As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, it is important that we not only keep Christ at the center of our lives but that we spread the Gospel to others through our words and actions, as the saints we celebrated this past week did.
St. Bernadette of Lourdes (April 16) was a poor, sickly, uneducated French girl who saw apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a local grotto. Mary prayed with Bernadette and had her dig up a spring which has since been the means of many miraculous cures. Bernadette was persecuted by both secular and religious authorities, but huge crowds came to witness her having the apparitions and to be cured. Bernadette became a nun and died of tuberculosis in 1879. Her body is incorrupt.
St. Anselm of Canterbury (April 21) was an Italian noble who fled home to become a Benedictine monk in Normandy. He later became Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a brilliant philosopher and theologian, fought slavery and royal meddling in ecclesiastical affairs, and enforced celibacy among clergy (d.1109). Holy Infant of Good Health (April 21) is a statue of Christ found in Mexico in 1939, which has since been pontifically crowned.
St. Agnes of Montepulciano (April 20) was a pious child who joined a convent at age nine. She became abbess at age 15, enforcing harsher penances, and later led a new convent. She could levitate, saw visions of Jesus, angels, and Mary, worked miracles, and flowers would bloom where she prayed (d.1317). Pope St. Anicetus (April 20) fought the heresy of Gnosticism and negotiated the date for celebrating Easter with Eastern Christians. Decreed priests shouldn’t have long hair, setting them apart from laity (d.166).
St. Robert of Molesme (April 17) was a French Benedictine prior who helped found the monasteries of Molesme and Citeaux to return to the strict Benedictine Rule. Led the former monastery till his death in 1110. St. Kateri Tekakwitha (April 17), daughter of a Mohawk Indian chief in what is now New York, converted to Christianity. To escape her tribe’s persecution she fled to a Christian village in Canada. Miracle worker (d.1680).
Pope St. Leo IX (April 19) was appointed by the emperor but insisted on the consent of the clergy and people of Rome. He worked to reform the Church of such corruption as concubinage among clergy, simony, and lay appointments of clergy. Leo tried to reunite the Eastern and Western Christians (d.1054). St. Alphege of Winchester (April 19) was a 10th century English abbot who became bishop of Canterbury, known for his charity to the poor and personal austerities. Captured by pagan Danes, he was martyred upon refusing to pay ransom.
St. Marie of the Incarnation (April 18) was a 17th century French wife and mother. Widowed, she joined the Ursulines and founded the first Ursuline convent in Quebec, Canada, and rebuilt it after fire. Saw mystical visions. St. Athanasia of Aegina (April 18) was a pious Greek girl married and widowed young. An imperial edict commanded all single women to marry soldiers. Athanasia and her new husband conducted Bible studies and cared for the poor until he decided to be a monk and she was finally able to fulfill her desire to enter religious life and found a convent. She advised the empress and performed miraculous healings (d.860).
St. Marcian of Auxerre (April 20) was a 5th century French monk and miracle worker, trusted by wild animals. Bl. John Finch (April 20) was a married Englishman and catechist who hid priests. He was ambushed, imprisoned, tortured, and forcibly dragged to Protestant churches. Martyred with the priest Bl. James Bell in 1584. St. Expeditus of Melitene (April 19) was a Roman soldier in what is now Turkey who miraculously converted and whose zeal brought on his martyrdom. His swift embrace of the faith and name led to his association with and intercession for quick completion of actions.
St. Laserian of Leighlin (April 18) was a 7th century Irish scholar and hermit ordained by Pope St. Gregory the Great. He later became a wise bishop and Apostolic Legate, handling the Easter observance debate, and is one of the 12 Apostles of Ireland. Bl. James Oldo (April 18) was a wealthy, married Italian who lost two daughters to the plague and changed his life. He and his wife joined the Secular Franciscans, and, at her death, James became a priest who cared for the sick and prisoners of war (d.1404).
St. Fructuosus of Braga (April 16) was a Spanish abbot and bishop. As a hermit, he attracted so many followers he founded and led religious houses, and then became a bishop (d.665). St. Cesar de Bus (April 15) was happy with his military and court careers in France until his disturbing experience with the Catholic-Protestant clashes in 1572. He became a priest dedicated to catechesis and helped create the Fathers of Christian Doctrine.
St. Ruadhán of Lorrha (April 15) was an Irish royal and scholar who founded and led a monastery, and cursed King Dermot for violating the sanctuary of the Lorrha monastery. One of the 12 Apostles of Ireland (d.584). St. Drogo (April 16) was a Flemish noble living in France who practiced penance over guilt at his mother’s death in childbirth. He became a hermit and died in 1186. St. Benedict Joseph Labre (April 16) was an 18th century French pilgrim, whose holiness in Italy inspired many. Nicknamed the “the beggar of Rome”.
St. Conrad of Parzham (April 21) was a Bavarian Capuchin who spent decades helping pilgrims as the porter of the Our Lady of Altotting shrine. He had the gift of prophesy and educated and helped local children (d.1894). St. Apollonius the Apologist (April 21) was a pagan scholar and imperial Roman senator who converted to the faith. Arrested and martyred c.190 after his slave denounced him.
St. Caedwalla of Wessex (April 20) was the war-like 7th century King of Wessex, who converted, abdicated the throne, and died soon after baptism. Sts. Agape, Irene, and Chionia (April 16) were three Macedonian sisters martyred in 304 for refusing food sacrificed to idols. Bl. Hildegun of Schönau (April 20) was a miracle worker who disguised herself as a man and became a monk. St. Eleutherius of Illyria (April 18) was a bishop and evangelizer in what is now Croatia, martyred with his mother Anthia and other companions in 138. St. Hunna of Alsace (April 15) was a married noblewoman and mother nicknamed the “Holy Washerwoman” for the menial tasks she did for the poor. St. Acacius Agathangelos (April 17) was a 3rd century bishop in Asia who combatted heresy and gave such an eloquent defense of the faith that the pagan judges released instead of killing him. St. Beuno Gasulsych (April 21) was the grand-nephew of King Arthur, a visionary, abbot, and miracle worker.
St. Robert of Chaise-Dieu (April 17) was a French pilgrim and monk who founded the Benedictine abbey of Chaise-Dieu (Chair of God) for his many followers (d.1067). Bl. James Duckett (April 19) was an English convert who distributed Catholic materials and was martyred in 1601. St. Roman Adame Rosales (April 21) was a Mexican priest known for his Marian devotion; shot in 1927 along with a soldier who refused to execute him. Bl. Mariana of Jesus (April 17) was a Spanish Discalced Mercedarian nun known for her penances and devotion to the Eucharist (d.1624). St. Gerold of Saxony (April 19) dedicated his life to God and his possessions to a local monastery (d.978). Bl. James Duckett (April 19) was an English convert who distributed Catholic materials and was martyred in 1601. Bl. Andres Hibernon Real (April 18) was a Spanish laborer who, robbed of all his earnings for his family, joined the Discalced Franciscans. St. Maelrubius of Applecross (April 21) was an Irish royal and monk who evangelized in Scotland and was martyred by Vikings. St. Magnus of Orkney (April 16) was an exiled medieval noble restored to his earldom, whose just rule ended in treacherous murder by his cousin.
Bl. Bernard of Sithiu (April 19) was a 12th century French penitent who, to atone for murder, traveled barefoot and then became a hermit. Bl. Chiara Bosatta (April 20) was a teacher who co-founded the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence (d.1887). Bl. Ramon and Jaume Llach-Candell (April 19) were a poet-priest and a religious martyred in the Spanish Civil War. Bl. Joachim Piccolomini (April 16) was a Sienese lay-brother known for his great fervor and holiness (d.1305). St. Abbondio (April 15) was a 5th century bishop in Italy who helped defeat heresy and keep Eastern Christians united to Rome. Bl. Idesbald of Dunes (April 18) was a Belgian courtier who became a priest, monk, and abbot (d.1577). Bl. Wolbodó of Liège (April 21) was a Flemish scholar and imperial chaplain, then the charitable, reforming Prince-Bishop of Liege. Bl. Richard Sergeant (April 20) was an English priest martyred for his ministry in 1586.
You can also read about Anastasia, Basilissa of Rome, Maro, Paternus of Avranches, Paternus, and Huna of Slattakra (April 15); Contardo d’Este, Mikel Suma, and Arcangelo Canetoli (April 16); Landericus of Soignies, Henry Heath, James of Cerqueto, Ambrose of Massa, and Donnan of Eigg (April 17); Savina Petrilli, Calocerus of Brescia, Luca Passi, Roman Archutowski, and Perfecto of Cordoba (April 18); Apollonius the Priest and martyrs, George of Antioch, Martha of Persia, and Crescentius of Florence (April 19); Gerald of Salles, A.Jakub Pankiewicz, Sara of Antioch, and Marcellinus of Embrun (April 20); and Anastasius of Sinai, Simeon of Ctesiphon, John Saziari, Abdelcalas& martyrs, Anastasius I, and Isaacius (April 21).
Have a blessed week!
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Author: Catherine Salgado
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