Saint of the Day – 22April – Saint Altfried of Münster (Died 849) the Third Bishop of Münster from (839–849) and Abbot of Essen-Werden and Helmstedt. Born in the 9th Century, n Friesland (in modern Netherlands) and died on 22 April 849 of natural causes. Altfried was a nephew of St Ludger (c 742-809) and his second successor in the See of Münster, as well as a successor as Abbot of the Abbey of Essen-Werden (founded by St Ludger). The second successor was also a close relative, St Gerfried of Münster. Altfried also wrote a comprehensive Vita of St Ludger. Also known as – Altfrid, Altfrith. The name Münster means Monastery.
We have such scant information on Altfried’s life, although I believe there is a complete Vita available somewhere online in Latin. He was born of a noble family and followed his uncle, St Ludger becoming a Monk and Priest in St Ludger’s Monastery of Essen-Werden, later becoming it’s Abbot. It seems that a second Monastery at Helmstedt, also founded by St Ludger fell under Altfried’s administration.
On the death of Bishop Gerfried in 839, Altfried succeeded him as the Bishop of Münster where he remained until his death.
His remains were solemnly buried in the Crypt at the Monastery of Essen-Werden. The Statues and Tomb inscription below, are enshrined there.
Notre-Dames de Betharam / Our Lady of Betharam, France (1503) – 22 April: Saint Bernadette Soubirous frequently visited the Shrine of Betharram. In fact, the rosary beads that Bernadette used when praying with the Blessed Virgin during the first apparition at Lourdes had come from the Betharram Shrine and the priest to whom she was sent after the apparitions, was Saint Michel Garicoïts (1797-1863) the Priest of Betharram. He it was who alone believed Bernadette’s accounts of the apparitions at Lourdes. He was Canonised in 1947. About St Michel Garicoits here: https://anastpaul.com/2019/05/14/saint-of-the-day-14-may-saint-michel-garicoits-1797-1863/ HERE: https://anastpaul.com/2021/04/22/notre-dames-de-betharam-our-lady-of-betharam-france-1503/
St Pope Caius I (Died 296) Martyr, Bishop of Rome from 17 December 283 to his death in 296. Christian tradition makes him a native of the Dalmatian city of Salona, today Solin near Split, the son of a man also named Caius and a member of a noble family related to the Emperor Diocletian. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2019/04/22/saint-of-the-day-22-april-saint-pope-caius-i-died-613/
Martyrs of Persia: Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Laity who were Martyred in Persia and celebrated together. Several of them have their stories related in the Acta of Saints Abdon and Sennen.
AnaStpaul 
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