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CALENDAR of the SAINTS
09 March 2008 Anno Dómini
"....and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ~ ~ Revelations 7:9-17
Saint Abban of Kill-Abban
Also known as Abban of Magheranoidhe; Abban of Murneave; and Abban of Murnevin.
5th century. The Irish Saint Abban was a contemporary of Saint Patrick and nephew of Saint Ibar. He founded Kill-Abban Abbey in Leinster and the convent for Saint Gobnait of Ballyvourney, Ireland.
Saint Abraham Kidunaia
Born wealthy near Edessa, Mesopotamia ( present day Syria ). Forced into an arranged marriage at an early age. During the wedding festivities, Abraham fled. He walled himself up in a nearby building, leaving a small hole through which his family could send in food and water, and by which he could explain his desire for a religious life. His family relented, the marriage was called off, and he spent the next ten years in his cell.
After a decade of this life, the bishop of Edessa ordered him from his cell. Against Abraham's wishes, the bishop ordained him, and sent him as a missionary priest to the intransigently pagan village of Beth-Kiduna. He built a church, smashed idols, suffered abuse and violence, set a good example, and succeeded in converting the entire village. After a year, he prayed that God would send the village a better pastor than he, and he returned to his cell. It is from his success in Kiduna that he became known as Kidunaia.
He left the cell only twice more. Once a niece, Saint Mary of Edessa, was living a wild and misspent life. Abraham disguised himself as a soldier, which he knew would get her attention, and went to her home. Over supper he convinced her of the error of her ways; she converted and changed her life, and he returned to his cell. His final trip out was his funeral, attended by a large, loving throng of mourners. His biography was written by his friend Saint Ephrem.
Saint Aninus
Hermit and miracle worker in Syria. No other information has survived.
Saint Aristobulus
First century. Said to have been one of the 72 disciples commissioned by Jesus to preach the coming of the Kingdom. Saint Paul mentions him in Romans 16:11. Identified with Zebedee, the father of the "sons of Thunder," Saints James and John. Legend says that after the Resurrection, he evangelized Britain and died a martyr.
Saint Benedicta
Succeeded Saint Clare of Assisi as abbess of Saint Damian's abbey at Assisi, Italy.
Saint Denis
Layman in Aquileia, Italy. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian. Beheaded c.284.
Saint Dentlin
Son of Saint Vincent Madelgarus and Saint Waldetrudis. Brother of Saint Madalbarta and Saint Aldetrudis. Nephew of Saint Aldegund. An extraordinarily pious child, he is considered a confessor of the faith. A church in Cleves, Germany, was named for him. Died at age 7 in 7th century of natural causes; miracles reported at his tomb.
Saint Eusebia
Eldest daughter of Saint Adalbald of Ostrevant and Saint Rictrudis; great-granddaughter of Saint Gertrude the Elder; sister of Saint Maurontius, Saint Clotsindis, and Saint Adalsindis. After her father's murder when she was very young, she was sent to the abbey of Hamage, Doudi, France, which her great-grandmother had founded and served as abbess. Gertrude died when Eusebia was twelve years old; the young girl was elected to replace her. Rictrudis, realizing her daughter had no hope of governing the abbey, but wanting to keep it under the protection of a noble house, merged Hamage with her own house of Marchiennes, and ordered all the sisters to move in together under her rule. Many of the uprooted sisters, including Eusebia, were unhappy with this order as it kept them from obeying Saint Gertrude's last request. After much time and debate, the dissident sisters were permitted to return to their old house, taking Gertrude's relics with them, and taking Eusebius as their abbess. The delay had allowed her to grow into the position, and she proved an excellent abbess.
Saint Felix
Layman in Aquileia, Italy. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian. Beheaded c.284.
Saint Finian Lobhar
Also known as Finian the Leper,
Disciple of Saint Columba. Founded a church and monastery at Innisfallen. Monk at Clonmore. Abbot of Swords abbey near Dublin. In his later years he retired to Clonmore to spend his last days as a prayerful monk. He was called Lobhar (the Leper) because he briefly contracted leprosy when he miraculously cured a young boy of the disease.
Saint Gregory Makar
Also known as Gregory of Nicopolis.
Armenian monk. Bishop of Nicopolis, Armenia. Became a hermit at Pithiviers, Orleans, France.
Saint Heribert of Cologne
Also known as Herbert.
Son of Duke Hugo of Worms. Educated at the cathedral school at Worms. Provost of the cathedral. Priest in 994. Chancellor for Italy under King Otto III in 994. Chancellor for Germany in 997. Archbishop of Cologne on 9 July 999. Was at the death-bed of King Otto at Paterno. Initially opposed the ascension of King Henry II, and was imprisoned by him. However, when Henry was elected king on 7 June 1002, Heribert immediately acknowledged him as king, and became one of his advisors. Founded and endowed the Benedictine monastery and church of Deutz. Obtained miracles by prayer, including the end of a drought. Honored as a saint even during his lifetime.
Saint Hilary
Also known as Dionysius.
Bishop of Aquileia, Italy. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian. Beheaded c.284.
Blessed John Amias
Also known as John Anne.
Married layman cloth merchant in Wakefield, England. Father with several children. A widower, he divided his property among his children, and studied for the priesthood in Rheims, France. Ordained in 1581. He returned to England as a home missioner to covert Catholics. Arrested at the home of a Mr. Murton in Lancashire for the crime of priesthood. Martyred with Blessed Robert Dalby. Both men were hanged, drawn, and quartered on 16 March 1589 at York, England.
Beatified in 1929 ( 340 years later ) by Pope Pius XI. Canonized : Pending.
Saint John Sordi
Also known as John Cacciafronte.
Benedictine monk at the abbey of Saint Lawrence in Cremona. Abbot in 1155. Sided with the Pope against the emperor Barbarossa, and so was banished from the abbey by the emperor. Hermit near Mantua.
Bishop of Mantua in 1174, replacing a bishop removed for transgressions in office. In 1177, his predecessor repented, returned, and requested the return of his see. John asked permission to resign, return the mitre to the previous bishop, and return to his life as a hermit. The request was granted, and Saint John Sordi transferred to Vicenza.
Saint John Sordi was murdered in 1183 at Vicenza, Italy by a man who had embezzled Church funds, and whom John was reprimanding. As John died working for the Church, and correcting a sinner, he is considered a martyr.
Saint Julian of Anazarbus
Prominent citizen of senatorial rank. Arrested for his faith during the persecutions of Diocletian, he was tortured then put on display for abuse for a year in cities all over Cilicia, being led around behind a camel. Martyr. Sewn into a sack full of vipers and scorpions, and thrown into the sea to drown c.302; relics enshrined in Antioch. Praised by Saint John Chrysostom in a homily during the enshrinement of his relics.
Saint Largus
Saint Leocritia of Cordova
Also known as Lucretia of Cordova.
Born of wealthy Islamic Moors at a time when Christian conversion was a capital offense in Spain. Leocritia joined the Church, and her parents drove her out. She initially took shelter with Saint Eulogius. They were both arrested and martyred by scourging and beheading 9 March 859 at Cordova, Spain.
Saint Malcoldia of Asti
Benedictine nun. Anchoress at Asti, Italy.
Saint Megingaud
Also known as Mengold; and Megingoz.
Benedictine monk at Fritzlar monastery, Germany, in 738. Teacher at the abbey school. Abbot at Fritzlar. Bishop of Wurzburg, Germany c.754. In 787 he retired to Neustadt abbey to spend his last days as a prayerful monk.
Saint Patrick of Malaga
Bishop of Malaga, Spain. At one point he was forced to flee to Auvergne, France to escape persecution.
Blessed Robert Dalby
Protestant minister. Convert to Catholicism. Studied in Douai and Rheims, France. Ordained in 1588, he returned to England to minister to covert Catholics. Arrested for the crime of priesthood in 1589, he was martyred with Blessed John Amias; hanged, drawn, and quartered on 16 March 1589 at York, England.
Beatified in 1929 ( 340 years later ) by Pope Pius XI. Canonized : Pending.
Saint Tatian
Deacon in Aquileia, Italy. Martyred by beheading c.284 during the persecutions of Numerian.
Saint Torello of Poppi
After a wild and misspent youth, he lived 60 years as a hermit in a walled-up cave. Vallumbrosan oblate.
Blessed William of Hart
Raised Protestant. Educated at Lincoln College, Oxford. Convert to Catholicism, studied for the priesthood at Douai, Rheims, and Rome. Ordained in 1581, and returned to England. Betrayed by an apostate in the house of Saint Margaret Clitherow. hanged, drawn, and quartered on 16 March 1589 at York, England.
Beatified in 1886 ( 297 years later ). Canonized : Pending.
"The joy of this life is nothing; the joy of the after life is everlasting." - Blessed William Hart
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