Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The Octave Day of Corpus Christi, Panna Mária,/ Blessed Virgin Mary, Slovakia (1512 ), St Norbert and all the Saints for 6 June

The Octave Day of Corpus Christi

St Agobard of Lyon
St Alexander of Fiesole
St Alexander of Noyon
St Amantius of Noyon
St Anoub of Skete
St Artemius of Rome
St Bazalota of Abyssinia

St Candida of Rome
St Ceratius of Grenoble
St Claudius of Besançon
St Cocca
St Colmán of Orkney
Bl Daniel of Bergamo
St Euphemia of Abyssinia
St Eustorgius II of Milan
Bl Falco of La Cava
St Gilbert of Neufontaines O.Praem. (c1076-1152) Abbot
St Grazia of Germagno
St Gudwall (6th Century) Bishop
Bl Gundisalvus of Azebeyro
St Hilarion the Younger

St John of Verona
Bl Lorenzo de Masculis

St Paulina of Rome

Posted in GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, SAINT of the DAY, The SECOND COMING

Quote/s of the Day – 5 June – St Boniface

Quote/s of the Day – 5 June – St Boniface (672-754) Bishop, Martyr “The Apostle of Germany,” Confessor, Bishop

Let us continue the fight on the Day of the Lord.
The days of anguish and of tribulation
have overtaken us; if God so wills,
let us die for the holy laws of our fathers,
so that we may deserve to obtain
an eternal inheritance with them.

Let us be neither dogs which do not bark,
nor silent onlookers,
nor paid servants who run away before the wolf!

Eternal God, Our Refuge
By St Boniface (672-754)
Martyr

Eternal God,
the refuge and help of all Thy children,
we praise Thee for all Thou hast given us,
for all Thou hast done for us,
for all that Thou art to us.
In our weakness, Thou art strength,
in our darkness, Thou art light,
in our sorrow, Thou art comfort and peace.
We cannot number Thy blessings,
we cannot declare Thy love –
for all Thy graces, we bless Thee.
May we live as in Thy presence,
and love the things that Thou loves
and serve Thee in our daily lives,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/06/05/quote-s-of-the-day-5-june-st-boniface-3/

St Boniface (c672-754)
Martyr, Confessor, Bishop
The Apostle of Germany

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 5 June – St Eoban of Utrecht (Died 754) Bishop Martyr

Saint of the Day – 5 June – St Eoban of Utrecht (Died 754) Bishop Martyr, Missionary as a Disciple of St Boniface, who also shared in the Martyrdom of his master. Born in England or Ireland and died on 5 June 754 at Dokkum, Freisland (modern Netherlands). Also known as – Eobáno, Eobánus. Additional Memorial – 7 July in Fulda, Germany and 19 December, the date of St Eoban’s arrival in Germany.

St Boniface and Companions attacked

We know almost nothing about Eoban’s early life except that he was a Monk and Priest in either Ireland or England and was selected by St Boniface to accompany him on his mission to Gerrmany.

Eoban was also chosen by St Boniface to be his assistant Bishop for Frisia and installed in 753 in Utrecht, according to the Life of Saint Boniface, written in 765 by Willibaldus.

According to the Vita Bonifatii auctore Willibaldo, on the morning of 5 June 754, Boniface and 50 others, presumably including Eoban (none of the companions are mentioned by name in the Vita), were killed at Dokkum (The Netherlands) by pagan Frisians.

The Martyrdom of St Boniface. After the fresco by Carl Hesse.

After his Martyrdom, St Eoban was buried in Utrecht, whilst the many other companions were buring in Dokkum and various places. After 756, the Relics of the Bishops of Utrecht, Eoban and Adalar, were transferred to Fulda and buried next to St Boniface.

St Boniface and his disciples cutting down the pagan tree

Their Feast was initially celebrated in Mainz, Erfurt and Fulda on 26 July then, since 1915, on 7 July with the title Sts Eoban and Companion Martyrs. Eoban seems to have always had a special cult in Fulda, where an ancient calendar commemorates his arrival on 19 December. Adalar, however, is particularly honoured in Erfurt, where his own festival has been celebrated on 20 April since 1250.

The memory of Eobao’s other companions is remembered by all Martyrologists together with that of Saint Boniface on 5 June.
A large Statue of St Eoban dominates the crypt of Saint Boniface’s Church in Fulda. The Sarcophagus containing some Relics of the Saints Eoban and Adalat in the Erfurt Cathedral is dated about 1350.

St Boniface Cathedral in Fulda
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Within the Corpus Christi Octave, Beata Vergine dell’Aiuto, / Our Lady of Help, Bobbio, Italy 15th Century, St Boniface and the Saints for 5 June

Within the Corpus Christi Octave

St Adalar of Erfurt
Bl Adalbert Radiouski
Bl Adam Arakawa
St Austrebertus of Vienne
St Claudius of Egypt and Companions
St Ðaminh Huyen
St Ðaminh Toai
St Dorotheus of Tyre
St Elleher
St Eoban of Utrecht (Died 754) Bishop Martyr, Disciple of St Boniface
St Eutichius of Como
St Evasius of Africa
St Felix of Fritzlar

St Franco of Assergi

St Gregory of Lilybaeum
St Gundekar
St Hadulph
St Luke Loan
Bl Meinwerk of Paderborn
St Privatus of Africa
St Sanctius of Córdoba
St Tudno of Caernarvon
St Waccar

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on HERESY, QUOTES on the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, St PETER!

Quote of the Day – 4 June – Saint Optatus

Quote of the Day – 4 June – Saint Optatus of Milevis (4th Century) Bishop, Father of the Church

You cannot deny that you know
that in the City of Rome, upon Peter first,
the Chair of the Bishop was conferred,
in which sat the Head of all the Apostles, Peter,
whence also, he was called Cephas,
in which One Chair unity should be preserved by all,
lest the other Apostles should each stand up
for his own chair, so that now,
he should be a schismatic and a sinner
who should, against this One Chair,
set up another!”

St Optatus (4th Century)
Bishop of Milevis
Father of the Church

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 4 June – Saint Optatus of Milevis (4th Century) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 4 June – Saint Optatus of Milevis (4th Century) Bishop of Milevis, Numidia, in Africa, Father of the Church, the first fierce opponent of Donatism, Writer against heresy, Scholar. Also known as – Optate, Ottato.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Milevis, in Numidia, in Africa, Saint Optatus, Bishop of that place, celebrated for learning and holiness.

Optatus was a convert, as we learn from St Augustine. He is perhaps the least known of all the Fathers of the Church. He was learned with a solid cultural preparation which ranged from Scriptural exegesis to Theology, without disdaining the profane disciplines, such as rhetoric and jurisprudence. All this must have supported Optatus as he ventured into his literary and pastoral activity.

He is best known for his opposition to the heresy of Donatism and his six treatises composed against them. One of these, “Against Parmenian”, is still extant and was mentioned by St Jerome in his “De Viris Illustrius” as having been composed in six books.

The treatise stresses the need for unity and is conciliatory in tone but it criticises Donatist teachings on Baptism and stresses that the Church cannot be limited to Africa but is ‘Catholic.’

Optatus was much praised by such contemporaries as St Augustine and St Fulgentius of Ruspe.

His treatise against the Donatists was translated into French in 1564. It is extremely improbable that, but for this exception, it has, until now, ever appeared in any language save Latin. It is quite certain that it has never yet been clothed in an English dress.

Indeed it is not too much to say that the very name of Optatus is barely known, even to many students of Theology and Ecclesiastical history. Yet his is no mean name and he cannot be ignored with safety, for he has bequeathed to the Church, material of no small value.”

The above excerpt was written by Fr O R Vassali-Phililips CSSR in his Introduction to his translation of our Saints works. His translation was published in 1917. Here is a link to the Treatise: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/optatus_00_intro.htm

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Within the Corpus Christi Octave, Virgen María Sembradora / Virgin Mary the Planter, Argentina, St Francis Caracciola and the Saints for 4 June

Within the Corpus Christi Octave

St Quirinus of Croatia
St Quirinus of Tivoli
St Rutilus of Sabaria
St Saturnina of Arras
St Trano of Sardinia
St Walter of Fontenelle
St Walter of Serviliano

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 3 June – Saint Albert of Como (Died c1092) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 3 June – Saint Albert of Como (Died c1092) Bishop, the 15th Bishop of Como. Also known as – Aribert, Ariberto, Adalbert, Adelbert.

Various Saints on the facade of Como Cathedral

The scant historical information describes Albert as a zealous Bishop, dedicated to the care of his people, while legend exalts his heroic virtues and miraculous powers.

Legend has it that, accused by the Pope of incontinence, Albert managed to triumph over such slander with the evidence of his holy life, his apostolic zeal and his thaumaturgical powers. On this occasion, he actually went personally to Rome, where he performed various miracles in the presence of the Pope, announcing among other things, that his death would follow the recovery of full visual faculties of the same Pontiff, who had a monocle. The Pontiff, then, when he recovered, went to Como, where he assisted the holy Bishop on his deathbed and participated in his funeral.

The actual date of Albert’s death cannot be determined. He was buried in the Church of the Apostles which, from 818 was called St Abbondius. His Relics were later placed together with those of St Rubiano,his predeccessor, under an Altar dedicated to them. In 1580 there was a further transfer of the Relics of the two holy Bishops, placed partly in the Cathedral under the Altar of the Crucifix, partly in the Dominican Church of St John. St Albert’s Feast was celebrated on 7 July and on that date he was also remembered in the Breviary of 1519-1523. His Feast was later moved to 3 June.

Como Cathedral
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Within the Octave of Corpus Christi, Madonna della Lettera / Our Lady of the Letter (Messina, Sicily, Italy) 1693 and the Saints for 3 June

Within the Octave of Corpus Christi

St Albert of Como (Died c 1092) Bishop
St Athanasius of Traiannos
St Auditus of Braga
Bl Beatrice Bicchieri
St Caecilius of Carthage

St Conus of Lucania
St Cronan the Tanner
St Davinus of Lucca
Bl Diego Oddi
St Gausmarus of Savigny
St Genesius of Clermont
St Glunshallaich
St Hilary of Carcassone
St Isaac of Córdoba

St Laurentinus of Arezzo
St Liphardus of Orléans
St Morand of Cluny
St Moses of Arabia
St Oliva of Anagni
St Paula of Nicomedia
St Pergentinus of Arezzo
Bl Phaolô Vu Van Duong
St Urbicius

Martyrs of Rome – 8 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together. We know nothing else about them but the names –
Amasius, Emerita, Erasmus, Lucianus, Orasus, Satuaucnus, Septiminus• Servulus.
They were Martyred in Rome, Italy, date unknown.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 2 June – Saint Photinus of Lyons (c87-177) & Companions, Bishop and Martyr

Saint of the Day – 2 June – Saint Photinus of Lyons (c87-177) & Companions the First Bishop of Lyons, Martyr . Name means: the sweet one / the lovely one (Greek). Patronages – of the Archdiocese of Lyons and of the City of Lyons. Also known as – Pothin, Pothinus, Potino, Potinus.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Lyons, many holy Martyrs (Photinus, the Bishop, Sanctus, the Deacond, Vetius, Epagathus, Maturus, Pontictus, Biblis, Attalus, Alexander and Blandina, with many others, whose many valiant combats in the time of Marcus Aurelius are recorded in a letter from the Church at Lyons to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia. …”

According to St Irenaeus, Photinus was born around the year 87, probably at Smyrna. He was a disciple of St Polycarp, the Apostolic Father and Martyr Bishop of Smyrna and accompanied him to Rome in 158.

St Pope Anicletus sent him to evangelise the Gauls. Photinus established himself at Lyons and founded there a flourishing Church, over which he presided for almost twenty years. In asserting his own authority as bishop of Lyons, St Irenaeus says that Pothinus had been his predecessor in the position and the first Bishop of that City.

By 177, a large number of the Christians in the area of Vienne and Lyons were Greeks from Asia. A violent persecution began against them while Photinus was the Bishop of Lyons and St Irenæus, who had been sent there by St Polycarp, was a Priest of that City.

Photinus died at the age of ninety, in 177, Martyred along with Alexander, Attalus, Espagathus, Maturus and Sanctius, during the tenure of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Pothinus and several companions were seized by a mob and taken to the magistrate. Pothinus is believed to have died from the abuse he suffered in prison, while the others were killed by wild beasts in the local amphitheatre.

St Eusebius of Caesarea also reports on the number and nature of the battles for the Faith in Gaul. The Martyrology of St Jerome reports a total of 48 Martyrs.

St Photinus Church in Lyons
Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi Sunday within the Octave, Pentecost II, Madonna delle Lacrime / Madonna of the Tears, Bergamo, Italy (1511), St Marcellinus and Companions and all the Saints for 2 June

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi
Sunday within the Octave

Pentecost II

St Honorata
St Humatus
St John de Ortega

St Photinus of Lyons (c87-177) 7 Companions Bishop Martyr
St Rogate
Bl Sadoc of Sandomierz
St Stephen of Sweden

Posted in PATRONAGE - HEADACHES, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 1 June – Saint Crescentinus (Died 303) Martyr, Soldier.

Saint of the Day – 1 June – Saint Crescentinus (Died 303) Martyr, Soldier. Died by being beheaded on 1 June 303 at Saldo, Italy. His
Relics translated to Urbino, Italy in 1068 by Blessed Mainard of Urbino. Patronages – against headache (In Urbino the Saint’s Relics are used to touch the sufferer’s head, accompanied by prayers for the cure of the pain), of Città-di-Castello, Italy, Urbino, Italy. Also known as – Crescentian, Crescentino, Crescenziano, Crescentianus.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Città-di-Castello, in Umbria, Italy, St Crescentian, a Roman Soldier, crowned with Martyrdom under the Emperior Diocletian.”

The annual procession on 1 June in Urbino

There are no documents, nor tombstones, nor epigraphs, prior to the 7th Century which remember our Saint. According to a ‘passio’ considered by scholars to be fictitious and fabulous, dating to the 7th Century, Crescentinus, was a Roman Soldier who fled to the countryside, killed a dragon which had been terrorising the district.

After this feat of courage, Crescentinus was captured by the his pursuers and was then killed by them on 1 June during the persecution of Diocletian and buried in the place called ‘Gaddi’ or ‘Saddi’.

A Church was built on the spot in which the Bishop of the City lived, St Floridus and the Priest St Amanzius, who were also buried in the Church.

Crescentinus Relics were donated to Mainard, Bishop of Urbino or it is also thought that they were stolen. The body of the Martyr Crescentinus was found on 18 December 1360 and, as in other cases, he was considered as the Bishop of Città-di-Castello.

But the most favourable hypothesis indicates that the Relics of the Roman Soldier Martyr Crescentinus, were buried on the Via Ostiense and were sent to Città -di-Castello in an unspecified period and placed under the Altar of the Basilica.

Subsequently, as has often happened, St Crescentinud was considered a local Martyr. In 1500, he was included on 1 June in the Roman Martyrology, taking into account the ancient cult which the holy Martyr enjoyed in the area.

The Relics of St Crescentinus at Urbino
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, First Saturday, Within the Octave of Corpus Christi, Madonna delle Grazie / Our Lady of Grace, Italy (1630), St Angelica de Merici and the Saints for 1 June

1 June – Devotion for June – THE MONTH OF THE MOST SACRED HEART of JESUS

First Saturday

Within the Octave of Corpus Christi

St Agapetus of Ruthenia
Bl Alfonso Navarrete Benito
Bl Arnald Arench
Bl Arnold of Geertruidenberg
St Atto of Oca
St Candida of Whitchurch
St Caprasius of Lérins (Died 430) Hermit
St Clarus of Aquitaine
St Claudius of Vienne
Bl Conrad of Hesse
St Conrad of Trier Bishop, Martyr
St Crescentinus (Died 303) Martyr, Soldier
St Cronan of Lismore
St Damian of Scotland
St Dionysius of Ruthenia
St Donatus of Lucania
St Felinus of Perugia
Bl Ferdinand Ayala
St Firmus
St Fortunatus of Spoleto
Bl Gaius Xeymon
St Gaudentius of Ossero
St Giuse Túc
St Gratian of Perugia
Bl Herculanus of Piegare
St Iñigo of Oña
St Ischryrion and Companions
Bl James of Strepar
Bl John Pelingotto
Bl John Storey
St Juventius
Bl Leo Tanaka
St Melosa
St Pamphilus of Alexandria

St Porphyrius of Alexandria
St Proculus of Bologna
St Proculus the Soldier
St Ronan
St Secundus of Amelia
St Seleucus of Alexandria
St Simeon of Syracuse
St Telga of Denbighshire
St Thecla of Antioch

St Thespesius of Cappadocia
St Wistan of Evesham
St Zosimus of Antioch

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 31 May – Blessed Hermann of Marienstatt O.Cist. (1150-c1225) Abbot

Saint of the Day – 31 May – Blessed Hermann of Marienstatt O.Cist. (1150-c1225) Cistercian Monk and Abbot of the Himmerod Abbey; founding Abbot of Heisterbach and Marienstatt Monasteries, Hermann was a zealous and powerful administrator, blessed with the gifts of prophecy, visions and miracles, Born in 1150 in the Rhineland (in modern Germany) and died in c1225 in Himmerod, Germany of natural causes.

Hermann is mentioned as Abbot for the last time in 1225. Soon after, he seems to have lived as a simple Monk in Himmerod, where he died around that time. In the Cistercian Order’s calendar, the commemoration (memoria) of “the Blessed Abbot Hermann, who laid the foundations of Marienstatt and who was famous for his gift of prophecy and also for many other miraculous signs” is recorded on 31 May.

Hermann von Marienstatt , depiction from the Baroque period, Marienstatt Abbey

Hermann von Marienstatt was born in 1150 into a noble Rhenish family (Rhenish meaning ‘of the Rhine’). He was initially a Canon at the St Cassius and Florentius Monastery in Bonn but , in around 1175, he joined the Cistercian Abbey of Himmerod.

When, in 1177, the Archbishop of Cologne, Philipp von Heinsberg, offered the Cistercians the property of a defunct Augustinian Canonry on the Stromberg – today’s Petersberg in the Siebengebirge – as a donation, Monks from Himmerod, led by Hermann as founding Abbot, more than 10 years later, in 1189, finally complied and took over the former Monastery.

Due to the unfavourable mountain location, the Convent soon moved to the nearby valley of the Heisterbach (1192-1199), from which the new Abbey took the name Heisterbach. From 1195, Abbot Hermann worked in Himmerod again. Endowments by Cologne Burgrave Eberhard von Aremberg and his wife Adelheid von Molsberg prompted Himmerod, together with its daughter Monastery, Heisterbach, to undertake one last founding action. In 1212, under the proven leadership of our Blessed Hermann, twelve Monks settled near Neunkhausen ‘at the place of St Maria’ – since then known as Marienstatt. Disputes over inheritance law within the founding family soon forced the abandonment of this site. Thanks to a new foundation by the Counts of Sayn the Cistercians were able to gain a foothold in the Westerwald again. In this context, Hermann is now also attested in Marienstatt documents.

A Cistercian Monk in front of the Heisterbach Monastery, depicted according to a reconstructed drawing around 1930, in the new Heisterbach Monastery Church

These events were later given legend on 27 December 1324.and recorded in writing, in the “Marienstatter Tafeln” the document for the Consecration of the Church. This iconographically valuable document is now in the Rheinisches Landes Museum in Bonn. Its border is decorated with fictitious portraits of the Abbots, beginning with Hermann.

The Cistercian Marienstatt Monastery in 2016

The text tells us that the Mother of God appeared to the worried Abbot in a dream and showed him an alternative building site, where a “hawthorn bush” blooms in the middle of winter. Its branch still adorns the Abbey’s Coat of Arms today, see below.

Hermann had to manage the founding of two Monasteries which were made difficult by geographical disadvantage, inheritance disputes and, in the case of Heisterbach, resistance from the population. When this happened, the Cistercian movement had already passed its peak in the area and was facing competition from new religious movements. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for Hermann’s resignation and retirement.

Pilgrims visiting Marienstatt
Posted in DOMINICAN OP, SAINT of the DAY

Within the Corpus Christi Octave and the Saints for 31 May

Within the Corpus Christi Octave

St Alexander of Auvergne

St Crescentian of Sassari
St Donatian of Cirta
St Felice of Nicosia
St Galla of Auvergne
Blessed Hermann of Marienstatt O.Cist. (1150-c1225) Abbot
St Hermias of Comana

St Juan Moya Collado
Bl Kasper Gerarz
St Lupicinus of Verona
St Mancus of Cornwall
Bl Mariano of Roccacasale
St Mechtildis of Edelstetten
St Myrbad of Cornwall
Bl Nicholaus of Vangadizza
Bl Nicholaus of Vaucelles
St Nowa Mawaggali
St Paschasius of Rome

St Silvio of Toulouse
Bl Vitalis of Assisi
St Winnow of Cornwall

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 30 May – Blessed Elisabeth Stagel OP (c1300-1360) Virgin

Saint of the Day – 30 May – Blessed Elisabeth Stagel OP (c1300-1360) Virgin, Prioress of the Order of Preachers, writer, friend and spiritual student of Blessed Henry Suso OP (1290-1365). Born in c1300 in Zurich, Switzerland and died in c1360 of natural causes at Töss Convent in Winterthur in Switzerland, where she was the Prioress. Also known as – Elisabeth Staglin, Elisabeth Steiglin, Elsbeth

Bl Elisabeth Stagel depicted in a copy of Lives of the Nuns of Töss.

Elisabeth was born into a noble family of Zurich, the daughter of a City Councilor, Rudolf Stagel.

In 1336 she came into contact with the Blessed mystic Henry Suso and from that moment she was his pupil and soulmate. She developed a deep friendship with him and the two remained in active correspondence for the remainder of their lives. Bl Henry considered Elisabeth as his spiritual daughter.

de Zurbaran, Francisco; The Blessed Henry Suso

During their conversations, Elisabeth asked Bl Henry to help her understand the pathway to God by sharing with her his own experiences. However, Suso did not know that the well-educated nun was keeping the letters he sent her and recording all that Suso told her, concerning both theological matters and his extreme practices of personal penance. When he learned of her undertaking, he requested the texts and proceeded to burn them, saving only the second installment of manuscripts for the sake of educating other religious. Bl Henry thereafter forbade Elisabeth to imitate him by engaging in extreme asceticism, fearing for her health.

Elisabeth then authored the Lives of the Nuns of Töss, a work containing biographies of 39 nuns and providing a comprehensive picture of mysticism in the Töss Convent. Blessed Elisabeth of Hungary may have been one of the Nuns whose life Elisabeth described.

Elisabeth died in Töss in 1360 and was probsbly buried there.

Blessed Elisabeth’s book is integral to understanding mysticism and monastic life in medieval Germany.

The former Töss Monastery in a drawing by the Historian, Heinrich Murer (17th Century)
Posted in DOMINICAN OP, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Dedication of the Church of MonteVergine, near Naples, Italy (1126) and the Saints for 30 May

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ:
Corpus Christi

The Feast is liturgically celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday
https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/16/the-festival-of-corpus-christi/

St Anastasius II of Pavia
St Basil the Elder
St Crispulus of Sardinia
Blessed Elisabeth Stagel OP (c1300-1360) Virgin, Prioress of the Order of Preachers
St Emmelia
St Euplius
St Exuperantius of Ravenna
St Gamo of Brittany
St Gavino of Sardinia
St Isaac of Constantinople
Bl Lawrence Richardson
St Luke Kirby
St Madelgisilus
St Reinhildis of Riesenbeck
St Restitutus of Cagliari
Bl Richard Newport

St Venantius of Lérins
St Walstan of Bawburgh
Bl William Filby
Bl Willilam Scott

Posted in CARMELITES, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, SELF-DISTRUST

Quote/s of the Day – 29 May – St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi

Quote/s of the Day – 29 May – St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi O.Carm (1566-1607) Virgin

Self-love is like the worm which gnaws at the root
and destroys, not only the fruit but even,
the very life of the plant.
The traitor whom we have to fear most, is self-love, f
or self-love betrays us as Judas
betrayed our Lord with a kiss.
He who conquers self-love, conquers all!

I do not desire to die soon
because, in Heaven, there is no suffering.
I desire to live a long time
because, I yearn to suffer much
for the love of my Spouse.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/29/quote-s-of-the-day-29-may-st-maria-magdalena-de-pazzi/

St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi (1566-1607)

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 29 May – Saint Gerard of Mâcon (Died 926) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 29 May – Saint Gerard of Mâcon (Died 926) Bishop of Mâcon, France for 40 years, ruling from 886 until his death in 926. Uncertainty surrounds his place and date of birth, some indicate it in Belgium, others in Flanders but we do know that he died in a hermitage at Brou near Bourg-en-Bresse in France. Patronages – of Bourg-en-Bresse, Brou and several other French Towns. Also known as – Gerardo, Gérard, Gérald, Girard or Gérard, Gerard of Brou,

The Old Cathedral of Mâcon

Whilst biographical information on Saint Gerard is conflicting. The oldest sources, such as the Episcopal records and catalogues of Mâcon, place our Saint in the 9th Century, other scholars hypothesise an earlier era. However, less debated is his monastic training at the Abbey of Ainay, a renowned centre of culture and religious piety. The experience within the monastic community undoubtedly shaped his spirit and prepared him for his future Episcopal role.

Around the year 886, Gerard was Consecrated Bishop of Mâcon, a Diocese located in the turbulent region of Burgundy. His Episcopate, which lasted for forty years, coincided with a complex historical period, marked by feudal struggles and Norman incursions. In this stormy context, Gerard stood out as a tenacious and wise leader, capable of defending the rights of the Church and its people.

His participation in the Council of Chalon-sur-Saône in 886 testifies to his commitment to re-establishing ecclesiastical order and discipline, countering the interference of lay people in religious matters.

Despite his dedication to his flock, Gerard was not immune to hardship and disillusionment. Tired of the constant battles with the local lords and wanting a more contemplative life, he decided to retire to Brou, a Town near Bourg-en-Bresse. Here he founded a Monastery and a Church, dedicating himself to prayer and meditation. The hermit choice did not mean an abandonment of his pastoral commitment, for Gerard continued to receive visitors and dispense spiritual advice. His reputation for sanctity spread rapidly, attracting numerous pilgrims to Brou.

Saint Gerard died in 926. His remains were initially buried in the Church he had founded in Brou. Subsequently, after 958, they were transferred to the Church of Saint-Pierre in Mâcon, where they are still venerated today. His memory is still celebrated today on 29 May. Saint Gerard is considered the Patron Saint of Bourg-en-Bresse, Brou and several other French Towns.

Posted in INCORRUPTIBLES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame des Ardents / Our Lady of Ardents, France (1095), St Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi O.Carm and the Saints for 29 May

St Conon the Elder
St Conon the Younger
St Daganus
St Eleutherius of Rocca d’Arce
St Felix of Atares
St Gerard of Mâcon (Died 926) Bishop of Mâcon, France
Bl Gerardesca of Pisa
Bl Giles Dalmasia
St Hesychius of Antioch
St John de Atarés

St Maximus of Verona
St Restitutus of Rome
Bl Richard Thirkeld
St Theodosia of Caesarea and Companions
St Votus of Atares

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 28 May – Saint Caraunus of Chartres (5th Century) Deacon Martyr

Saint of the Day – 28 May – Saint Caraunus of Chartres (5th Century) Deacon Martyr, Missionary, Miracle-worker. Also known as – Caran, Carauno, Ceraunus, Cheron. Additional Memorial – 18 October (translation of Relics).

Although the precise date of the birth of Saint Caraunus is uncertain, hagiographic sources agree that it occurred in Rome in the 5th Century to a noble patrician family. His youth is shrouded in mystery, but it is assumed that he received an excellent education, typical of the Roman elite of the time.

A crucial event in his life was his conversion to Christianity. Embracing faith, Caraunus renounced the privileges and comforts of his aristocratic life to dedicate himself to spreading the Gospel.
Being Ordained as a Deacon, Carauno felt called to bring the Word of God to distant lands. He undertook a journey to Gaul, a region of modern-day France, where he preached Christianity with zeal and passion. His preaching touched several Cities, including Marseille, Lyon and Chartres.

News of his preaching reached the ears of some criminals who, blinded by greed, decided to ambush him. In a location not far from Chartres, where the village of Saint-Chéron stands today, Caraunus was attacked and barbarously killed.

The tomb of San Caraunus soon became a destination for pilgrimages. The faithful, attracted by the fame of his sanctity and by the miracles which occurred through his intercession, went to the place of Martyrdom to pray and ask for graces.

Statue in the Église Saint-Chéron de Cavan

A Chapel was built over the tomb which became the nucleus of a flourishing Monastery, documented as early as the 9th Century. The monastic community prospered for centuries, preserving the memory and devotion to the holy Martyr. However, during the French Revolution, the Monastery was suppressed and the Monks dispersed.
The Relics of our Saint, saved during the revolutionary desecrations, were, in 1849, placed in the new Church dedicated to him. Even today, the memory of St Caraunus is venerated in the Diocese of Chartres and in some others, including that of Paris. His Liturgical Feast is celebrated today 28 May.

The devotion to St Caraunus is intertwined with a rich hagiographic tradition, narrated in a legendary Vita of the 9th Century. In it, historical elements are mixed with legendary ideas which also reflect the influence of other Saints’ lives. A fascinating 13th Century stained glass window, located in Chartres Cathedral, illustrates some scenes from the Saint’s legend, offering an artistic testimony to his veneration.

Église Saint-Chéron de Cavan
Posted in INCORRUPTIBLES, SAINT of the DAY

St Augustine of Canterbury and the Saints for 28 May

St Accidia
Bl Albert of Csanád
St Caraunus of Chartres (5th Century) Deacon Martyr
St Caraunus the Deacon
St Crescens of Rome
St Dioscorides of Rome
St Eoghan the Sage
St Gemiliano of Cagliari

Bl Heliconis of Thessalonica
St Helladius of Rome
St Herculaneum of Piegaro
Bl John Shert
St Justus of Urgell

St Luciano of Cagliari

Bl Mary of the Nativity
St Moel-Odhran of Iona
St Paulus of Rome
St Podius of Florence
Bl Robert Johnson
St Senator of Milan
Bl Thomas Ford
St Ubaldesca Taccini

Martyrs of Palestine: A group of early 5th Century Monks in Palestine who were Martyred by invading Arabs.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 27 May – Saint Eutropius of Orange (Died c475) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 27 May – Saint Eutropius of Orange (Died c475) Bishop of Orange in France, from 463 until his death. It is believed that he was the successor to St Justus. Born in Marseilles, France and died in c475 at his See. Also known as – Eutrope, Eutropio.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Orange in France, St Eutropius the Bishop, illustrious for virtues and miracles.

Eutropius was born to the nobility, in Marseille, where he spent a wild dissipated and wasted youth. According to tradition, he was converted by his wife and, after her death, was Ordained a Deacon by the Bishop of Tours, Eustochius.

His conversion proved to be permanent and fruitful. He succeeded Saint Justus at the latest in 463, as Bishop of the old Diocese of Orange (Vaucluse), around 25 kilometers north of Avignon and became Bishop Eutropius II of Orange (c464-c475).

This appointment occurred at a time when the Bishopric had been laid waste by the Visigoths and Eutropius was greatly tempted to give up his difficult task because of the material and moral breakdown. At first, he was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the work he would have to do and fled. A man of God named Aper convinced him to return and devote himself to tending his flock. He became a man of intense piety and pastoral zeal and was regarded as worthy of imitation by all in surrounding regions, among other things, for his extreme devotion.

The new Bishop proved exemplary under difficult circumstances. At the same time, he continued to work with his hands. His biographer and successor as Bishop, Verus (475-494), praises his piety and his acts of love. According to tradition, his prayers also performed several miracles. He exchanged letters with the holy Pope Hilarius (461-468). He was a friend of Saint Faustus of Riez. Letters from contemporaries speak highly of his learning and piety. St Sidonius Apollinaris (c432-c482), Bishop of Clermont, who had experienced similar difficulties in his own Diocese, shows great respect for Eutropius’ learning and piety. Sidonius, an eloquent but wordy writer, has been considered the last representative of classical culture.

During his Episcopate, which lasted about twelve years, he did not hesitate to devote himself to many manual tasks, sometimes in a field where he himself worked with a plough, sometimes at a building site where he carried stones even when the other workers were having their meals.

He took part in the Councils of Arles in 463 and 475. According to tradition, Eutropius died on 27 May 475 in Orange and an Epitaph describes him as flawless. His memorial day in the Martyrologium Romanum is the day of his death on 27 May. His Relics are in the Altar of St Mary Magdalene’s Chapel in the London Oratory.

Around the year 500, his successor, Verus wrote his Vita which describes various miracles – the deliverance of a possessed person, the healing of someone struck by lightning; stopping a fire through prayer.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

St Bede the Venerable (673-735), St John I (Died 526) Pope and Martyr and the Saints for 27 May

St Acculus of Alexandria
St Antanansio Bazzekuketta
St Barbara Kim
St Barbara Yi

Bl Dionysius of Semur
St Eutropius of Orange (Died c475) Bishop
St Evangelius of Alexandria
St Frederick of Liège
Bl Gausberto of Montsalvy
St Gonzaga Gonza
St James of Nocera

St Julius the Veteran and Companions
St Liberius of Ancona
St Matiya Mulumba
Bl Matthias of Nagasaki
St Melangell
St Ranulphus of Arras
St Restituta of Sora and Companions
St Secundus of Troia

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, INCORRUPTIBLES, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 26 May – Blessed Andrea Franchi OP (1335-1401) Bishop, “The Fathe of the Poor”

Saint of the Day – 26 May – Blessed Andrea Franchi OP (1335-1401) known as “The Father of the Poor”Bishop, Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, renowned Preacher and missionary evangelist, Professor of Prior, Reformer, Miracle-worker. Born in 1335 in Pistoia, Italy and died on 26 May 1401 in Pistoia, Italy of natural causes.

Andrea Franchi was born in Pistoia in 1335 as the third of four children which included – Francesco Franchi, as well as Bartolomeo – an Advisor tp Pope Urban VI and Pope Boniface IX – and Luca (who joined Andreas in the Dominican Order).

He studied at the Dominican Convent of Santa Maria Novella in Pistoia and, in 1359, at the very young age of 14 years, entered the Dominicans. He was later Ordained to the Priesthood and became a noted Preacher and internal missionmary evangelist. He also served as a teacher in Rome of both philosophical and theological studies.

From 1369 until 1381, Andrea served as the Prior of the Dominican houses in his home Town of Pistoia, and also of the districts of Lucca and Orvieto.

In 1382, he was appointed aas the Bishop of Pistoia, by Pope Urban VI. The new Bishop received his Episcopal Consecration sometime in 1382. He administered to the poor and to the ill and gained the moniker of the “The Father of the Poor.” After 18 years servoce, ill health forced him, on 29 May 1400 – to relinquish his Episcopal See and he returned to his Pistoia Convent where he remained for the final months of his life.

Andrea died in 1401. He was interred in theChurch of San Domenico in Pistoia and his remains were found to be incorrupt after their exhumation in 1613 – a sweet odour emanated from his remains.

This holy and zealous Dominican received formal Beatification by Pope Benedict XV on 21 November 1921 after the Pontiff confirmed the late Bishop’s cultus.

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, INCORRUPTIBLES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

TRINITY SUNDAY, Nostra Signora di Carava ggio / Our Lady of Caravaggio, Italy (1432), St Philip Neri and the Saints for 26 May

TRINITY SUNDAY:
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity
https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/12/feast-of-the-most-holy-trinity-12-june/

St Alphaeus
St Anderea Kaggwa
Blessed Andrea Franchi OP (1335-1401) Bishop
St Becan of Cork
Bl Berengar of Saint-Papoul
St Damian the Missionary
St Desiderius of Vienne
St Eleuterus Pope and Martyr
St Felicissimus of Todi

St Fugatius the Missionary
St Gioan Ðoàn Trinh Hoan
St Guinizo of Monte Cassino
St Heraclius of Todi
Bl Lambert Péloguin of Vence

St Odulvald of Melrose
St Paulinus of Todi
St Peter Sanz
St Ponsiano Ngondwe
St Priscus of Auxerre and Companions
St Quadratus of Africa
St Quadratus the Apologist
St Regintrudis of Nonnberg
St Simitrius of Rome and Companions
St Zachary of Vienne

Posted in franciscan OFM, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 25 May – Blessed Bartolomeus Magi di Amghiari OFM (1460-1510) Confessor

Saint of the Day – 25 May – Blessed Bartolomeus Magi di Amghiari OFM (1460-1510) Confessor, Friar of the Order of Friar’s Minor. Born in 1460 in Anghiari, Italy and died in 1510 in Empoli, Italy of natural causes. Also known as – Bartholomeo, Bartholomew. Additional Memorial – 29 August (Enshrinment of Relics)

In the Franciscan Obituary our Bartholomeus is remembers today as follows: “Near Empoli, in Tuscany, the Blessed Bartholomaeus Magi, from Anglario, a Confessor who, adorned with chastity, humility,and patience, led an almost angelic life.

I can find little personal detail of our Saints life but the cult and memory of Bartolomeus Magi of Anghiari, as well as within the Franciscan Order, has been a constant love over the centuries, espeically in the devotion of the Parish of Anghiari, indeed the Church of Santa Croce, with the adjoining Convent, remains a monument in honour of the Blessed.

He, by his holy advice, organised the construction of this Church which, according to his intention, was to commemorate the miracle of the of the Stigmata of Saint Francis which occurred in 1224, when he passed near the Castle and raised a Cross there.

The Church of Santa Croce in Anghiari was built and Consecrated on 15 October 1566. The faithful of Anghiari wanted to house the mortal remains of the blessed Bartolomeus Magi. But this grace was obtained only in 1603. It was on 19 August when, in the City of Empoli, Father Valerio Martelli delivered the Relics of the head of the Blessed to Mr. Maurizio di Girolamo Magi, to place them in the Church of Santa Croce in Anghiari which was officiated at the time by the Zoccolanti Fathers.

Public veneration of the Blessed Bartolomeo Magi was paid in the Church of Santa Croce by the Decree of the Bishop of Sansepolcro Fra Zanobio de Medici OP, issued on 19 June 1635. This privilege was granted at the request of the Municipal Administration of Anghiari of those times, who erected a beautiful Monument to Blessed Bartolomeo. In the Hall of the City Council of Anghiari, the marble bust of the Blessed still dominates today, as does the picture painted by Proposto Tuti in the Sacristy of the Church.

Coming to more recent times, we remember that public veneration of the Blessed Bartolomeus Magi was recognised in any Church, Oratory, or Chapel by the Bishop of Sansepolcro ,Annibale Tommasi on 2 May 1830, after having completed the recognition of the illustrious Relic. In 1907 Giovanni Volpi, Bishop of Arezzo, made his first pastoral visit to Anghiari and with the Decree of 9 June of the same year, he repeated what Monsignor Tommasi had established and was allowed to transfer the Relic from the Church of Santa Croce to that of Propositura, in order to encourage the rememberance and veneration of the faithful.

In August 1910 the IV Centenary of the death of the Blessed was celebrated in the Propositura of Anghiari and in 1922 the Association of Male Catholic Youth had the Blessed Bartolomeus Magi as its protector. In 1950, the Catholic Action Associations of the Parish, built a new Altar in the Propositura under Sogliani’s painting to give a more decorous arrangement to the Relic of the Head of the Blessed Magi, placed in a precious Reliquary.

The Feast of the Blessed is celebrated at this Altar on 29 August of each year.

Posted in franciscan OFM, SAINT of the DAY

EMBER SATURDAY, Our Lady the Nea/New Church of the Virgin Mary, Jerusalem (530), St Pope Gregory VII

EMBER SATURDAY Fast & Partial Abstinence: https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/16/today-is-an-ember-day-did-you-remember/

Bl Antonio Caixal
Blessed Bartolomeus Magi di Amghiari OFM (1460-1510) Confessor, Friar of the Order of Friar’s Minor
St Canio
St Denis Ssebuggwawo
St Dionysius of Milan
St Dunchadh of Iona
St Egilhard of Cornelimünster
Bl Gerardo Mecatti
St Gerbald
St Injuriosus of Auvergne
St Iosephus Chang Song-Jib
Bl James Bertoni
Bl Juan of Granada
St Leo of Troyes

St Matthêô Nguyen Van Ðac Phuong
St Maximus of Evreux
Bl Nicholas Tsehelsky
St Pasicrates of Dorostorum
Bl Pedro Malasanch
St Pherô Ðoàn Van Vân
St Scholastica of Auvergne
St Senzio of Bieda
St Urban I, Pope
St Valentio of Dorostorum
St Victorinus of Acquiney
St Winebald of Saint Bertin
St Worad of Saint Bertin
St Zenobius of Florence

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Quote/s of the Day – 24 May – St Vincent of Lérins and the Prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians by St John Bosco

Quote/s of the Day – 24 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” and the Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians/Auxilium Christianorum and the Feast Day of Saint Vincent of Lérins (Died c445) Confessor

QUOTES by Saint Vincent of Lérins (Died c445) Confessor, Monk, Writer, the Author of the ‘Commonitorium.’
https://anastpaul.com/2023/05/24/quote-s-of-the-day-24-may-st-vincent-of-lerins/

Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christians
By St John Bosco (1815-1888)

Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to thy feet
imploring thy perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not
to remember their children,
how can thou,
the most loving of all mothers, forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore thee
thy perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for thy unceasing help
for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak,
cure the sick,
convert sinners.
Grant through thy intercession,
many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked thee on earth
we may love and eternally thank thee in Heaven.
Amen

Posted in franciscan OFM, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 24 May – Blessed Juan del Prado OFM (1563-1631) Martyr, Priest

Saint of the Day – 24 May – Blessed Juan del Prado OFM (1563-1631) Martyr, Priest, Religious of the Friars Minor of the Barefooted Franciscans of the Strict Observance, Missionary to Muslims in Morocco. Born in 1563 at Morgobresio, Habsburg, Kingdom of Léon, Spain and died by being burned to death on 24 May 1636 at Morocco, North Africa. Also known as – Giovanni di Prado, John of Prado.

Juan del Prado was born in 1563 in Morgovejo, Léon, Spain, to a noble Spanish family. He attended the University of Salamanca and in 1584 made his religious profession in the Order of Friars Minor. Having then received Priestly Ordination, he was initially sent to his home town to preach. He served in various communities as Novice Master and later, as Guardian. However, he was then removed from this last position following a false accusation made against him despite the holiness of life and humility which distinguished him. In 1610, having definitively established his innocence, he was able to be elected Minister of the newly formed Province of San Diego.

In the meantime, the desire to be able to dedicate himself to announcing the Gospel to the pagans, in one of the many missions already existing at that time scattered around the world, grew in his heart. When, IN 1613, the plague raged in Morocco most of his brothers in Morocco, engaged in the difficult mission with the local Muslim population, sadly succombed to the illmess. With the need to replace this sad loss, Juan was able to realise his dream and Pope Urban VIII did not hesitate to name him an Apostolic Missionary and give him special powers.

Having arrived on site, he and two companions began to take care of the Christian slaves. The local authorities ordered them to leave the Town but the three Franciscans did not give up and continued with their activity. They were then arrested near Marrakech, imprisoned and sent to crush saltpetre, the mineral for the manufacture of gunpowder. Led by the Sultan, they did not hesitate to profess their Christian faith and were, therefore, flogged and thrown back into prison. In a subsequent public interrogation, ignoring the presence of the Sultan, Juan turned his attention to some apostates present. Mulay al Walid then struck him, throwing him to the ground, he was pierced by two arrows and burned alive. Overwhelmed by the flames, he persevered in exhorting the executioners to follow Christ but one of them became impatient and smashed his head with a stone.

Pope Benedict XIII Beatified Juan deL Prado on 24 May 1728, officially recognising his Martyrdom “in odium fidei.