ST GAUDENTIUS, BISHOP OF NOVARA - 22 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 22nd of January

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST GAUDENTIUS, BISHOP OF NOVARA 

Saint Gaudentius, French St-Gaudence, was the first bishop of Novara. Born in Ivrea (Eporedia) in Piedmont, he showed a great inclination and enthusiasm for spreading evangelical teaching from an early age. 

He attached himself to the priest and martyr Laurentius at Novara and received from him guidance and encouragement in pastoral care. 

HE WAS FRIENDS WITH ST EUSEBIUS OF VERCELLI

The fact that he gained the great trust of the faithful and their shepherds is also shown by his close and friendly relationship with the famous Bishop St Eusebius of Vercelli, whom he voluntarily followed into exile and for whom he soon had to deputise for quite some time.

AS ST AMBROSE WISHED AND PREDICTED...

So it came about that, following the return of St Eusebius, St Gaudentius was appointed the first bishop of Novara - exactly as St Ambrose had wished and predicted it. 

HIS WORK HAS REMAINED A BLESSING TO THIS DAY

But his work has also remained a blessing to this day through his institution of the common life of the priests, which is why the canons at the Lateran Church in Nom also celebrate his festival with great solemnity. 

THE POWER OF HIS WORD AND EXAMPLE

By the power of his word and example,  he wiped out the last remnants of pagan superstition in his diocese. Only actual eyewitnesses could really believe the many and great miracles that the Lord had done through him.

HIS RELICS ARE VENERATED IN THE MAGNIFICENT CHURCH AT NOVARA

After twenty years of holding the pastoral staff, he ended his career. The magnificent church at Novara, which houses his holy relics is at the same time an eloquent monument to the miracles that took place at his grave. He died around the year 418. On August 3 his translation is celebrated, on February 3 he is also commemorated. The Roman Martyrology names him on January 22. He also occurs in the Proper of Chur/Switzerland.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, 1858)