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† FEAST OF BISHOP SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT,
DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH †

Saint Athanasius, the great champion of the Faith was born at Alexandria, about the year 296, of Christian parents. Educated under the eye of Alexander, later Bishop of his native city, he made great progress in learning and virtue. In 313, Alexander succeeded Achillas in the Patriarchal See, and two years later Saint Athanasius went to the desert to spend some time in retreat with Saint Anthony.

In 319, he became a deacon, and even in this capacity he was called upon to take an active part against the rising heresy of Arius, an ambitious priest of the Alexandrian Church who denied the Divinity of Christ. This was to be the life struggle of Saint Athanasius.

In 325, he assisted his Bishop at the Council of Nicaea, where his influence began to be felt. Five months later Alexander died. On his death bed he recommended Saint Athanasius as his successor. In consequence of this, Saint Athanasius was unanimously elected Patriarch in 326.

His refusal to tolerate the Arian heresy was the cause of many trials and persecutions for Saint Athanasius. He spent seventeen of the forty-six years of his episcopate in exile. After a life of virtue and suffering, this intrepid champion of the Catholic Faith, the greatest man of his time, died in peace on May 2, 373. Saint Athanasius was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Saint Athanasius was originally buried in Alexandria, Egypt but his body was later transferred to Italy. During Pope Shenouda III's visit to Rome from May 4 to May 10, 1973, Pope Paul VI gave the Coptic Patriarch the relics of Athanasius,[7] which he brought back to Egypt on 15 May.[8] The relics of Saint Athanasius the Great of Alexandria are currently preserved under the new Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Deir El-Anba Rowais, Abbassiya, Cairo, Egypt.

The following is a troparion (hymn) to Saint Athanasius sung in some Eastern Orthodox churches.

O Holy father Athanasius,
like a pillar of orthodoxy
you refuted the heretical nonsense of Arius
by insisting that the Father and the Son are equal in essence.
O venerable father, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

Athanasius is venerated as a saint by the majority of major Christian denominations which officially approve of and recognize saints. His feast day is observed on May 2, the day of his death. In the Roman Catholic Church he is deemed a Doctor of the Church.

He has been hailed as "the pillar of the Church" by Gregory of Nazianzus.

Saint Gregory Nazianzen, fellow Doctor of the Church, ( 330-390 ), said in Or.21: "When I praise Athanasius, virtue itself is my theme: for I name every virtue as often as I mention him who was possessed of all virtues. He was the true pillar of the Church. His life and conduct were the rule of bishops, and his doctrine the rule of the orthodox faith."

Α Ω


3 posted on 05/03/2010 2:00:46 AM PDT by Robert Drobot (Qui non intelligit aut discat aut taceat)
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CALENDAR of the SAINTS

2 May 2010 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. ~ ~ Apocalypse

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Bishop Saint Athanasius of Alexandria the Great, Doctor of The Church

Studied the classics and theology in Alexandria, Egypt. Deacon, secretary, and student of bishop Alexander of Alexandria. Attended the Council of Nicea in 325 where he fought for the defeat of Arianism and acceptance of the divinity of Jesus. Formulated the doctrine of homo-ousianism which says that Christ is the same substance as the Father; Arianism taught that Christ was different from and a creation of the Father, a creature and not part of God. Bishop of Alexandria c.328; he served for 46 years. When the dispute over Arianism spilled over from theology to politics, Athanasius got exiled five times, spending more than a third of his episcopate in exile. Biographer of Saint Anthony the Abbot. Confessor of the faith and Doctor of the Church, he fought for the acceptance of the Nicene Creed.

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Saint Bertinus the Younger

Benedictine monk at the abbey of Sithiu, France. Spiritual student of Saint Bertin the Great.

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Blessed Boleslas Strzelecki, Martyr

Parish priest in the diocese of Radom, Poland. His devotion to God and his fellow man led to his parishioners giving him the nickname Saint Francis of Radom. Arrested in January 1941 as part of the Nazi persecution of the Church, and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz, Poland where he died four months later from general abuse and mistreatment. He spent his time there ministering to other prisoners.

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Saint Celestine of Alexandria, Martyr

Marytred in 304 in Alexandria, Egypt during the persecutions of Diocletian. Nothing else is known about him.

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Blessed Conrad of Seldenbüren, Martyr

Born to the nobility, a member of the royal house of Seldenbüren. Founded and endowed Engelberg Abbey at Unterwalden, Switzerland. Benedictine lay-brother at Engelberg. Considered a martyr because he was murdered in 1126 at Zürich, Switzerland on a trip to defend the rights of the abbey.

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Saint Cyriacus of Pamphylia, Martyr

Son of Saint Exsuperius and Saint Zoe; brother of Saint Theodulus. Slave, owned by a rich devout worshipper of the ancient Roman gods in Attalia, Pamphylia. One pagan feast day, this family of slave saints was given meat to sacrifice to an idol. They refused, and the entire family was tortured and martyred.

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Saint Eugenius of Africa, Martyr

Bishop in north Africa who stayed loyal to orthodox Christianity and opposed Arianism. Tortured and martyred during the year 485 A.D. by order of the Arian Vandal king Hunneric.

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Saint Exsuperius of Pamphylia, Martyr

Married to Saint Zoe. Father of Saint Cyriacus and Saint Theodulus. Slave, owned by a rich devout worshipper of the ancient Roman gods in Attalia, Pamphylia. Field worker. One pagan feast day, the family of slave saints was given meat to sacrifice to an idol. They refused, and the entire family was tortured and martyred.

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Saint Felix of Seville, Martyr

Deacon. Martyred in Seville, Spain. No other information has survived.

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Saint Germanus of Alexandria, Martyr

Martyred in 304 A.D. in Alexandria, Egypt during the persecutions of Diocletian. Nothing else is known about him.

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Bishop Saint Germanus of Normandy, Martyr

Convert, brought to the faith by Saint Germanus of Auxerre, in whose honour he took the name Germanus. Bishop. Martyred 460 A.D. at Normandy, France

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Saint Gluvias, Martyr

Brother of Saint Cadoc of Llancarfan; may have been the nephew of Saint Petroc. Monk. Sent to Cornwall by Cadoc, he founded the monastery and parish now know as Saint Glywys.

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Saint José María Rubio y Peralta

One of twelve children born to a farm family; six of his siblings died in childhood. Educated in Almería, Spain. Entered the diocesan seminary in 1876, and the Granada seminary in 1878. Ordained on 24 September 1887.

Parish priest in Chinchón and Estremera. For nearly 20 years he cared for an elderly brother priest. Synodal examiner in Madrid, Spain in 1890. Taught metaphysics, Latin, and pastoral theology at the Madrid seminary. Chaplain to the convent of Saint Bernard. Pilgrim to the Holy Land in 1905. Entered the Jesuit noviate in Granada in 1906, and made his religious profession on 12 October 1908.

Noted and sought after counselor and confessor, known for his parish ministry, spiritual direction, his devotion to the poor, and his excellent preaching that brought many to the faith. He served as spiritual director for groups of lay people, and from behind the scenes he helped them start academic and trade schools, find work for the unemployed, and minister to the sick and disabled. He organized missions and spiritual exercises, and worked to bring better financial and spiritual life to the poorest of the city.

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Saint Joseph Luu, Martyr

Lay man catechist in the apostolic vicariate of West Cochinchina. Imprisoned and martyred for his faith on 2 May 1854 in prison at Vinh Long, Vietnam dying of injuries received while being tortured.

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Bishop Saint Longinus of Africa, Martyr

Bishop in north Africa who stayed loyal to orthodox Christianity and opposed Arianism. Tortured and martyred by order of the Arian Vandal king Hunneric in the year 485 A.D.

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Blessed Mafalda of Portugal, Martyr

Born a princess, the daughter of King Sancho I of Portugal. Sister of Saint Theresa of Portugal and Saint Sancha of Portugal. Portugal was involved in a war to reclaim the Iberian peninsula from the Moors, and to seal an alliance with the neighboring kingdom of Castile, a marriage was arranged between Mafalda and King Henry I of Castile even though he was a small boy and she was around 30. They were married in 1215, but Pope Innocent III annuled the marriage in 1216 because they were actually related. Mafalda returned to Portugal in 1222, entering the Benedictine convent in Arouca. In 1223 she helped introduce the Cistercian Rule to the convent, and was known for her strict adherence to the Cistercian way. Helped restore the cathedral in Oporto, Portugal, and founded a hospice for pilgrims and a hospital for poor widows in Arouca. Died 2 May 1257 in Arouca, Portugal. Blessed Mafalda's body was found incorrupt when exhumed in 1617.

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Saint Neachtian

A relative of Saint Patrick. Present at Saint Patrick’s death.

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Saint Neopolus of Alexandria, Martyr

Martyred in 304 in Alexandria, Egypt during the persecutions of Diocletian. Nothing else is known about him.

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Saint Saturninus of Alexandria, Martyr

Martyred in 304 in Alexandria, Egypt during the persecutions of Diocletian. Nothing else is known about him.

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Saint Theodulus of Pamphylia, Martyr

Son of Saint Exsuperius and Saint Zoe; brother of Saint Cyriacus. Slave, owned by a rich devout worshipper of the ancient Roman gods in Attalia, Pamphylia. One pagan feast day, the family of slave saints was given meat to sacrifice to an idol. They refused, and the entire family was tortured and martyred.

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Saint Ultan of Péronne

Brother of Saint Fursey of Péronne and Saint Foillan of Fosses. Fellow monk with them at Burgh Castle near Yarmouth, England. Missionary to Belgium where he served as a priest in the convent of Nivelles and worked with Saint Gertrude. Abbot at Fosses, Belgium. Abbot at Péronne, France.

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Saint Valentine of Genoa

Bishop of Genoa, Italy from 295 A.D. Saint Valentine's relics were found and enshrined in 985.

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Saint Vindemialis of Africa, Martyr

Bishop in north Africa who stayed loyal to orthodox Christianity and opposed Arianism. Tortured and martyred in the year 485 A.D. by order of the Arian Vandal king Hunneric.

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Saint Waldebert of Luxeuil

Monk. Abott of Luxeuil Abbey c.628. Worked with Saint Salaberga to found the convent of Saint John the Baptist in Laon, France.

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Saint Wiborada of Saint Gall, Martyr

Born to the Swabian nobility. Her brother, Hatto, was a priest and provost of Saint Magnus church. Wiborada turned her home into a hospital for the sick poor people that her brother brought to her. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy. Benedictine nun at Saint Gall’s monastery, where she worked as a bookbinder.

Subject of virulent criticism, she eventually withdrew further from the world, becoming an anchoress first near Saint Gall’s, then near her brother’s church. Noted for her austerity, and a gift of prophecy, she drew many visitors and would-be students. One of her prophecies involved the Hungarian invasion of her region; her warning allowed the priests and religious of Saint Gall and Saint Magnus to escape, but Wiborada refused to leave her hermit’s cell. A martyr. She was axed to death in 926 A.D.

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Saint Zoe of Pamphylia, Martyr

Married to Saint Exsuperius. Mother of Saint Cyriacus and Saint Theodulus. Slave, owned by a rich devout worshipper of the ancient Roman gods in Attalia, Pamphylia. Zoe’s job was to tend the house dogs and prevent them from biting visitors, and she rarely saw her husband as he worked the fields far from the house. Since she worked near a roadway, she gave of her own meagre rations to those even poorer than herself. One pagan feast day, the family of slave saints was given meat to sacrifice to an idol. They refused, and the entire family was tortured and murdered during the year 127 A.D.

Α Ω


4 posted on 05/03/2010 2:15:40 AM PDT by Robert Drobot (Qui non intelligit aut discat aut taceat)
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