Our Morning Offering – 2 May – “The Month of The Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast f St Athanasius (297-373) Bishop, Confessor, Father & Doctor of the Church
Mary, Mother of Grace By St Athanasius (297-373) Father & Doctor of the Church
It becomes thee to be mindful of us, as thou stands near Him Who granted thee all Graces, for thou art the Mother of God and our Queen. Help us for the sake of the King, the Lord God and Master, Who was born of thee. For this reason, thou art called Full of Grace. Remember us, most holy Virgin and bestow on us gifts from the riches of thy Graces, Virgin Full of Graces! Amen
Saint of the Day – 2 May – St Secundus the 1st Bishop of Avila, Spain of which City he is the Patron. Some sources regard him as a Martyr although the Roman Martyrology does not. Also known as – Secundius, or Secundius of Abula,Secundinus.
Isidro Villoldo: St Secundinus is called by Christ, 1547, painting in the Chapel dedicated to St Secundus in the Cathedral of Ávila
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Avila, in Spain, St Secundus, Bishop, who is also mentioned with others on the 15th of this month.” The Martyrology on the 15th states “ … Consecrated Bishops by the holy Apostles in Rome and sent to S[ain to preach the word of God. When they had evangelised various Cities and brought innumerable multitudes under the yoke of Christ, they rested in peace in varioys parts of that Countyr … Secundus in Avila …”
Isidro Villoldo: St Secundinus preaching to the people, 1547, Artwork in the Chapel dedicated to St Secundus in the Cathedral of Ávila
According to tradition, St Secundus was the 1st Bishop of Abula, now Avila and was cCnsecrated Bishop by Peter and Paul in Rome and sent as a missionary to Spain, where he died after his successful ministry.
It is believed that Abula is the present-day Abla, not Ávila even though Avila has him as its Patron Saint.
St Athanasius (c295-373) – Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church, “Father of Orthodoxy,” Bishop of Alexandria, Defender of the true faith, throughout his life he opposed the Arian heresy. By denying the Godhead of the Word, the Arians turned Christ into a mere man, only higher in grace than others in the eyes of God. St Athanasius took part in the Council of Nicea in 325 and until the end remained a champion of the faith, as it was defined by the Council. In him, the Church venerates one of her Great Fathers and Doctors. He was subjected to persecutions for upholding the true teaching concerning the person of Christ and was sent into exile from his See no less than five times. He died at Alexandria in 373 after an Episcopate of forty-six years. Biography: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/05/02/saint-of-the-day-2-may-st-athanasius-c295-373-father-and-doctor-of-the-church-father-of-orthodoxy/
Bl Bernard of Seville St Bertinus the Younger Bl Boleslas Strzelecki Bl Conrad of Seldenbüren St Cyriacus of Pamphylia St Eugenius of Africa St Exsuperius of Pamphylia St Felix of Seville
Martyrs of Alexandria – 4 Saints: A group of Christians Marytred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than their names – Celestine, Germanus, Neopolus and Saturninus. 304 in Alexandria, Egyp
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