SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER Saints celebrated on the 6th of November WELCOME! SAINT LEONARD OF LIMOUSIN, HERMIT Saint Leonard  Nothing absolutely certain is known of his history, as his earliest "Life", written in the eleventh century, has no historical value whatever. According to this extraordinary legend,  Saint Leonard belonged to a noble Frankish family of the time of King Clovis, and St Remy of Reims was his godfather. After having secured from the king the release of a great number of prisoners, and refused episcopal honours which Clovis offered him, he entered a monastery at Micy near Orleans. Later he went to Aquitaine and there preached the Gospel.  Having obtained, through prayer, a safe delivery for the Queen of the Franks in her confinement, he received as a gift from the king a domain at Noblac, near Limoges, where he founded a monastery. The veneration of this saint is as widely known as his history is obscure and uncertain. It is true that th...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 30th of July WELCOME! BLESSED EDWARD POWELL, PRIEST AND MARTYR Edward Powell, born in Wales c. 1478, was educated at Oxford, where he graduated M.A., becoming a Fellow of Oriel College in 1495. In 1501 he was appointed rector of Bleadon in Somerset and later held livings at Salisbury, Carlton-cum-Thurlby, Lyme Regis, Bedminster, Bristol, and Sutton le Marsh.  After Henry VIII's accession to the throne he preached a number of times at court. When Luther's doctrines spread to England they were fiercely opposed by Powell in a dissertation, Propugnaculum summi Sacerdotii Evangelici, published in 1523. He declared himself unequivocally opposed to Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and to his marriage with Anne Boleyn. For this reason, and also because he was constantly preaching against the Protestant Movement, he lost favour at court, and when, in 1534, he refused to acknowledge the succession to the throne he was ...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 30th of July WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD FETHERSTONE, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Fetherstone [Richard Fetherston] was chaplain to Catharine of Aragon and schoolmaster to her daughter, Princess Mary, afterwards queen. He is called sacrae theologiae Doctor by Pits (De illustribus Angliae scriptoribus, 729) . He was one of the theologians appointed to defend Queen Catharine's cause in the divorce proceedings before the legates Wolsey and Campeggio, and is said to have written a treatise "Contra divortium Henrici et Catharinae, Liber unus". No copy of this work is known to exist.  Fr Fetherstone took part in the session of Convocation which began in April, 1529, and was one of the few members who refused to sign the Act declaring Henry's marriage with Catharine to be illegal ab initio , through the pope's inability to grant a dispensation in such a case. In 1534 he was called upon to take the Oath of Supremacy a...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 24th of May WELCOME! LEO OF GENOA, RELIGIOUS After a period of leading a very uplifting hermit existence on Mount Gargano, Leo of Genoa (Leo de Genua)  joined the Capuchins and from then led a particularly penitential life. In 1571, he died godly at Manfredonia in Italy. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  3, Augsburg, 1869, p. 754) 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 20th of October WELCOME! SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE According to biographers, Rusticus, who was born either at Marseilles or at Narbonnaise, Gaul, is the one to whom  Saint Jerome  (about 411) addressed a letter, commending him to imitate the virtues of  Saint Exuperius of Toulouse and to follow the advice of Procule, then Bishop of Marseilles. When he had completed his education in Gaul, Rusticus went to Rome, where he soon gained a reputation as a public speaker, but he wished to embrace the contemplative life. He wrote to Saint Jerome, who advised him to continue his studies. Thus Rusticus entered the monastery of Saint Vincent of Lérins . He was ordained at Marseilles, and on October 3, 430 (or 427) was consecrated Bishop of Narbonne.  With all his zeal, he could not prevent the progress of the Arian heresy which the Goths were spreading abroad. The siege of Narbonne by the Goths and dissen...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER Saints celebrated on the 29th of December WELCOME! SAINT JESSE, SHEPHERD  Saint Jesse, Hebrew Ishai, is listed in the Elenchus * on December 29, probably for the reason that his famous son David 's feast is celebrated on that day.  According to the book of Ruth in the Bible (4:21, 22), Jesse was a son of Obed and grandson of the rich Boaz (Booz), who descended from Phares, whom Judas had fathered with Tamar. Boaz was related to Elimelech, who, at a time of famine, had emigrated to the Moabite area with his wife Naomi (Noomi) and his two sons Mahalon and Chelion (Ruth 1:1 ff.). There the sons took the Moabites Orpha and Ruth as wives, but died childless, whereupon Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth. She caused her cousin Boaz to enter into the leviathan marriage with Ruth, from which Obed, the father of Jesse and Grandfather of David, sprung. The name Jesse can also be found in the genealogy of the Lord (Matthew 1:...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 12th of January WELCOME! SAINT BISCOPIUS, ABBOT Saint Biscopius (January 12) was an Abbot in England, better known as  Saint Benedict Biscop . (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 487) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Biscopius 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

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 30th of July WELCOME! SAINT BISHOE, ABBOT Bishoe (Bisoe, Witza, Visa), (July 30) was an abbot among the Copts and student of  Saint Sanuda or Synada (July 1). Migne * lists him as a hermit in Egypt (with the title "saint"); the Bollandists * place him among the Prætermissi . (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 487) *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 Bishoe 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

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 1st of July WELCOME! SAINT SANUDA, HERMIT Sanuda (Sanudas) (July 1, July 30), the teacher of the hermit Bishoe, is listed as a saint in the Greek Menaea*. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 203.) *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 Sanuda 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

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH Saints celebrated on the 21st March WELCOME! BLESSED SANTUCCIA, ABBESS Blessed Santuccia (Sanctuccia) was a native of Gubbio ( Eugubium ) in Umbria. At an early age, she married a pious man, to whom she gave birth to a daughter named Julia. The child died, after which the parents decided to dedicate their future days to the Lord and lead a monastic life. After she had run a monastery in Gubbio for some time, the Templars gave her the church of St Mary on Street Julia (Via Giulia), later called St Anna [Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri] in Rome, whereupon she moved there. She promoted the veneration of the Mother of God and died on March 21, 1305 in Rome. Her feast day is also variously celebrated on March 2 and September 8. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 203) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that t...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE Saints celebrated on the 3rd of June WELCOME! SAINT ISAAC, RELIGIOUS AND MARTYR Monastery yard in the snow Saint Isaac (Isaacus) was the son of rich and noble parents in Cordova ( Cordoba ) in Spain. Endowed with a childlike fear of God from an early age, he was given a respected civil service position as a young adult, particularly because of his knowledge of the Arabic language. Shortly after his appointment, Isaac felt the urgent call to serve God full-time as a religious, and so joined the nearby double monastery of Tabanos (Tabane). After three years of labour for his moral perfection, he went to Cordova in holy zeal for the glory of God, and was seized by the Saracen judge, because he rebuked the law of Mohammed with admirable frankness. After many tortures, Isaac was beheaded in 851 (according to Usuard in the 27th year of his age), his body burned and the ashes thrown into the river. The Roman Martyrology * lists him on the above day, and so...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER   Saints celebrated on the 14th of November   WELCOME! SERVANT OF GOD MICHAEL UGWUJA ENEJA, BISHOP OF ENUGU Michael Ugwuja Eneja, born in January 1919 in Ibagwa Nkwo, Nigeria, ordained to the priesthood July 29, 1951, was working at Christ the King Parish Onitsha prior to his election and installation as the third bishop of Enugu on February 26, 1978. Having been born to pagan parents who strongly opposed their son's choice to become Christian, his whole life and priestly ministry were characterized by humility and brotherly love. At every opportunity, Michael emphasised the need for sanctity and the necessity of acquiring it, saying, "It is sanctity; union with God, that is the whole aim of the struggle." As bishop, he not only continued his ascetic lifestyle, but also endeavoured to inculcate the same in priests and lay people alike. In his view, "Self-denial is a sine qu a non of good living." Besides his insistence on ho...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY   Saints celebrated on the 16th February WELCOME! SAINT GIUSEPPE ALLAMANO, PRIEST  In 1880 a young priest, Father Giuseppe Allamano, was appointed Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation at the age of 29. Although his father had died when he was only three years old, his early years had been privileged with the example of at least two future saints: one being his uncle, later to become Saint Joseph Cafasso , and the other being Don Bosco, later to become Saint John Bosco . The latter was his teacher and spiritual director. Father Giuseppe had benefited from these early influences and, by the time he was installed as Rector of Our Lady of Consolation Shrine in Turin, he had a number of years’ experience of directing seminarians and newly ordained priests of the diocese. He was a dynamic Rector of the Shrine and enhanced its reputation and influence, but his achievements were not limited to that holy place. CONSOLATA MISSIONARIES ...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 15th of May WELCOME! SAINT WITESINDUS, MARTYR OF CORDOBA Saint Witesindus (Vitesindus), (May 15), a martyr at Cordova (Cordoba) , suffered death in 852 for the confession of Jesus Christ. Prior to proclaiming his faith, he had denied our Lord for fear of repercussions by the muslim rulers, who were in charge at the time.  (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 820) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Witesindus 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

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 25th of July WELCOME! SAINT THEODEMIRUS, MONK AND MARTYR Saint Theodemirus (July 25), monk, who was martyred in Cordova ( Cordoba ) in 801, is listed in the Roman Martyrology *. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 454) *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 Theodemirus 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

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL Saints celebrated on the 18th of April WELCOME! SAINT PERFECTUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR OF CORDOBA  This holy Martyr died in  Cordoba (Cordova) in 850 for the offence of confessing our Lord Jesus Christ. Although the fanatical hatred of the Saracens against the Christians was not nearly as violent in Spain as in the Orient and Africa, they still experienced a myriad of oppressions and vexations. They were also forced to learn and speak the Arabic language. Blasphemy against Mahommed and the Koran was punishable by death, and it was no big deal for the oppressors to target the Catholic priests - as they merely carried out their duties - and to execute them. This lot was also shared by the priest Perfectus ( Perfecto ) under the Khalif Abderrahman II (reigned from 812 to 852). Following his martyrdom, some Christians buried Perfectus' body in the Church of St Asciclus. His name is inserted in the Roman Martyrology* on April 18. His veneration h...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 10th of July WELCOME! SAINT MANUEL RUIZ AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF DAMASCUS The persecution of Christians in the city of Damascus, which resulted in thousands of Christian victims, was taken to new heights on July 9, 1860, when, during the night, in the cover of dark, a command of rebels - animated by a deep-rooted religious hatred - managed to penetrate through a hidden door indicated by a traitor, into the Franciscan friary of St Paul. Eight Friars Minor (seven of Spaniards and one from Tyrol/Austria) and three Maronite lay Christians, who were also blood-brothers, were barbarously slaughtered. It was clearly a martyr's death: before brutally inflicting the fatal blows, the attackers asked them to renounce the Christian faith and embrace Islam, which these Saints steadfastly  refused.  The group of Martyrs was composed of Friar Manuel Ruiz López, priest, superior, born in 1804 in Burgos, who was 56 years old at th...

  WELCOME! CORDOBA Cordoba (Córdoba, Cordova) is a Christian diocese in Spain, formerly suffragan of Toledo, since 1851 of Seville. The Gospel, it is believed, was preached there in the Apostolic period, it being very probable that Apostles Saint James the Greater and Saint Paul, while preaching in various cities of Spain may have sent thither some of their disciples; Cordova (Colonia Patricia) was then the chief city of Baetica, and the centre of Andalusian life.  Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cordoba The name of the apostolic founder the of the See of Cordova is unknown, as the oldest extant documents do not antedate the third century. The conditions of the Christian religion in this early period were quite similar to those which obtained elsewhere in the Roman Empire: persecution, suspicion, denunciation, enforced profession of idolatry, etc. Many illustrious martyrs, Faustus, Januarius, and others, suffered at Cordova.  The earliest known bishop (though not the founder of th...