SAINT MARSUS, CONFESSOR

SAINT MARSUS, CONFESSOR - 4 OCTOBER

SAINT MARSUS, CONFESSOR

Monastery yard in the snow

According to Gallica Christiana* (II. 998), Saint Marsus was a priest of the Archdiocese of Cologne. His relics are venerated in Essen (Assencium, Essenda). Abbess Mechtild III. [Mechtild II.](998-1003) facilitated this translation. The Bollandists* confirm this fact, and state that Auxerre was Marsus' area of influence during his lifetime.

His name is also spelled Massus, Marusius, Marcus. The Bollandists* reckon him to have been the right hand of Saint Peregrine, the first bishop of Auxerre. Following his death, Marsus was buried in the Church of Saint Corcodomus in Mont Artre (Monte Autrico).

The transfer of his mortal remains to Essen took place in the 10th century under Otto III. (II. 387–390.) Since the abbess Mechtild indeed lived around this time (Gall. Chr. III. 775), there is no contradiction regarding the time.

However, there seems to be some confusion regarding his translation from Auxerre, and also regarding his alleged sphere of influence. According to the tradition of the Church of Auxerre, in was in the middle of the third century that Peregrine came to these areas - he had been sent by Pope Sixtus II - and built the first little church here. He suffered martyrdom and is venerated on May 16. His successor Marcellianus, who, according to this reference, is sometimes also called Marsus, could perhaps be the one whom Bollandists* refer to.

This saint died on May 13 and was buried in Monte Autrico. From there his relics came to the monastery of Saint Julian of Auxerre, which was founded by Saint Amator. So apparently two different holy men of the name Marsus are listed among the saints, one of whom worked in Essen and the other in Auxerre. The relics of the former are in Essen, those of the latter in Auxerre, namely, as Migne* testifies, in the church of Saint Julian.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, pp. 258-59)

*A hagiography source used by the authors

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Marsus 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.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

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...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog