Saint/s of the Day – 8 July – St Colman (Died 689) Martyr Priest, Missionary in Thuringia, Germany, together with his master, the Bishop St Killian “Apostle of Franconia”(nowadays the northern part of Bavaria) and the Martyr Deacon St Totnan. Born in Ireland and died on 8 July 689 in Wurzburg. Patronages against gout and rheumatism, against deception, in Germany – of the Diocese of Aschaffenburg and Würzburg. Also known as – Colomann, Kolonat..
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Wurzburg in Germany, St Killian, a Bishop, who was commissioned by the Roman Pontiff to preach the Gospel. After having converted many to Christ, he was put to death with his companions, Colman, a Priest and Totnan, a Deacon.”
In 686 Pope Conon Ordained St Killian as a Missionary Bishop. St Kilian then returned to Würzburg in 687 with Saint Colman and Saint Totnan, as an assistant Priest and Deacon respectively.
The trio evangelised East Franconia and East Thuringia, areas in modern Bavaria, Germany, converted Duke Gozbert and a large part of Gozbert’s subjects.
St Colman
Like most Irish missionaries, they spoke fearlessly against any breach of faith or morals. In this case St Kilian openly rebuked the Duke for his irregular marriage to his brother’s widow. According to legend, while Gosbert was away on a military expedition, Geilan, his irregular wife, had the three missionaries beheaded when she found that Gosbert was going to leave her because their marriage was forbidden by the Church.
A strong cultus was immediately established in Germany and spread as far as Vienna, Austria and Ireland. Even today, the Kilianfest is one of the better known festivals of the German faithful which celebrates the lives of all tbree of these brave Missionary Saints.
St Elizabeth of Portugal TOSF (1271-1336) Widow, Queen Consort, Franciscan Tertiary, Apostle of Charity and Peace, Political Negotiator and Mediator. In the year 1694 Pope Innocent XII moved her Feast to 8 July, so that it would not conflict with the celebration of the Octave of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. The Devoted Love of St Elizabeth: https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/04/saint-of-the-day-4-july-st-elizabeth-of-portugal-t-o-s-f-1271-1336/
St Abraham the Martyr Bl Adolf IV of Schauenburg St Pope Adrian III
St Arnold St Auspicius of Toul St Auspicius of Trier St Brogan of Mothil +St Colman (Died 689) Martyred Priest Missionary in Thuringia, Germany St Doucelin
St Morwenna – No details about her have survived. She is reported to have appeared in visions in Morwenstow, Cornwall, England, where her Relics are apparently buried under the Church floor.
St Pancras of Taormina Bl Peter the Hermit St Procopius of Ceasarea St Sunniva of Bergen St Thibaud de Marly +St Totnan (Died 689) Martyred Deacon Missionary in Thuringia, Germany
Abrahamite Monks/Martyrs of Constantinople: A group of Monks in a Monastery founded by Saint Abraham of Ephesus. Martyred in the iconoclast persecutions of Emperor Theophilus. In c 835 in Constantinople.
Martyrs of Shanxi – 7 Saints: In 1898 seven sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary were sent to the Shanxi Diocese in China to serve the poor in hospitals and care for the unwanted or other destitutes in orphanages. They were: Anne-Catherine Dierks, Anne-Francoise, Moreau, Clelia Nanetti, Irma Grivot, Jeanne-Marie Kuergin, Marianna Giuliani, Pauline Jeuris There they all died in one of the periodic persecutions against foreign missionaries. They were beheaded on 9 July 1900 at Taiyuanfu, China- Canonisedon 24 November 1946 by Pope Pius XII.
Martyrs of Syrmium – 5 Saints: Five Christians Martyred together for their faith. We know nothing else about them but the names – Cecilia, Eperentius, Eraclius, Sostratus and Spirus. They were martyred in the 4th century in Syrmium, Pannonia (modern Serbia).
AnaStpaul 
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