Saint of the Day – 8 November – Saint Maurus (Died 383) the 2nd Bishop and Confessor of Verdun, France, serving his See for 27 years. Born probably in France and died in Verdun on 10 November 383. Also known as – Maur, Maurius.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Verdun. Maurus, Bishop and Confessor.”
Maurus was the 2nd Bishop of Verdun. In the chronology of the Bishops of the Diocese, he appears after St Sanctinus (c270-356), the 1st Bishop and before Salvinus.
Maurus was a disciple of St Sanctinus and was the first Priest to be Ordained in the Diocese of Verdun. Before dying, Bishop Sanctinud urged the inhabitants of Verdun to choose out Saint Maurus as their next Bishop.
Upon St Sanctinus’ death, the faithful of Verdun duly searched for Maurus for three years without discovering his whereabouts, hoping to have him appointed as their Bishop. But Maurus, not seeking worldly honours or responsibilities, did not wish to abandon his life of prayer and fasting, nor did he wish to desert gus disciples.
Finally, his location was discovered and he relented after the constant requests from the faithful of Verdun. He became the Bishop in 356, was Consecrated in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul by Author, Bishop of Metz and governed the Diocese for approximately 27 years.
Chronicles report that Saint Maurus died on 10 November 383 but he is celebrated today, 8 November.
Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces (1921): In 1921 Pope Benedict XV instituted 8 November as the Feast Day of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces. A text by St Louis Grignion de Montfort expresses this truth admirably: “Only Mary found grace before God (Luke 1:30) without the help of any other creature. And after her, all those who found grace before God, found it only through her. Mary was full of grace when the Archangel Gabriel saluted her (Luke 1:28) and was filled with grace when the Holy Ghost so mysteriously overshadowed her (Luke 1:35). From day to day, from moment to moment, she increased, so much. this twofold plenitude that she attained an immense and inconceivable degree of grace. So much so, that the Almighty made of her, the sole custodian of His treasures and sole dispenser of all His graces, so that she might ennoble, exalt and enrich all she chooses. She can lead them along the narrow path to Heaven and guide them through the narrow gate to Life. She can give a royal throne, scepter and crown to whomever she wishes. Jesus is always and everywhere, the Fruit and Son of Mary, and Mary is everywhere, the true tree who bears the Fruit of Life, the true Mother, who bears that Son!” – St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) (True Devotion to Mary No 44)
Four Holy Crowned Martyrs: Saint Castorus, Saint Claudius, Saint Nicostratus and Saint Simpronian. Skilled stone carvers in the 3rd century quarries. Martyred when they refused to carve an idol of Aesculapius for Diocletian. They were drowned in the River Sava in 305. Patronages – against fever, cattle, sculptors, stone masons, stonecutters.
All Deceased Dominicans All Saints of Bologna, Italy All Saints of Wales Augustinian Martyrs of Spain
All Saints of the Diocese of Evry: A regional memorial of all the Saints and Beati of the calendar who have a connection to the Diocese of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes, France:
Blessed Isabella of France, founded the Longchamp monastery
Blessed Nicolas Gaudreau, pastor of Vert-le-Petit
Blessed Pierre Bonse, pastor of Massy
Our Lady of Good Guard, patron saint of the diocese, venerated in Longpont-sur-Orge, France
Saint Corbinian, born in Saint-Germain-lès-Arpajon
Saint Denis of Paris, evangelizer of part of Essonne and revered ni Longpont-sur-Orge
Saint Eloi, who lived in Chilly-Mazarin
Saint Germain of Paris
Saint William of Bourges, son of Count Baldwin IV of Corbeil
Saint William of Aebelholt, pastor of Brunoy
Saint Wulfran of Sens, born in Milly-la-Forêt
Blessed Nativelle, vicar of Longjumeau
Blessed René Le Bris, pastor of Bris-sous-Forges
Saint Spire of Bayeux, whose relics are in Corbeil in the cathedral that bears his name
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