SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER Saints celebrated on the 6th of September WELCOME! MARIA DE COPPI, MISSIONARY AND MARTYR “I have experienced beautiful and difficult times in this country: First the colonial times, then war followed by a time of peace and, today, unfortunately, a time of terrorism.”   (Sister Maria De Coppi) Terrorists in Mozambique shot dead an 83-year-old nun during an attack on a Catholic mission. Comboni Sister Maria De Coppi was killed during an attack by militants at a mission in the village of Chipene in the province of Nampula, Mozambique, during the night between September 6/7, 2022. Perhaps just hours or less before her murder in northern Mozambique as militants swept into the area, Comboni Sister Maria De Coppi left a voice message with her niece, urging her to pray for the people on the run. According to the Vatican newspaper September 8, Sister Bottani, who is international coordinator of the Talitha Kum anti-trafficking network based in Rome,...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 13th of May WELCOME! BLESSED GERARD OF VILLAMAGNA, HERMIT Blessed Gerard (Gerardus) was a hermit in Villamagna near Florence, where he enjoys a strong cult even today. Born around the year 1147 of poor country folks, the plague robbed him of his parents and a rich patrician family from Florence took him into their house. When he grew up, he accompanied his guardian on his trip to Jerusalem, was taken prisoner by the Saracens, and after both had suffered much, they were finally ransomed and returned home.  Afterwards, Gerard undertook further pilgrimages to the Holy Land and finally entered the Third Order of St Francis. From then on until his death, he served God continually, nursing the sick and supporting the poor with the alms he received. He followed a daily prayer schedule and never cut corners, so that he often prayed through the night because he had not been able to get through all the prayers during the day due t...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH Saints celebrated on the 7th of March WELCOME! SAINT MARIA ANTONIA DE PAZ, MISSIONARY Pope Francis elevated Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, the first female saint from his native Argentina, to sainthood. More commonly known by her Quechua name of "Mama Antula," she was born in 1730 into a wealthy family in Santiago del Estero, a province north of Buenos Aires. At the age of 15, she left the comfortable life at home and her family’s privileges to join the Jesuits. Even though the Jesuits had been expelled from Latin America then, she encouraged spiritual practices like prayer and meditation, walking thousands of kilometres barefoot, and involving the rich and the poor in her initiatives.  Pope Francis first authorized her beatification in 2016 after the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints recognised a miracle linked to her: the inexplicable healing in 1905 of a seriously ill nun belonging to the religious order in charge of the House of Spirit...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER Saints celebrated on the 24th of September WELCOME! SAINT GERARD SAGREDO, BISHOP AND MARTYR The Roman Martyrology * calls  Gerard Sagredo   (Gerardus) "Apostle of Hungary." He was born in Venice between the years 970 and 980. From childhood onwards he received the grace to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and to follow the gospel teachings in everything. He renounced the world and became a monk at S. Giorgio Maggiore. In his 30th year he was ordained a priest. Driven by pious devotion, he and several companions decided to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Passing through Hungary on their way there, Gerard spent seven years in the desert at Beel, converting the Gentiles by his holy words and deeds. Because of his zeal and ability for evangelisation and conversion, King Stephen and made him bishop of Csanad [Chonad] on Marosh (in 1036), more or less against Gerard's will. He was an avid devotee of the Blessed Virgin. All those who ask...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY Saints celebrated on the 12th of February WELCOME! BLESSED JAK BUSHATI, PRIEST AND MARTYR Jak Bushati was born on August 8, 1890 in the city of Shkodra. He started his education at the Franciscan school and afterwards continued to the Pontifical Seminary of Shkodra. Jak was the parish priest of Ndrefana, and later of Gëzig. After 26 years as a priest in Mirdita Abbey, he was transferred to Kallmet as a parish priest. The communist regime did not even spare the devout and sober-minded priest as in 1949 he was accused of helping the saboteurs and was arrested for agitation and propaganda. These are the charges that would lead him to be shot without trial on February 12, 1949. His dead body was thrown into a swamp somewhere near Lezha. On November 5, 2016, Dom Jak Bushati was beatified in Saint Stephen's Cathedral square in Shkodra. Source: https://ata.gov.al/2024/02/12/perkujtohet-martiri-i-kishes-katolike-dom-jak-bushati-pushkatuar-nga-regjimi-kom...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER   Saints celebrated on the 7th of December WELCOME! GERARD DE FARSA, BISHOP OF VELLETRI, CONFESSOR On December 7, we also commemorate Gerard de Farsa (Gerardus, Girardus, Giraldus), a bishop and confessor of Velletri (apud Veliternos) in the Papal States. He was born in France and distinguished himself by his piety, holy conduct, mortification and works of charity. Even as a bishop, he firmly adhered to all the requirements of monastic life. Miraculous healings took place at his grave. He is the patron of Velletri (Velitrae) , where he entered eternal joy on the above day. (Buc.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 402) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations PRAYER: May the intercession of the holy bishop Gerard commend us to you, O God, so that through his merits we may obtain that which we cannot accomplish by our own. Through our Lor...

  WELCOME! GERARD, RELIGIOUS Gerard (Gerardus), born in Venice, was a Capuchin priest who never took any food during the last three days of Holy Week. When he prayed, he often fell into ecstasy, a state that lasted up to four hours. [Before it was proclaimed dogma], he considered Mary's Immaculate Conception to be so certain that he promised to rather die a death by fire than deny it. He died in Paris in 1603 . (Flor. Seraph. II. 486.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 402) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER Saints celebrated on the 27th of December WELCOME! GERALD OF ST GALLEN, RELIGIOUS Gerald (Geraldus, Gerardus), commemorated on December 27, was a very pious and very learned monk at Sankt Gallen in Switzerland. Bucelin * does not provide any details regarding the time when he lived and died. (Buc.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 402) *A hagiography source used by the authors  Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER Saints celebrated on the 27th of December WELCOME! GERARD, CONFESSOR Gerard (Gerardus), commemorated on December 27, was a confessor in England . (El.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 402) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER Saints celebrated on the 19th of October WELCOME! GERHARD HEUSSER, PRIEST Gerhard Heusser (Gerardus), who is remembered on October 19, was a Franciscan priest from Worbis. (At the time of writing the monastery, which had been seized by the secular state, was used as a workhouse.) During Erfurt's terrible plague in 1683, Gerhard shone by his apostolic zeal and his charity towards the sick and dying. By his word and example, he also led many Protestants back to the true Church. (Hub. Men.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 402) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER Saints celebrated on the 17th of October WELCOME! GERARD ODONIS, RELIGIOUS Gerard Odonis (Gerardus), who died at Toulouse in 1222, is commemorated on October 17. He was general of the Franciscans . (Hub. Men.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 402) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY Saints celebrated on the 9th of February WELCOME! BLESSED LEOPOLD OF ALPANDEIRE, RELIGIOUS Leopold of Alpandeire was born Francisco Tomás de San Juan Bautista Márquez y Sánchez on June 24, 1864. He became a professed religious of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. His life is not distinguished for spectacular works but rather for the humble and simple life in which he led his life as well as for his kindness - in particular towards the most deprived persons. He spent most of his life in Granada where its people still remember and celebrate him as a model example of Christian life and virtue. He went to his eternal reward on February 9, 1956. Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_of_Alpandeirea PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Leopold 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, ...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY Saints celebrated on the 7th of February   WELCOME! AVA OF MELK, POET AND RECLUSE "Frau Ava," also known as Ava of Göttweig or Ava of Melk (born around 1060; died probably February 7, 1127 near Melk or in Kleinwien near Göttweig), is one of the first German-speaking poets known by name. "Frau Ava" ("Mrs. Ava") initially led a secular life, was married and gave birth to two sons (Hartmann and Heinrich). After becoming a widow, she retired to a monastery.  In her poem "The Last Judgment" she talks about her sons and reveals her name. The Last Judgment (excerpt) Dizze buoch dihtôte zweier chinde muoter. diu sageten ir disen sin, michel mandunge was under in, der muoter wâren diu chint liep, der eine von der werlt sciet. Nu bitte ich iuch gemeine, michel unde chleine, swer dize buoch lese, daz er sîner sêle gnâden wunskende wese, unde dem einen, der noch lebet unde der in den arbeiten strebet, dem wunsket gnâden un...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY Saints celebrated on the 7th of February   WELCOME! GUILLAUME SALTEMOUCHE, RELIGIOUS AND MARTYR Guilielmus , (February 8, [also February 7]), surnamed Sultamochius [Guillaume Saultemouche, William Saultemouche],  a member of the Society of Jesus, was killed in 1593 by the Calvinists for the sake of faith along with his companion Jacobus Salesius . Both are described as “perfect religious”. (Men. S.J.) (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 567) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY Saints celebrated on the 7th of February WELCOME! BLESSED JACQUES SALÈS, JESUIT AND MARTYR Jacques Salès and Guillaume Saultemouche [ Jacobus Salesius , Jacob Sales and William Saltemouche] were martyred for their defence of belief in the real presence in the Eucharist by Huguenots in France. Jacques Salès (1556-1593) attended the Jesuit school at Billom from 1568-1572; he entered the novitiate at Verdun in 1573. Father Salès determined to devote himself to confronting the errors of Huguenots. Calvinists sometimes joined the Catholics at his lectures and tried to interrupt the Jesuit preacher by heckling him. Nevertheless, Salès was successful in confirming Catholics in their faith. In 1590 Salès was sent to Tournon to take the chair of "controversial" theology; he was responsible for devising a plan of studies to treat the theological issues that divided Catholics and Protestants, showing the truth of Catholicism and responding to the obje...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY Saints celebrated on the 8th of February WELCOME! BL. MARIA JOSEFA ALHAMA Y VALERA, FOUNDRESS Maria Josefa was born on September 30, 1893 in Santomera, Murcia, Spain, to poor parents as the eldest of nine children. She received the name Maria Josefa  in honour of her grandmother.  At the age of 21 she became a member of the Congregation of the Daughters of Calvary in Villena. She took the name Mother Hope of Jesus (Madre Speranza di Gesù). This holy sister established two of her own orders in 1930 and in 1951 for women and for men respectively. In the 1950s she decided to begin a project that she believed represented the will of God: the construction of a sanctuary that would be dedicated to the love of God. On November 22, 1981, Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary and visited Valera. In 1982, the pope recognised it as being a "minor basilica". Maria Josefa died in February 1983 and was buried in the very church she worked so hard ...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER Saints celebrated on the 25th of September   WELCOME! GERARD, RELIGIOUS Gerard (Gerardus) (September 25), was a Franciscan Friar Minor who, according to Grevenus * and others, is remembered for having led a saintly and edifying life. The Bollandists * assume that he died in Cologne, although this is not explicitly stated. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  2, Augsburg, 1861, pp. 401-02) *A hagiography source used by the authors Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk,  de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER Saints celebrated on the 9th of October WELCOME! ROBERT GROSSETESTE, BISHOP OF LINCOLN Robert Grosseteste was Bishop of Lincoln and one of the most learned men of the Middle Ages; born about 1175; died October 9, 1253. He came from Stradbroke in the county of Suffolk. Little is known of his family, but it was certainly a poor one. His name is probably a family name.  The first definite date which we can connect with his life, is that of a letter written in 1199 by Giraldus Cambrensis to recommend him to the Bishop of Hereford. Giraldus spoke of his knowledge of the liberal arts and of literature, and of his excellent character and industry. We may also gather from this letter, that he was acquainted with law and medicine. If he was in 1199 a "master" of such distinction he must have gone to the young, but already very flourishing, University of Oxford not later than 1192 or 1193. That he afterwards studied and taught theology in Paris is int...