BL. RICHARD OF VAUCELLES, ABBOT

BL. RICHARD OF VAUCELLES, ABBOT - 28 JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 28th 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.

BL. RICHARD OF VAUCELLES, ABBOT

A native of England, Richard became a Cistercian monk under Saint Bernard (+ 1153) in Clairvaux, France. Bernard later chose Richard to succeed another Englishman, Blessed Radulf, as abbot of the monastery of Vaucelles, near Cambrai, France.

Bernard was so impressed by this thriving religious community that in admiration he exclaimed, “Blessed be God! A short while ago, indeed, in the beginning, I brought a small number of men to this place; but now, seeing that little flock to have grown into so great a multitude, I rejoice and exult, and give thanks to almighty God.”

Richard served as abbot of Vaucelles for sixteen years, and died with a reputation of holiness.

There appear to have been miracles attributed to Richard’s intercession following his death, for according to one account so many “signs of sanctity” regarding him and his predecessor Radulf came to light that they drew the attention of the Third Lateran Council in 1179. The bodies of both abbots were thereupon exhumed for the veneration of the faithful, and were transferred to a place of honour adjoining their monastery’s new chapel.

“The days of old have blessed us

with gifts beyond all praise:

our Father, make us faithful

to serve the coming days.”

WELCOME

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BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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