Bourgeoys' congregation grew to 18 sisters, seven of them Canadian. They opened missions, and two sisters taught at the Native American school. Soon after, Bourgeoys received the first two Native American women into the congregation.

In 1693, Mother Marguerite handed over leadershiop of the congregation to her successor, Marie Barbier, the first Canadian to join the congregation. It's Rule and Constitutions were approved by the Holy See in 1698.

Marguerite spent her last few years praying and writing an autobiography. On 31 December 1699, as a young Sister lay dying, Mother Marguerite asked God to take her life in exchange. By the next morning of 1 January 1700, the young Sister was completely well, but Mother Marguerite had developed a raging fever, which she suffered for twelve days, until her death in Montreal on 12 January 1700.


In October 1888, her remains were moved from the church in which they had been interred to the new chapel of her congregation at Monklands, Montreal. Bishop Bourget took steps for her canonization. Her life has been written by several persons. Thomas D'Arcy McGee's poems include verses in her honour.

Marguerite Bourgeoys was declared venerable in 1878, beatified on 12 November 1950, and canonized by John Paul II on 31 October 1982. She is commemorated on the Calendar of Saints in both the Catholic Church and in the Anglican Church of Canada on 12 January. She was Canada's first female saint.

SAINT MARTINA


St. Martina


Feastday: January 12


Martina was early venerated at Rome. She was supposed to have been tortured and beheaded there under Emperor Severus. Many extravagant miracles were attributed to her, but scholars have doubt about their existence, believing she may have been confused with the legends of St. Tatiana. Her feast day is January 12th.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

SAINT CAESARIA


St. Caesaria
Feastday: January 12

 The gifted sister of St Caesarius of Arles and abbess of the convent founded there by her brother.

Caesaria was the sister of Bishop St. Caesarius of Arles, Gaul. She became first abbess of a convent he founded about 512 and ruled over several hundred nuns, devoted to the care of the poor, the sick, and children, until her death on January 12. Her feast day is January 12th.

SAINT ARCADIUS


St. Arcadius
Feastday: January 12
Died: 302


St. Arcadius, Martyr JANUARY 12     The time of this saint's martyrdom is not mentioned in his acts; some place it under Valerian, others under Dioclesian: he seems to have suffered in some city of Mauritania, probably the capital, Caesarea. The fury of the tyrants raged violently, and the devil had instigated his soldiers to wage like so many wolves, a bloody war against the servants of Jesus. Upon the least suspicion they broke into houses, made rigorous searches, and if they found a Christian, they treated him upon the spot with the greatest cruelty, their impatience not suffering them to wait the bringing him before a judge. Every day new sacrileges were committed; the faithful were compelled to assist at superstitious sacrifices, to lead victims crowned with flowers through the streets, to burn incense before idols, and to celebrate the enthusiastic feasts of Bacchus. Arcadius, seeing his city in great confusion, left his estate and withdrew to a solitary place in the neighboring country, serving Jesus Christ in watching, prayer, and other exercises of a penitential life. His flight could not be long a secret; for his not appearing at the public sacrifices made the governor send soldiers to his house, who surrounded it, forced open the doors, and finding one of his relations in it, who said all he could to justify his kinsman's absence, they seized him, and the governor ordered him to be kept in close custody till Arcadius should be taken. The martyr, informed of his friend's danger, and burning with a desire to suffer for Christ, went into the city, and presenting himself to the judge said: "If on my account you detain my innocent relation in chains, release him; I, Arcadius, am come in person to give an account of myself, and to declare to you, that he knew not where I was." "I am willing," answered the judge," to pardon not only him but you also, on condition that you will sacrifice to the gods." Arcadius replied, "How can you propose to me such a thing? Do you not know the Christians, or do you believe that the fear of death will ever make me swerve from my duty? Jesus Christ is my life, and death is my gain. Invent what torments you please; but know that nothing shall make me a traitor to my God." The governor, in a rage, paused to devise some unheard of torment for him. Iron hooks seemed too easy; neither plummets of lead, nor cudgels could satisfy his fury; the very rack he thought by much too gentle. At last imagining he had found a manner of death suitable to his purpose, he said to the ministers of his cruelty, "Take him, and let him see and desire death, without being able to obtain it. Cut off his limbs joint by joint, and execute this so slowly, that the wretch may know what it is to abandon the gods of his ancestors for an unknown deity." The executioners dragged Arcadius to the place, where many other victims of Christ had already suffered; a place dear and sweet to all who sigh after eternal life. Here the martyr lifts up his eyes to heaven, and implores strength from above; then stretches out his neck, expecting to have his head cut off; but the executioner bid him hold out his hand, and joint after joint chopped off his fingers, arms, and shoulders. Laying the saint afterward on his back, he in the same barbarous manner cut off his toes, feet. legs, and thighs. The holy martyr held out his limbs and joints, one after another, with invincible patience and courage, repeating these words, "Lord, teach me thy wisdom:" for the tyrants had forgot to cut out his tongue. After so many martyrdoms, his body lay a mere trunk weltering in its own blood. The executioners themselves, as well as the multitude, were moved to tears and admiration at this spectacle, and at such an heroic patience. But Arcadius, with a joyful countenance, surveying his scattered limbs all around him, and offering them to God, said, "Happy members, now dear to me, as you at last truly belong to God, being all made a sacrifice to him!" Then turning to the people, he said, "You who have been present at this bloody tragedy, learn that all torments seem as nothing to one who has an everlasting crown before his eyes Your gods are not gods; renounce their worship. He alone for whom I suffer and die, is the true God. He comforts and upholds me in the condition you see me. To die for him is to live; to suffer for him is to enjoy the greatest delights." Discoursing in this manner to those about him, he expired on the 12th of January, the pagans being struck with astonishment at such a miracle of patience. The Christians gathered together his scattered limbs, and laid them in one tomb. The Roman and other Martyrologies make honorable mention of him on this day.     We belong to God by numberless essential titles of interest, gratitude, and justice, and are bound to be altogether his, and every moment to live to him alone, with all our powers and all our strength: whatever it may cost us to make this sacrifice perfect and complete, if we truly love him, we shall embrace it with joy and inexpressible ardor. In these sentiments we ought, by frequent express acts, and by the uninterrupted habitual disposition of our souls, to give all we are and have to God, all the powers of our souls, all the senses and organs of our bodies, all our actions, thoughts, and affections. This oblation we may excellently comprise in any of the first petitions of our Lord's prayer: the following is a form of an oblation to our divine Redeemer, which St. Ignatius of Loyola drew up and used to repeat: "O sovereign king, and absolute Lord of all things, though I am most unworthy to serve you, nevertheless, relying on your grace and boundless mercy, I offer myself up entire to you, and subject whatever belongs to me to your most holy will; and I protest, in presence of your infinite goodness and in presence of the glorious Virgin your mother, and your whole heavenly court, that it is my most earnest desire, and unshaken resolution, to follow and imitate you the nearest I am able, in bearing all injuries and crosses with meekness and patience, and in laboring to die to the world and myself in a perfect spirit of humility and poverty, that I may be wholly yours and you may reign in me in time and eternity."      From kits ancient acts, much esteemed by Baronius, and inserted by Ruinart In his authentic collection Ft. Zeno of Verona made use of them In his forty-ninth sermon on this martyr.

SAINT TATIANA


Born Rome
Died 226-235 Rome
Feast January 12



Saint Tatiana was a Christian martyr in 3rd century Rome during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. She was a deaconess of the early church.

According to legend, she was the daughter of a Roman civil servant who was secretly Christian, and raised his daughter in the faith, and she became a deaconess in the church. This was dangerous, and one day the jurist Ulpian captured Tatiana and attempted to force her to make a sacrifice to Apollo. She prayed, and miraculously, an earthquake destroyed the Apollo statue and part of the temple.

Tatiana was then blinded, and beaten for two days, before being brought to a circus and thrown into the pit with a hungry lion. But the lion did not touch her and lay at her feet. This resulted in a death sentence being pronounced, and after being tortured, Tatiana was beheaded with a sword on January 12 (Julian calendar) (January 25 in the Gregorian calendar), around AD 225 or 230.

Veneration

Tatiana is venerated as a saint, and her feast day is on January 12 (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, January 12 currently falls on January 25 of the modern Gregorian Calendar). The miracles performed by Saint Tatiana are said to have converted many people to the fledgling religion. Saint Tatiana is patron saint of students. In Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, Tatiana Day, also known as "Students Day", is a public holiday.

SAINTS PETER,SEVERUS AND LEUCIUS


St. Peter, Severus and Leucius

Feastday: January 11
Died: unknown

 Died . 309. Egyptian martyrs who suffered in Alexandria (Benedictines).

Martyrs reportedly put to death in Alexandria. They were mentioned in St. Jerome’s martyrology as having been confessors.

SAINTS PALDO,TASO AND TATO


Paldo, Taso and Tato
 Jan 11
 8th cent. Three brothers, born in Benevento in Italy, who became monks at Farfa and eventually founded the monastery of San Vincenzo at the headwaters of the Volturno. Of this they successively became abbots, Paldo reposing in c 720, Taso in c 729, and Tato in c 739.

SAINT PALAEMON


St. Palaemon


Feastday: January 11
Died: 325


An Egyptian hermit who is best known for serving as mentor to St. Pachomius. With Pachomius, he labored to organize the hermits of the Egyptian desert into cenobitic communities, thereby laying the groundwork for the subsequent development of monasticism. Palaemon died at Tabennisi, the vast monastic center that sheltered the early Desert Fathers.



Palaemon, Abbot also known as Palemon)
 Died at Tabennisi, Egypt, in 325. As an aged hermit, who earlier had sought refuge in the deserts of Upper Egypt from the Diocletian persecution and became one of the earliest Egyptian hermits, Palaemon one day received a visit from a young man, Pachomius, who had recently been released from military service. On enquiring his business, Palaemon learned that he had come to be his follower and pupil, desiring to leave the world and become an anchorite. Palaemon refused his request because he thought the young man would find such a life too severe. "I eat nothing but bread and salt," he said, "I never taste wine, and I watch half the night." Pachomius answered, "I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, who will give me strength and patience to assist you in your prayers and to follow your holy conversation." After this brave answer, the old hermit admitted him as his pupil and friend. "Let us make a compact," he said, "that we part not, the one from the other, till God break our unison."

 And they never did break the union. Palaemon and Pachomius worked together to organize the hermits on cenobitical lines. Eventually, Palaemon followed Pachomius to Tabennisi, where the elderly saint died (Benedictines, Gill).  In art, Saint Palaemon is depicted as an old hermit carding fleece; sometimes he is shown with his disciple Saint Pachomius (Roeder).

SAINT LEUCIUS OF BRINDISI


St. Leucius of Brindisi
Feastday: January 11
Patron of Atessa, Brindisi
Died: 180


Venerated as the first Bishop of Brindisi in Italy where he had come as a missionary from Alexandria., Egypt. A second bishop of this name is also venerated, having lived in the fifth century.

Not much is known of Leucius' early life, though it is believed that he was born in Eastern Europe, to Eudecius and Euphrodisia and was given the name of Eupressius at birth.What is known, is that the young Eupressius was educated and spent the formative years of his existence in Alexandria, Egypt. Following the death of his mother he entered monastic life. A heavenly vision, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, would change his name from Eupressius to Leucius. Having already been ordained bishop, Leucius wanted to undertake a missionary apostolate in Brindisi, to liberate the pagans from misconceptions of Christianity. Leucius left Alexandria to, what was at the time one of the largest ports of the Mediterranean, Brindisi in what is now the southern part of Italy.

Leucius first came to notoriety when many pagans in Puglia, heard him preaching the Gospel during a drought. He claimed that if they had faith the rains would come. After the rains fell, the pagans who had heard Leucius where immediately converted. Soon after, he became the first Bishop of Brindisi, and proceeded to build the churches of St. Mary's and St. John the Baptist. The later part of his life is unknown but according to tradition he suffered martyrdom in 180. Soon after his remains were returned to Brindisi, there they remained until the Lombard invasion of 768, when they were moved to Trani, then to the duchy capital of Benevento.
Veneration

The cult of St. Leucius spread throughout the Puglia area (with many of the rural areas still bearing his name), and became much revered in Trani, Lecce, Benevento, Caserta and Capua. The spread of the cult of Saint Leucius in southern Italy came to coincide with the official conversion to Christianity of the Lombard Duchy of Benevento, Brindisi which is believed to be attributed to Saint Barbato, in 680 and the Duchess Teoderada in 706. Later that century the body of Leucius, which had begun to attract the attention of many pilgrims, was transferred to Trani, placed in a chapel located under the cathedral. Later, it was transferred to Benevento. The cult of the saint spread throughout the region, even reaching Rome where a monastery was constructed under his title as early as the sixth century. In Atessa a legend grew around St. Leucius where, the Bishop of Brindisi killed a dragon that had long terrorized the people, and witness of his work gave him one of his ribs. In the Basilica Cathedral of Brindisi which was dedicated in 1771, the altar, which closes the left aisle preserves the relic of his arm

SAINT HYGINUS POPE


St. Hyginus, Pope
Feastday: January 11
Died: 140


Pope from 137-140, successorto Pope St. Telesphorus. He was a Greek, and probably had a pontificate of four years. He had to confront the Gnostic heresy and

Valentinus and Cerdo, leaders of the heresy, who were in Rome at the time. Some lists proclaim him a martyr. His cult was suppressed in 1969.


Pope St. Hyginus

Reigned about 138-142; succeeded Pope Telesphorus, who, according to Eusebius (Church History IV.15), died during the first year of the reign of the Emperor Antonius Pius — in 138 or 139, therefore. But the chronology of these bishops of Rome cannot be determined with any degree of exactitude by the help of the authorities at our disposal today. According to the "Liber Pontificalis", Hyginus was a Greek by birth. The further statement that he was previously a philosopher is probably founded on the similarity of his name with that of two Latin authors. Irenaeus says (Against Heresies III.3) that the Gnostic Valentine came to Rome in Hyginus's time, remaining there until Anicetus became pontiff. Cerdo, another Gnostic and predecessor of Marcion, also lived at Rome in the reign of Hyginus; by confessing his errors and recanting he succeeded in obtaining readmission into the bosom of the Church, but eventually he fell back into the heresies and was expelled from the Church. How many of these events took place during the time of Hyginus is not known. The "Liber Pontificalis" also relates that this pope organized the hierarchy and established the order of ecclesiastical precedence (Hic clerum composuit et distribuit gradus). This general observation recurs also in the biography of Pope Hormisdas; it has no historical value,
and according to Duchesne, the writer probably referred to the lower orders of the clergy. Eusebius (Church History IV.16) claims that Hyginus's pontificate lasted four years. The ancient authorities contain no information as to his having died a martyr. At his death he was buried on the Vatican Hill, near the tomb of St. Peter. His feast is celebrated on 11January

SAINT HONORATA


St. Honorata

Feastday: January 11
Died: 500


Nun at Pavia, Italy, kidnapped by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer of Italy. Her brother, St. Epiphanus, the bishop of Pavia, ransomed honorated and returned her to her convent.

Friday, January 20, 2012

SAINT ETHENEA AND SAINT FIDELMIA


St.  Ethenea and Fidelmia
 (also known as Ethna and Fedelma)
Feastday: January 11


Two of the first converts of St. Patrick, the daughters of King Laoghaire. Tradition states that they received the veil from St. Patrick and then died after taking holy communion.


 Died 433. The story is told that one summer day the little daughters of King Laoghaire of Connaught, Ethna and Fedelma, who were barely out of childhood and full of fun, went for their daily bath in a private place near the palace, a place to which no one ever came so early in the morning. But this special day they were surprised to hear voices and see tents encamped on the grassy slope near the pool.

 There was a drone of a strange language and every now and again a sweet voice broke into song and mingled with that of the birds in the nearby woods and the murmuring of the river. Saint Patrick and his companions, who had arrived during the night with a message for the King of Connaught, were praying the Divine Office in Latin. Finally, each group spied the other.

 The older princess asked, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"

 Patrick hesitated, then said: "We have more important things to tell you than just our names and where we're from. We know who the one true God is whom you should adore. . . ."

 The girls were delighted, rather than annoyed. In a flash something seemed to light up inside them, to make a blinding white blaze in their hearts and minds. They knew at once that this was real, real news and that it was true. It all happened instantaneously. Then they asked a whole torrent of questions:

 "Who is God?" "Where does He live?" "Will He live forever?" and on and on as excited young people do.

 Patrick answered each question quickly and simply. He, too, was delighted: the light that blazed up in the girls was in the man, too, and the three lights together made a tremendous glow. Everyone else stood listening raptly, feeling lucky to be witnesses to the saintly man and the sweet girls--and the Holy Spirit in their midst.

 "Oh, tell us how to find the good God. Teach us more about the kind Jesus, who died upon the Cross. Tell us more, more, more," the princesses urged. But there was no need for more; the two had already received the gift of the Spirit of Truth.

 Patrick led them to their bathing pool, where he baptized them. For a short time thereafter, Ethna and Fedelma were very quiet for they were in deep prayer. Meanwhile, Patrick prepared to say Mass. Then the princesses began again, "I want to see Jesus Christ now," said Ethna.

 "And so do I," echoed Fedelma. "I want to be with Him in His home forever."

 Patrick, moved by this loving longing, very gently explained that they would not be able to see God until after their death. They were still young, so it would be a long time before they could see Him as He is. If they lived good Christian lives, then they would be able to go to God for always and great joys would replace the present sorrows. The girls pondered this as Patrick began the Mass.

 As Mass went on everyone was still, but the river and woods seemed to sing God's praises. Then the youngest man rang a little bell and all bowed their heads. Jesus Christ was with them in the grassy knoll in the king's park. Soon the bell rang again. Patrick beckoned the princesses forward and gave them Holy Communion.

 For a little while the girls looked so happy and so beautiful that they were like angels. And then, we are told, they died. They longed so much to be with Jesus that they died of longing. Saint Patrick was exceedingly happy to have met such quick and whole- hearted belief (Benedictines, Curtayne).

SAINT SALVIUS OR SAINT SAUVE OF AMIENS


January 11
St. Salvius, or Sauve, Bishop of Amiens


ST. SALVIUS, famous for miracles, succeeded Ado in 672, and flourished in the reign of Theodoric III. His relics rest at Montreuil, in Picardy, in the Benedictin Abbey which bears his name, whither they were translated from the cathedral of Amiens, several years after his death, as is related in his anonymous life, a piece of uncertain authority with regard to his actions. A relic of this saint was formerly kept with great veneration in the cathedral of Canterbury, mentioned in the history of that church, &c. This saint must not be confounded with St. Salvius of Albi, nor with the martyr of this name in Africa, on whose festival St. Austin made a sermon.

SAINT THEODOSIUS OF ANTIOCH


St. Theodosius of Antioch
Feastday: January 11
Died: 412


Monk and founder. A native of Antioch (modern Turkey), he embraced the monastic life and established a monastery in Cilicia.


Saint Theodosius of Antioch in his early years left the rich home of his illustrious parents and entered upon the straight and arduous path of asceticism. He settled into a small cell on the shore of the Gulf of Isska, near the city of Ossos. The saint weakened his body with prostrations and by lying upon the bare ground. He also wore a hairshirt and heavy iron chains. His hair grew so long that it covered his feet.

 By continuous feats of fasting and prayer he conquered his fleshly and spiritual passions, he quieted his temper, and drove away unclean thoughts. He labored much, tilling his garden and occupying himself with plaiting ropes. In his native land St Theodosius founded a monastery (Skupela). He imparted to the monks a love for physical toil and for spiritual deeds. St Theodosius had a special concern for strangers.

 The sublime life of the saint was known even beyond the confines of the monastery. Both Christians and pagans knew him. Seafarers in time of peril called out for help to "the God of Theodosius." It happened that at the mere mention of St Theodosius, the waves of the sea were calmed. Brigands feared and respected him, and sought his prayers. Fleeing the praise of people, the saint settled near the village of Maraton, founding here the Maratonia monastery.

SAINT THEODOSIUS OF CAPPADOCIA


Saint Theodosius

Feast Day January 11

Date of Birth: Saint Theodosius was born Cappadocia in 423

Date of Death: Saint Theodosius died 529

Theodosius was born in Cappadocia in 423. The example of Abraham urged him to leave his country, and his desire to follow Jesus Christ attracted him to the religious life. He placed himself under Longinus, a very holy hermit, who sent him to govern a monastery near Bethlehem. Unable to bring himself to command others, he fled to a cavern, where he lived in penance and prayer.

His great charity, however, forbade him to refuse the charge of some disciples, who, few at first, became in time a vast number, and Theodosius built a large monastery and three churches for them. He became eventually Superior of the religious communities of Palestine. Theodosius accommodated himself so carefully to the characters of his subjects that his reproofs were loved rather than dreaded. But once he was obliged to separate from the communion of the others a religious guilty of a grave fault. Instead of humbly accepting his sentence, the monk was arrogant enough to pretend to excommunicate Theodosius in revenge. Theodosius thought not of indignation, nor of his own position, but meekly submitted to this false and unjust excommunication. This so touched the heart of his disciple that he submitted at once and acknowledged his fault.

Theodosius never refused assistance to any in poverty or affliction; on some days the monks laid more than a hundred tables for those in want. In times of famine Theodosius forbade the alms to be diminished, and often miraculously multiplied the provisions. He also built five hospitals, in which he lovingly served the sick, while by assiduous spiritual reading he maintained himself in perfect recollection. He successfully opposed the Eutychian heresy in Jerusalem, and for this was banished by the emperor. He suffered a long and painful malady, and refused to pray to be cured, calling it a salutary penance for his former successes. He died at the age of a hundred and six.

Feast Day of Saint Theodosius
The Feast Day of Saint Theodosius is January 11. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.




         From his life by Theodoras, bishop of Petra, some time his disciple, in Surius and Bollandus, and commended by Fleury, Baillet

ST. THEODOSIUS was born at Mogariassus, called in latter ages Marissa, in Cappadocia, in 423. He imbibed the first tincture of virtue from the fervent example and pious instructions of his virtuous parents. He was ordained reader, but some time after being moved by Abraham’s example to quit his country and friends, he resolved to put this motion in execution. He accordingly set out for Jerusalem, but went purposely out of his road, to visit the famous St. Simeon Stylites on his pillar, who foretold him several circumstances of his life, and gave him proper instructions for his behaviour in each. Having satisfied his devotion in visiting the holy places in Jerusalem, he began to consider in what manner he should dedicate himself to God in a religious state. The dangers of living without a guide, made him prefer a monastery to a hermitage; and he therefore put himself under the direction of a holy man named Longinus, to whom his virtue soon endeared him in a very particular manner. A pious lady having built a church under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin, on the high road to Bethlehem, Longinus could not well refuse her request, that his pupil should undertake the charge of it; but Theodosius, who loved only to obey, could not be induced by any entreaties to consent to this proposal: absolute commands were necessary to force him to compliance. Nor did he govern long; for dreading the poison of vanity from the esteem of men, he retired into a cave at the top of a neighbouring desert mountain, and employed his time in fasting, watching, prayers, and tears, which almost continually flowed from his eyes. His food was coarse pulse and wild herbs: for thirty years he never tasted so much as a morsel of bread. Many desired to serve God under his direction: he at first determined only to admit six or seven, but was soon obliged to receive a greater number, and at length came to a resolution, which charity extorted from him, never to reject any that presented themselves with dispositions that seemed sincere. The first lesson which he taught his monks was, that the continual remembrance of death is the foundation of religious perfection; to imprint this more deeply in their minds, he caused a great grave or pit to be dug, which might serve for the common burial-place of the whole community, that by the presence of this memorial of death, and by continually meditating on that object, they might more perfectly learn to die daily. The burial-place being made, the abbot one day, when he had led his monks to it, said, “The grave is made, who will first perform the dedication?” Basil, a priest, who was one of the number, falling on his knees, said to St. Theodosius, “I am the person, be pleased to give me your blessing.” The abbot ordered the prayers of the church for the dead to be offered up for him, and on the fortieth day, Basil wonderfully departed to our Lord in peace, without any apparent sickness. When the holy company of disciples were twelve in number, it happened that at the great feast of Easter they had nothing to eat; they had not even bread for the sacrifice: some murmured; the saint bid them trust in God and he would provide; which was soon remarkably verified, by the arrival of certain mules loaded with provisions. The lustre of the sanctity and miracles of St. Theodosius, drawing great numbers to him who desired to serve God under his direction, his cave was too little for their reception, therefore, having consulted heaven by prayer, he, by its particular direction, built a spacious monastery at a place called Cathismus, not far from Bethlehem, at a small distance from his cave, and it was soon filled with holy monks. To this monastery were annexed three infirmaries; one for the sick, the gift of a pious lady in that neighbourhood; the two others St. Theodosius built himself, one for the aged and feeble, the other for such as had been punished with the loss of their senses, or by falling under the power of the devil, for rashly engaging in a religious state through pride, and without a due dependence on the grace of God to carry them through it. All succours, spiritual and temporal, were afforded in these infirmaries, with admirable order, care, and affection. He erected also several buildings for the reception of strangers, in which he exercised an unbounded hospitality, entertaining all that came, for whose use there were one day above a hundred tables served with provisions: these, when insufficient for the number of guests, were more than once miraculously multiplied by his prayers. The monastery itself was like a city of saints in the midst of a desert, and in it reigned regularity, silence, charity, and peace. There were four churches belonging to it, one for each of the three several nations of which his community was chiefly composed, each speaking a different language; the fourth was for the use of such as were in a state of penance, which those that recovered from their lunatic or possessed condition, before mentioned, were put into, and detained till they had expiated their fault. The nations into which his community was divided, were the Greeks, which were far the most numerous, and consisted of all those that came from any provinces of the empire; the Armenians, with whom were joined the Arabians and Persians; and thirdly, the Bessi, who comprehended all the northern nations below Thrace, or all who used the Runic or Sclavonian tongue. Each nation sung the first part of the mass to the end of the gospel, in their own church; but after the gospel, all met in the church of the Greeks, where they celebrated the essential part of the sacrifice in Greek, and communicated all together.
  The monks passed a considerable part of the day and night at their devotions in the church, and at the times not set apart for public prayer and necessary rest, every one was obliged to apply himself to some trade, or manual labour, not incompatible with recollection, that the house might be supplied with conveniencies. Sallust, bishop of Jerusalem, appointed St. Sabas superior general of the hermits, and our saint of the Cenobites, or religious men living in community throughout all Palestine, whence he was styled the Cenobiarch. These two great servants of God lived in strict friendship, and had frequent spiritual conferences together; they were also united in their zeal and sufferings for the church.
  The emperor Anastasius patronised the Eutychian heresy, and used all possible means to engage our saint in his party. In 513 he deposed Elias, patriarch of Jerusalem, as he had banished Flavian II. patriarch of Antioch, and intruded Severus, an impious heretic, into that see, commanding the Syrians to obey and hold communion with him. SS. Theodosius and Sabas maintained boldly the rights of Elias, and of John his successor; whereupon the imperial officers thought it most advisable to connive at their proceedings, considering the great authority they had acquired by their sanctity. Soon after, the emperor sent Theodosius a considerable sum of money, for charitable uses in appearance; but in reality to engage him in his interest. The saint accepted of it, and distributed it all among the poor. Anastasius now persuading himself that he was as good as gained over to his cause, sent him an heretical profession of faith, in which the divine and human natures in Christ were confounded into one, and desired him to sign it. The saint wrote him an answer full of apostolic spirit; in which, besides solidly confuting the Eutychian error, he added, that he was ready to lay down his life for the faith of the church. The emperor admired his courage and the strength of his reasoning, and returning him a respectful answer, highly commended his generous zeal, made some apology for his own inconsiderateness, and protested that he only desired the peace of the church. But it was not long ere he relapsed into his former impiety, and renewed his bloody edicts against the orthodox, despatching troops every where to have them put in execution. On the first intelligence of this, Theodosius went over all the deserts and country of Palestine, exhorting every one to be firm in the faith of the four general councils. At Jerusalem, having assembled the people together, he from the pulpit cried out with a loud voice: “If any one receives not the four general councils as the four gospels, let him be anathema.” So bold an action in a man of his years, inspired with courage those whom the edicts had terrified. His discourses had a wonderful effect on the people, and God gave a sanction to his zeal by miracles; one of these was, that on his going out of the church at Jerusalem, a woman was healed of a cancer on the spot, by only touching his garments. The emperor sent an order for his banishment, which was executed; but dying soon after, Theodosius was recalled by his catholic successor, Justin; who, from a common soldier, had gradually ascended the imperial throne.
  Our saint survived his return eleven years, never admitting the least relaxation in his former austerities. Such was his humility, that seeing two monks at variance with each other, he threw himself at their feet, and would not rise till they were perfectly reconciled; and once having excommunicated one of his subjects for a crime, who contumaciously pretended to excommunicate him in his turn, the saint behaved as if he had been really excommunicated, to gain the sinner’s soul by this unprecedented example of submission, which had the desired effect. During the last year of his life he was afflicted with a painful distemper, in which he gave proof of an heroic patience, and an entire submission to the will of God; for being advised by one that was an eye-witness of his great sufferings, to pray that God would be pleased to grant him some ease, he would give no ear to it, alleging that such thoughts were impatience, and would rob him of his crown. Perceiving the hour of his dissolution at hand, he gave his last exhortation to his disciples, and foretold many things, which accordingly came to pass after his death; this happened in the one hundred and fifth year of his age, and of our Lord 529. Peter, patriarch of Jerusalem, and the whole country, assisted with the deepest sentiments of respect at the solemnity of his interment, which was honoured by miracles. He was buried in his first cell, called the cave of the magi, because the wise men, who came to adore Christ soon after his birth, were said to have lodged in it. A certain count being on his march against the Persians, begged the hair-shirt which the saint used to wear next his skin, and believed that he owed the victory which he obtained over them, to the saint’s protection

SAINT VITALIS OF GAZA



St. Vitalis of Gaza


Feastday: January 11
Died: 625


Monk. He served as a monk in Gaza, Israel, for many years and earned considerable controversy for his methods in reforming the local prostitutes and scandalous women. After his death, he was completely cleared of any possible impropriety or excessive zeal.

Saint Vitalis of Gaza (died ca. 625 AD) is venerated as a hermit-saint by the Catholic Church. A monk of Gaza, he travelled to the city of Alexandria at the age of sixty. His legend states that after obtaining the name and address of every prostitute in the city, he hired himself out as a day laborer, and took his wage to one of these women at the end of the day. He then would teach her about her dignity and value as a woman and that she did not deserve to be used by men as an object of their lust.

This practice was condoned by the Church, and many prostitutes in the city abandoned their profession and became good wives and mothers. Vitalis was killed when a man, misunderstanding the nature of Vitalis' visit to a brothel, struck him on the head. The monk managed to return to his hut and died there.

SAINT BOADIN


St. Boadin
Feastday: January 11
Died: unknown


Benedictine monk from Ireland who joined that order in France. He was revered for his impeccable observance of the Holy Rule and for his kindness

SAINT ANASTASIUS X


St. Anastasius X

Feastday: January 11
Died: 570


Benedictine abbot, noted by Pope St. Gregory the Great. Anastasius became a monk at Suppentonia in the diocese of Nepi, Italy, serving in time as abbot. Pope St. Gregory the Great recorded that an angel appeared to summon Anastasius and his monks, all of whom died in rapid succession after the visitati

SAINT ALEXANDER



St. Alexander

Feastday: January 11
Died: 250


Bishop and martyr, dying for the faith during the persecutions conducted in the reign of Emperor Decius. Alexander was born in Fermo, Italy, and became the bishop of the region. He died in Fermo

SAINT PETRONIUS


St. Petronius

Feastday: January 10
Died: 463


Monk and bishop. Petronius was the son of a Roman senator from the area of modern Avignon who became a monk at Lerins. He later became bishop of Die about 456.

SAINT PETER URSEOLUS


St. Peter Urseolus
Feastday: January 10
928 - 987


Benedictine hermit. Also called Peter Orseolo, he was a member of one of the most noble houses of Venice and, at the age of twenty, became an admiral in the Venetian Navy. After a series of successful campaigns against the Dalmatian pirates, he was elected Doge of Venice in 967, supposedly securing his elevation by poisoning his predecessor Peter Candiani IV, as was charged by St. Peter Damian. For two years Peter ruled with consummate skill, assisting Venice to weather a series of political crises. Then, without any warning and without informing his family, he disappeared from Venice and secretly entered the Benedictine abbey of Cuxa, in the Spanish Pyrenees. There he devoted himself to a life of severe austerity and asceticism, working as a humble sacrist until St. Romuald suggested that he become a hermit. He lived alone until his death.




Born at Rivo alto, Province of Udina, 928; at Cuxa, 10 January, 987 (997 is less probable). Sprung from the wealthy and noble Venetian family, the Orseoli, Peter led from his youth an earnest Christian life. In the service of the republic, he distinguished himself in naval battles against the pirates. In 946 he married a noble Venetian lady, Felicitas; a son of this marriage, who bore the same name as his father, also became Doge of Venice (991-1009). On 11 Aug., 976, the Doge Pietro Candiano fell a victim to a conspiracy, whose members, in their anxiety to obtain possession of him, set fire to his palace, thereby destroying not only this building, but also the churches of San Marco, San Teodoro, and Santa Maria di Zobenigo, as well as about three hundred houses. On the following day Pietro Orseolo was chosen doge in San Pietro di Castello, but it was only out of regard for his obligations towards his native land that he allowed himself to be prevailed upon to accept the office. The tradition recorded by Peter Damian (Vita s. Romualdi, V, in P.L., CXLIV, 960), that Peter had taken part in the conspiracy and that his later retirement from the world was due to his desire to expiate therefor, is without foundation. As one might expect from his personal piety, the new doge showed himself a zealous patron of churches and monasteries as well as an able ruler. He had the doge's palace and the church of San Marco rebuilt at his own expense, procuring in Constantinople for the latter the first golden altar-covering (Pala d'oro), and bequeathed one thousand pounds to persons injured by the fire and a similar sum to the poor. He renewed the treaty with Capodistria, and succeeded in averting from the republic the vengeance of Candiano's family, especially of his wife Waldrada, niece of Empress Adelaide, and his son Vitalis, Patriarch of Grado. About this time, through the influence of Abbot Guarinus of Cuxa (a Benedictine monastery at the foot of the Pyrenees, in the territory of Roussillon), he decided to enter a monastery, leaving Venice secretly with the abbot and two companions in the night of 1-2 September, 987. As a monk in the abbey of Cuxa, he presented to his spiritual brothers a model of humility, zeal for prayer, and charity. For a period he was under the spiritual guidance of St. Romuald. As early as the eleventh century the veneration of Peter Urseolus as a saint was approved by the Bishop of Elne. In 1731 Clement XII ratified this cult, .

SAINT NICANOR



St. Nicanor


St Peter Consacrates Stephen as Deacon
Feastday: January 10


Early martyr and one of the seven deacons of Jerusalem. A resident of Jerusalem, he was chosen by the Apostles to minister to the needs of those requiring assistance in the Holy City. According to tradition, he went to Cyprus where he was put to death during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, although this is now believed unlikely.




The Seven Deacons were leaders elected by the Early Christian church to minister to the people of Jerusalem. They are described in the Acts of the Apostles, and are the subject of later traditions as well; for instance they are supposed to have been members of the Seventy Disciples who appear in the Gospel of Luke. The Seven Deacons were Stephen Protomartyr, Philip the Evangelist, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nichola



Only Stephen and Philip are discussed in much detail in Acts; tradition provides nothing more about Nicanor or Parmenas. Stephen became the first martyr of the church when he was killed by a mob; and whose death was agreed to by Saul of Tarsus, the future Paul (Acts 8:1). Philip evangelized in Samaria, where he converted Simon Magus and an Ethiopian eunuch, traditionally beginning the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.


Tradition calls Prochorus the nephew of Stephen and a companion of John the Evangelist, who consecrated him bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia (modern-day Turkey). He was traditionally ascribed the authorship of the apocryphal Acts of John, and was said to have ended his life as a martyr in Antioch in the 1st century.ccording to Caesar Baronius' Annales Ecclesiastici, now considered historically inaccurate, Nicanor was a Cypriot Jew who returned to his native island and died a martyr in 76. Other accounts say he was martyred in "Berj," an unidentified place possibly confused with Botrys. Timon was said to have been a Hellenized Jew who became a bishop in Greece or in Bosra, Syria; in the latter account, his preaching brought the ire of the local governor, who martyred him with fire. After preaching for years in Asia Minor, where Hippolytus of Rome claimed he was bishop of Soli (Pompeiopolis; though he may have been referring to Soli, Cyprus), Parmenas was said to have settled down in Macedonia, where he died at Philippi in 98 during Trajan's persecutions


Nicholas, described in Acts as a convert to Judaism was not remembered fondly by some early writers. According to Irenaeus' Adversus Haereses, the Nicolaitanes, a heretical sect condemned as early as the Book of Revelation, took their name from the deacon. In Philosophumena, Hippolytus writes he inspired the sect through his indifference to life and the pleasures of the flesh; his followers took this as a licence to give in to lust. The Catholic Encyclopedia records a story that after the Apostles reproached Nicholas for mistreating his beautiful wife on account of his jealousy, he left her and consented to anyone else marrying her, saying the flesh should be maltreated.In the Stromata, Clement of Alexandria says the sect corrupted Nicholas' words, originally designed to check the pleasures of the body, to justify licentiousness.The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that the historicity of the story is debatable, though the Nicolaitanes themselves may have considered Nicholas their founder