ST DESIDERIUS, BISHOP OF LANGRES, MARTYR - 23 MAY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 23rd of May

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 DESIDERIUS, BISHOP OF LANGRES, MARTYR 

The good shepherd is always ready, in imitation of his divine Model, to lay down his life for his sheep. Such this holy pastor approved himself. 

THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS READY TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP

When certain pagan barbarians ravaged that part of Gaul, Saint Desiderius [Didier], accompanied with his clergy, went out to meet them; but was massacred with his followers, and fell a victim to save his flock. 

THE DATE OF THE INVASION

Sigebert says this happened in the invasion of Chrocus the German king, under Gallien; but Tillemont thinks it rather ought to be placed in 411, when the Alans, Sueves, and Vandals plundered that country. 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Desiderius, your blessed bishop and martyr, may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.