ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY
Saints celebrated on the 8th 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.
SAINT SEVERIN OF NORICUM, MISSIONARY
Saint Severin of Noricum (Saint Severin) was born in North Africa, perhaps around 410. He laboured in the mission field in Noricum (the Danube area, including South Germany and Austria).
A MAN OF FAITH AND ACTION
He was a powerful figure, a man of faith and action. Time and again he left his beloved monastery to help the poor population of Noricum, who suffered a lot from the storms of the Great Migration which took place all over Europe at the time.
HIS AMAZING SERMONS
The sermons which this apostolic man delivered to the people produced the most amazing effects.
Those who heard him were filled with vigorous disgust for sin and were drawn to serve God with great fervour.
HIS IMPRESSION ON THE BARBARIAN TRIBES
Most mysterious, however, was Severin's impression and influence on the barbarian tribes. Completely on his own and without weapons, the courageous man strolled into the enemy camp. He reprimanded them with powerful words, reclaimed the prisoners and called for the arson and looting to stop.
On such occasions the enemies were fuming, wanting to pounce on the unarmed missionary - but none of them actually did. And one day one of the pagan leaders confessed that he was never as shaken as when he saw this monk.
HIS HOLY DEATH
Severin's life is described in the “Vita sancti severini” of his companion Eugippius from the year 511.
St Severin died on January 8, 482 in Mautern-upon-Danube where he had lived as a monk.
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