Saint of the Day – 12 October – Saint Maximilian (Died c284) Missionary Bishop and Martyr of Celecia, Slovenia. Born in Celeia (modern Celje, Slovenia) and died there by being beheaded on 12 October c284. Patronages – of the Habsburg family (chosen in the 15th Century), Celje, Slovenia, of the Diocese if Linz, Austria, of the Diocese of Passau, Germany, (earliest mention in writing on 30 September 985). Also known as – Maximilian of Celaja, Maximilian of Celje, Maximilian of Cilli, Maximilian of Lauriacum, Maximilian of Lorch, Maximilian of Pongau, Massimiliano… Maksimilijan Celjski.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Cilly, in Styria, St Maximilian, Bishop of Lorch.”
Maximilian was born in Celeia in the Roman Province of Noricum (in present-day Slovenia). He was the only child of rich and pious parents. After their death, Maximilian freed the family slaves and gave away his fortune to the poor.
He then made a pilgrimage to Rome, where St Pope Sixtus II sent him to Lauriacum (Lorch) in the Roman Province of Noricum, where he worked as a missionary during the latter half of the 3rd Century. He founded the Church of Lorch and became its 1st Bishop. After 20 years of work as the missionary Bishop, he returned to Celeia where he became a noted preacher.
Maximilian was beheaded by the Roman Prefect of Emperor Numerian after refusing to abandon Christianity and sacrifice to the pagan gods. He is remembered on 12 October (and in some locations on 29 October).
His cult dates at least from the 8th Century. In that century, Saint Rupert built a Church in his honour at Bischofshofen in the Salzach valley and brought his rRlics there. In 985, some of his Relics were translated to Passau, Germany. In 1634, St Maximilian protected Passau from the Plague and his Relics were processed through Passau in beseeching his intercession.
AnaStpaul 