ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER Saints celebrated on the 2nd of September WELCOME! VENERABLE BLONDA, WIDOW Blonda was a widow and tertiary of the Servite Order, whose memory is observed in Verruculo in Northern Italy (Emilia), within the Diocese of Rimini, on September 2 . The Bollandists * list her as " Venerable ." The story of this widow’s conversion is remarkable enough to warrant inclusion here. She hailed from the Foschi family of Verrucolo , in the Diocese of Rimini. Her husband died only a few years into their marriage, leaving behind a son - an heir to the virtues of both parents - who was subsequently murdered in a cruel act by the enemies of their family. Consumed by this, she became filled with the most tormenting thoughts of revenge. Meanwhile, the enemies of her house escalated their hatred toward the unfortunate mother to an extreme degree of inhumanity. One day, after she had eaten what she believed to be a calf’s heart during her midday meal, her tormen...
ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER Saints celebrated on the 12th November WELCOME! GEBHARD III, BISHOP OF CONSTANCE Gebhard III, Bishop of Constance, Margrave and Duke of Zähringen, was, according to Zedler *, the 47th bishop to hold this see. His father was Berchtold the Bearded . The pious son exchanged his comital attire for the habit of Saint Benedict . Emperor Henry IV had elevated Otto I to the see of Constance; Otto sided with the Emperor. Meanwhile, with the support of his relatives, Gebhard - then at the monastery of Hirschau - was called to serve as bishop. Pope Gregory VII confirmed his appointment without hesitation. The opposing faction, however, set up an anti-bishop named Arnold , forcing Gebhard to step aside. Yet, when Emperor Henry V - who was initially devoted to the Papal See - ascended to the throne, he restored Gebhard to his episcopal seat. The latter concluded his God-pleasing and fruitful ministry on November 12 , 1110. While some...