SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE Saints celebrated on the 15th of June WELCOME! BLESSED PETER SNOW, PRIEST AND MARTYR [Blessed Peter Snow was an] English priest and martyr, he suffered at York, June 15, 1598. He was born at or near Ripon, and arrived at the English College, Reims, April 17, 1589, receiving the first tonsure and minor orders on August 18, 1590, the subdiaconate at Laon on September 22, and the diaconate and priesthood at Soissons on March 31, 1591.  The following May 15, he left for England. He was arrested about May 1, 1598, when on his way to York with Venerable  Ralph Grimston of Nidd. Both were shortly after condemned, Snow of treason as being a priest and Grimston of felony, for having aided and assisted him, and, it is said, having attempted to prevent his apprehension. Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 ⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Peter conf...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER Saints celebrated on the 1st of October WELCOME! BLESSED RALPH CROCKETT, PRIEST AND MARTYR [Blessed Ralph Crockett was a] priest and martyr; born at Barton-on-the-Hill, near Farndon, Cheshire, England; he suffered martyrdom by being hanged, drawn, and quartered at Broyle Heath, Chichester, October 1, 1588.  Having completed his education at Cambridge, Crockett was a schoolmaster in East Anglia until he discerned a call to the priesthood. He studied and was ordained at Reims (1585). En route to his assignment in the English mission, he was captured on board ship at Littlehampton, Sussex, April 19, 1586, together with Frs. Thomas Bramston, George Potter, and Bl. Edward James. The following week they were transferred to a London prison.  On September 30, 1588, he was tried and condemned under 27 Eliz. c. 2 at Chichester with Frs. Edward James, John Oven, and Francis Edwardes. Oven took the Oath of Supremacy after the trial and Edwardes reca...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE Saints celebrated on the 15th of June WELCOME! BLESSED RALPH GRIMSTON, LAYMAN AND MARTYR Ralph Grimston of Nidd, layman, was arrested early in May 1598, when on his way to York with Fr Peter Snow . Both were shortly after condemned, Fr Snow of treason for being a Catholic priest and Grimston of felony, for having aided and assisted him, and, it is said, having attempted to prevent his apprehension. He suffered martyrdom at York together with Fr Snow on June 15, 1598. Both Catholic martyrs were beatified on November 22, 1987 (by Pope John Paul II). Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 ⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Ralph confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. 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.

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER Saints celebrated on the 1st of December WELCOME! SAINT RALPH SHERWIN, PRIEST AND MARTYR   [Saint Ralph was an] English martyr, born 1550 at Rodesley, near Longford, Derbyshire; died at Tyburn, December 1, 1581.  In 1568 Sir William Petre nominated him to one of the eight fellowships which he had founded at Exeter College, Oxford, probably acting under the influence of the martyr's uncle, John Woodward, who from 1556 to 1566 had been rector of Ingatestone, Essex, where Sir William lived. There Blessed Ralph took the degree of M.A., 2 July, 1574, and was accounted "an acute philosopher, and an excellent Grecian and Hebrician".  In 1575 he fled abroad and went to the English College at Douai, where March 23, 1577, he was ordained priest by the Bishop of Cambrai. On August 2, 1577, he left for Rome, where he stayed at the English College nearly three years, becoming leader of the movement, which placed it under the supervision of the ...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH Saints celebrated on the 22nd of March WELCOME! SAINT DARERCA, SISTER OF ST PATRICK ⬅️ Litany of the Irish Saints Saint Darerca, of Ireland, a sister of  Saint Patrick . Much obscurity attaches to her history, and it is not easy to disentangle the actual facts of her history from the network of legend which medieval writers interwove with her acts. However, her fame, apart from her relationship to Ireland's national apostle, stands secure as not only a great saint but as the mother of many saints.  When St Patrick visited Bredach, as we read in the "Tripartite Life," he ordained Aengus mac Ailill, the local chieftain of Moville, now a seaside resort for the citizens of Derry. Whilst there he found "the three deacons," his sister's sons, namely, St Reat, St Nenn, and St Aedh, who are commemorated respectively on March 3, April 25, and August 31. St Darerca was twice married, her second husband, Chonas, founded the church of Bo...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH Saints celebrated on the 8th of March WELCOME! CONAN OF DIL, ABBOT ⬅️ Litany of the Irish Saints Conan (Conanus) (March 8), surnamed Dil, is listed in Irish calendars and is said to have headed a society of monks. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 653) 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 JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 15th of January WELCOME! CONAN, ABBOT OF MARGAN Conan ( Conanus, Cunanus [Conon]), (January 15), was abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Margan in Wales. It is not known whether or not he was canonized. (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 653) 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 JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 26th of January WELCOME! SAINT CONAN, BISHOP OF SODORE Saint Conan  (Conanus) (January 26), bishop of Sodore, an ancient city on the Isle of Man, is said to have been the teacher of  Saint Fiaker  (Fiacrius). (Information from  Stadler 's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints,  Volume  1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 653) Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Conan 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 ➡️ Saint Conan, Bishop of the Isle of Man

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 13th of January WELCOME! SAINT CONAN, BISHOP OF THE ISLE OF MAN Saint Conan, Bishop of the Isle of Man, died January, 684. He was an Irish missionary, also known as Mochonna. He is not to be confounded with Saint Conindrius , who is said to have been a disciple of Saint Patrick, and to have lived to be a very advanced age (November 17, 560). The Bollandists place Saint Conan amongst the early bishops of Man, and Colgan gives an account of his life and labours. Unfortunately the history of the Isle of Man in the fifth and sixth centuries is very obscure, and it is difficult to get at definite facts, yet Saint Conan, or Mochonna, who is also described as "Bishop of Inis-Patrick " left a distinct impress of his zeal for souls in Manxland . Some authorities give the date of his death as January 26 , but Colgan, quoting from the ancient Irish martyrologies, gives January 13, on which day Saint Conan's feast is observe...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 19th of May WELCOME! BLESSED CRISPIN OF VITERBO, RELIGIOUS Blessed Crispin, a Friar Minor Capuchin, was born at Viterbo in 1668. He died at Rome, May 19, 1750. When he was five years old, his pious mother took him to a sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin, a short distance from Viterbo, where she consecrated him to the Mother of God and placed him under her special protection.  The child grew beyond his years in virtue and science of the saints; so that the townsfolk of Viterbo were wont to call him il Santarello , the little saint.  As Crispin one day saw the Capuchin novices walking in procession, God inspired him with the desire to embrace the religious life. He was shortly afterwards received into the Franciscan Order as a simple lay brother.  Having been employed for some time as cook in the convent at Viterbo, he was sent to Tolfa, a town not far distant from Civita Becchia, to fulfil the same office. Thence he...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 13th of August WELCOME! BLESSED WILLIAM FREEMAN, PRIEST AND MARTYR William Freeman was a priest and martyr, he was born at Manthorp near York, c. 1558 and died at Warwick, August 13, 1595. His parents were recusants, though he conformed outwardly for some time to the [government enforced] religion of the country.  Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, he took his degree as B.A. in 1581, then lived for some years in London, where he witnessed the martyrdom of Edward Stransham in 1586. Strongly impressed with this example, he left England and was ordained priest in 1587 at Reims.  Returning to England in 1589, he worked for six years on the borders of Warwickshire, and in his interesting life many persons are mentioned who were contemporaries or friends of Shakespeare. In January, 1595, a special commission was sent down to Stratford-on-Avon to search the house of Mrs. Heaths who bad engaged his services as tutor to...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 2nd of July WELCOME! BLESSED GEORGE BEESLEY, PRIEST AND MARTYR George Beesley, also spelled Bisley, was an English martyr, born at The Hill in Goosnargh parish, Lancaster, England, of an ancient Catholic family; he died July 2, 1591. He was ordained priest at the English College at Reims, March 14, 1587, and left for England, November 1, 1588.  A man of singular courage, young, strong, and robust, he was captured by Topcliffe late in 1590, and was by his tortures reduced to a skeleton. He endured all with invincible courage and could not be induced to betray his fellow Catholics.  He suffered by the statue of 27 Eliz., merely for being a priest, in Fleet Street, London. His last words were "Absit mihi gloriari nisi in Cruce Domini Nostri Jesu Christi" and, after a pause, "Good people, I beseech God to send all felicity". Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 [Bl. George Beesley was beatified on November 22, 1...

  WELCOME! SAINT BAITHEN OF IONA, MISSIONARY Saint Baithen was an Irish monk, specially selected by Saint Columba as one of the band of missionaries who set sail for Britain in 563. Born in 536, the son of Brenaron, he was an ardent disciple of Saint Columba, and was appointed Abbot of Tiree Island, a monastery founded by Saint Comgall of Bangor.  Saint Adamnan, in recording the death of Saint Columba, tells us that the dying words of the Apostle of Iona, as he was transcribing the fifty-third Psalm, were: "I must stop here, let Baithen write what follows" . Baithen had been looked on as the most likely successor of Saint Columba, and so it happened that on the death of that great apostle, in 596, the monks unanimously confirmed the choice of their founder. Saint Baithen was in high esteem as a wise counsellor, and his advice was sought by many Irish saints, including Saint Fintan Munnu of Taghmon. Saint Adamnan (Eunan), the biographer of Saint Columba, tells many interesting...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 3rd of August WELCOME! VENERABLE THOMAS BELCHIAM, MARTYR Thomas Belchiam was a Franciscan martyr in the reign of Henry VIII, date of birth uncertain; died August 3, 1537.  He boldly opposed the king's first divorces and denounced the tyrant as a heretic. He wrote a book addressed to his brethren, beginning with the text : "They that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses," in which he rebuked the faithless bishops, who were afraid to tell the king the truth. The book seems to be lost, but one copy got into Henry's hands, and he is said to have been moved to tears by reading it, though he soon repented of this weakness.  Belchiam and some thirty of the Observant Franciscans were thrown into prison where they perished of hunger. Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 ⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

  WELCOME! SAINT BLATHMAC, MONK AND MARTYR  Born in Ireland c. 750, Blathmac, a distinguished Irish monk, suffered martyrdom in Iona, about 835. He is fortunate in having had his biography written by Strabo, Benedictine Abbot of Reichenau (824-849), and thus the story of his martyrdom has been handed down through the ages. Strabo's life of this saint is in Latin hexameters, and is to be found in Messingham's "Florilegium Insulæ Sanctorum" (Paris, 1624).  A scion of a noble family he early showed a religious turn of mind, and longed to be enrolled in the noble army of martyrs, a wish which was afterwards fulfilled. His name was latinized Florentius (from the fact of the Irish word Blath meaning a flower), and as a religious, he was most exemplary, finally becoming abbot.  In 824 he joined the community of Columban monks at Iona, and not long afterwards the Danes ravaged the island. One morning, as he was celebrating Mass, the Scandinavian rovers entered the monastic...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY   Saints celebrated on the 25th of February WELCOME! SAINT CAESARIUS OF NAZIANZUS Saint Caesarius of Nazianzus , physician, was the younger and only brother of  Saint Gregory of Nazianzus , born probably c. 330 at Arianzus, near Nazianzus; died at the end of 368 or the beginning of 369.  He received a careful training from his saintly mother Nonna and his father Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus. He studied probably at Caesarea in Cappadocia, and then at the celebrated schools of Alexandria. Here his favourite studies were geometry, astronomy, and especially medicine. In the last-named science he surpassed all his fellow students. About 355 he came to Constantinople, and had already acquired a great reputation for his medical skill, when his brother Gregory, homeward bound from Athens, appeared there about 358. Caesarius sacrificed a remunerative and honourable post and returned to his parents with Gregory. The capital, however, soon pr...