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CALENDAR of the SAINTS
Anno Dómini 8 January 2012
"....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. ~ ~ Apocalypse
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Saint Abo of Tblisi, Martyr
For political reasons, his prince had to seek shelter in Khazaria north of the Caspian Sea, an area free of Muslim control; Abo and 300 other members of the court accompanied him, and Abo was baptized there. The prince and his party returned to Tblisi in A.D. 782, and for a few years Abo lived quietly as a “closet” Christian. However, in A.D. 786 he was exposed as a Catholic, and tried for being an apostate from Islam. He professed his faith at the muslim trial, was imprisoned and later martyred.
Grew up Muslim. Perfumer to Nerses, the prince of Kartli, a region of eastern Georgia. As a young adult, Abo became convinced of the truth of the Church founded by Jesus Christ, but was afraid to convert openly, as Georgia was under Muslim rule where conversion to Catholicism was and remains a capital offense.
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Saint Albert of Cashel
Patron Saint of Cashel, Ireland. Listed traditionally as an Englishman who labored in Ireland and then in Bavaria, Saint Albert went to Jerusalem and died in Regensburg on his return journey.
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Bishop Saint Apollinaris the Apologist
Second century bishop of Heirapolis, Phrygia. Held in high regard by other early saints including Saint Jerome and the historian Theodoret. Noted for writing a defense of the faith to Emperor Marcus Aurelius that reminded the Emperor of a miraculous victory that resulted from the prayers of Christian soldiers, and of his promise of protection for Christians. Worked and wrote against all the major heresies of his time, refuting them by logically destroying the heresy‘s philosophical roots. A prolific writer, most of his work has been lost over the centuries.
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Archbishop Saint Athelm of Canterbury, Martyr
Paternal uncle of Saint Dunstan of Canterbury. Benedictine monk at Glastonbury, England. Abbot of Glastonbury. Bishop of Wells, Somerset, England in A.D. 909. Archbishop of Canterbury in A.D. 914.
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Bishop Saint Atticus of Constantinople
Atticus supported the Macedonian heresy ( the Holy Spirit is not God ), opposed Saint John Chrysostom, and worked against him at the Council of Oak in A.D. 405. When Saint John was exiled from Constantinople, Atticus assumed the Bishopric in A.D. 406. He eventually realized his error, repented his opposition, and submitted to Pope Innocent I‘s rulings. He remained as bishop, but a virtuous and orthodox one, and an opponent of heretics.
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Saint Carterius of Caesarea, Martyr
Priest. Martyred A.D. 304 at Caesarea, Cappadocia.
Saint Christian Hosius
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Blessed Edward Waterson, Martyr
As a young man Edward travelled to Turkey with some English merchants. There he met and was befriended by a wealthy Turk who liked Edward so much that he offered his daughter in marriage if the Englishman would convert to Islam. Edward declined, but the incident set his mind on spiritual matters. The route home ran through Rome, Italy and Edward converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1588. Entered the seminary at Rheims, France on 24 January 1589, ordained on 11 March 1592. Returned to England on 24 June 1592 to minister to his countrymen in hiding for their faith. Arrested for the crime of priesthood soon after, he was tortured in prison for several months before being hanged, drawn, and quartered A.D. 8 January 1593 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.
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Saint Ergnad of Ulster, Martyr
Nun who dedicated her life to the service of His Church in the presence of Bishop Saint Patrick.
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Bishop Saint Erhard of Regensburg
Evangelized in Bavaria, Germany working mainly around modern Regensburg. Assisted the archbishop of Trier, Germany. Anointed Bishop of Regensburg. Miracle worker. Baptized Saint Odilia of Alsace, curing her of congenital blindness. After his death a group of women formed a religious group called Erardinonnen ( Nuns of Erhard ) to pray perpetually at Erhard’s tomb; Pope Leo IX gave them his approval, and they continued their devotion through to the Reformation.
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Bishop Saint Eugenian of Autun, Martyr
Fourth century bishop of Autun, France. Fierce opponent of Arianism, which led to his martyrdom in 4th century France.
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Blessed Eurosia Fabris
Born to a farm family, the daughter of Luigi and Maria Fabris, she grew up with the nickname Rosina. In 1870, when Eurosia was four, the family moved to Marola di Torri, Italy where she lived the rest of her life. She had only two years of school, forced to leave A.D. 1874 at age eight to help her parents on the farm. Rosina learned dress-making from her mother. She made her First Communion at age twelve, and joined the Association of the Daughters of Mary at Marola. She was strongly devoted to the Holy Spirit, the infant Jesus, the Cross of Christ, the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the souls in the Purgatory. In her teens she taught catechism to children, and taught girls to sew. She received several marriage proposals but repeatedly turned them down.
In A.D. 1885 a neighbor woman died, leaving two children under the age of two, and Rosina began caring for them. She married Carlo Barban on A.D. 5 May 1886, and the two took in the children. The couple had nine more children of their own, and their home became a gathering place for all the children of the village; Eurosia received the new nickname of Mamma Rosa. Three of her sons became priests, and one of them was her biographer. Along with her endless work load as a mother, Rosa managed to maintain a deep prayer life. She was the core of her family in both spiritual and practical matters, and was known for her charity to the poor, feeding the hungry and nursing the sick. Widowed in 1930. Franciscan tertiary. Through her whole life her home was an ideal Christian community for family and friends.
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Saint Frodobert, Martyr
Benedictine monk at Luxeuil, France. Spiritual student of Saint Waldebert. Founded Moutier-la-Celle abbey near Troyes, France, and served as its first abbot. Noted for his austere lifestyle, and his devotion to prayer.
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Saint Garibaldus
Benedictine monk in Bavaria. Ordained by Saint Boniface c.740. Abbot of Saint Emmeran monastery at Regensburg, Germany. First bishop of Regensburg.
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Saint Gregor of Huleklosteret
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Saint Gudule
Daughter of Count Witger and Saint Amalburga, great-niece of Emperor Pepin, sister of Saint Pharaildis, Saint Reinelda and Saint Emebertus. Niece and student of Saint Gertrude of Nivelle, who trained her in the religious life. Pious and devoted, she lived for her prayers and time in church.
During her early morning visits to the church in Moorsel, the devil extinguished her candle, which would miraculously re-ignite. The flower called tremella deliquescens, bears fruit in the beginning of January; it's known as "Sinte Goulds lampken" ( Saint Gudula's lantern ) because not even the winter can extinguish it.
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Saint Helladius, Martyr
Lay man burned to death in a furnace by muslims in Libya.
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Saint Jacob Corbeau
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Saint Julian of Beauvais, Martyr
Missionary to Beauvais, France. Martyred A.D 290 at Beauvais, France.
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Saint Lucian of Beauvais, Martyr
Priest. Missionary from Rome to Beauvais, France. Martyred in A.D. 290 at Beauvais, France.
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Saint Maximian of Beauvais, Martyr
Missionary to Beauvais, France. Martyred in 290 at Beauvais, France.
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Bishop Saint Maximus of Pavia, Martyr
Bishop of Pavia, Italy. Attended the councils of Rome convened by Pope Saint Symmachus.
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Bishop Saint Nathalan of Aberdeen
Born to a wealthy Scottish noble family, he gave it up to live as a prayerful hermit, making a living by raising a garden, an occupation he considered “closest to divine contemplation.” Miracle worker during an area famine. Bishop in Tullicht, Scotland. Built churches and conducted missions in his diocese.
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Bishop Saint Patiens of Metz
Fourth bishop of Metz, France in the second century.
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Saint Pega of Peakirk
Daughter of Penwalh. Sister of Saint Guthlac of Croyland. Related to the royal family of the East Angles. Lived as a hermit in the Fens, Northhamptonshire, England near her brother. Once the devil took on her form to persuade Guthlac to break his vow to never eat before sunset. To prevent further attempts, Pega left the area and never returned in his life. Anchoress near Croyland Abbey; a church was built on the site of her hermitage, and an Anglican convent dedicated to Pega survives to today. Peakirk ( Pega’s Church ) is named for her. While en route to her brother’s funeral in A.D. 714, she cured a blind man from Wisbech. Made a pilgimage to Rome, Italy and died before returning home.
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Saint Severinus of Naples
Bishop of Naples and brother of St. Vietorinus.
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Saint Severinus of Noricum
Born to the Roman nobility. Gave away his wealth to live as a hermit in the Egyptian desert. Though he loved the quiet and contemplative life, he felt a call to spread the faith, and he followed it.
Evangelized in Noricum ( part of modern Austria ). Hermit near Vienna. Prophesied the destruction of Astura, Austria by the Huns under Attila. Established refugee centers for people displaced by the invasion. Founded monasteries to re-establish spirituality and preserve learning in the stricken region.
One winter, the city of Faviana on the River Danube was starving. Following a sermon by Severinus on penance, the ice cracked, and food barges were able to dock, saving the city.
Noted travelling preacher and healer throughout Austria and Bavaria. Established funds to ransom and rescue captives. Ate once a day, less in Lent, went barefoot, ignored the weather, and slept on a sackcloth that he spread on the ground whereever he stopped. Foretold the date of his own death, and died singing Psalm 150.
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Saint Theophilus, Martyr
Deacon. Burned to death in a furnace with Saint Helladius in Libya
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Saint Thorfinn of Hamar
Cistercian monk at the abbey of Tautra. Canon of the Cathedral of Nidaros by 1277 when he was a witness of the Agreement of Tönsberg. Bishop. Exiled by King Eric for supporting the Archbishop of Nidaros in a dispute over state interference in Church matters. Took refuge at the abbey of TerDoest, Flanders. Pilgrim to Rome. Upon his return Bishop Thorfinn fell ill, made a will to divide his meagre possessions, and died soon after. Father Walter de Muda, a monk who knew him, wrote a poem about Thorfinn, describing him as kind, patient, and generous, with a mild exterior and firm will against the evil and ungodly. Father Walter wrote the poem on parchment and hung it over Thorfinn's tomb.
The bishop had not attracted much attention in life, and was on his way to being forgotten. However, 50 years later, during a church renovation his tomb was opened. His remains gave off a strong and pleasant perfume. The parchment poem was still hanging near the body, still fresh and supple. The perfume of the relics, the state of the parchment, the reports of miracles around the tomb, and the reports of Thorfinn's holiness lead to approval of his cultus. Devotion soon spread through the Cistercians, and throughout Norway.
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Saint Wulsin of Sherborne
Benedictine monk. Spiritual student and close confidant of Saint Dunstan. Named by Dunstan c.960 to be superior of the restored Benedictine community at Westminster, England. Abbot of Westminster in 980. Bishop of Sherborne, England in 993; continued to serve as abbot. Rebuilt the church in Sherborne, and established a Benedictine monastery in his diocese. Several of his letters have survived the centuries.
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