Christian Today

  SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 27  ST. SIMEON, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM AND MARTYR April 27 ST. ZITA OF LUCCA, VIRGIN At the age of twelve, Zita went to work as a servant for a noble family in Lucca. Despite mistreatment, she always had a smile on her face and was always ready to assist the poor. The family eventually recognised her gifts, and entrusted her with the running of the household until her death in 1278.  April 27 St. Asicus, 490 A.D. Abbot-Bishop of Ireland and disciple of St. Patrick, also called Ascicus and Tassach. Asicus was a coppersmith and was married when he first met St. Patrick. In time he was made the first abbot-bishop of Elphim Monastery in Roscommon, Ireland. Humble and not believing he was worthy of the office, Asicus went to an island in Donegal Bay, where he resigned his rank and became a hermit. After seven years the monks of Elphin found him and persuaded him to return to the monastery. He died at Raith Cungilor on the return journey.   St. Winewald, 731 A.D.

SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 26  St. Cletus, Roman Catholic Pope and Martyr. He was the third bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which circumstance alone shows his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter in the West. He sat twelve years, from 76 to 89. Feastday April 26 St. Riquier, 645 A.D. Abbot and hermit, also called Richarius. Born at Celles, near Amiens, France, he became a priest after rescuing two Irish missionaries from a murderous band of local pagans. After studying in England, he was ordained and returned home, where he founded an abbey at Celles over which he presided as abbot. He later resigned from his office and spent his remaining days as a hermit on the site of Forest Montiers Monastery. Abbeville is the modern site of Riquier’s foundation.    

  SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 25  Bl. Robert Anderton, and Bl. William Marsden Roman Catholic Priests and English Martyrs. Summoned to London, where they were examined upon the celebrated "bloody question", whether they would fight against the Pope, even if the quarrel were for purely religious causes. Though they acknowledged Elizabeth as their lawful queen in all temporal matters, they would not consent to the required test. The sentence was then confirmed, and a proclamation was published, explaining their guilt. They were taken back and executed near the place where they had been cast ashore, being hanged, drawn, and quartered. Feastday April 25 Bl. William Marsden, 1586 A.D. Martyr of England . A native of Lancashire, he studied at Oxford and then departed the island for Reims, France, where he was ordained in 1585 with Blessed Robert Anderson. They were sent to England but were forced to land on the Isle of Wight in a storm. They were arrested, and then condemned and h

2 billion in money for killing babies: Planned Parenthood's financial results released - ZENIT - English : The sobering reality is that Planned Parenthood is swimming in cash and aborting more unborn children than ever before.

SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 24  St. Mellitus of Canterbury, 624 A.D. Archbishop of Canterbury from 619. In 601, he was sent from St. Andrew’s Monastery, Rome, to England by Pope St. Gregory I the Great. Mellitus spent three years as a missionary in Kent, England, aiding St. Augustine. He also became the first bishop of London and was responsible for converting the King of the East Saxons. The Saxons, however, exiled him in 616 over some conflict, but Mellitus returned to England and was named archbishop of Canterbury, in succession to St. Lawrence. Tradition states that he saved Canterbury from a disastrous fire with his prayers.   St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Roman Catholic Franciscan Capuchin Marty r. A practicing lawyer, he traveled across Europe as a tutor to aristocrats but then started defending the poor. In 1612, he became a Franciscan Capuchin monk, taking the name of Fidelis. A missionary to Grisons, Switzerland, Fidelis was so successful that local Protestants claimed that he

 Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, Roman Catholic Trappist Nun. Patron of Ecumenism.Feastday April 22 Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu “We can think, for example, of Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, who offered her life for the unity of Christians.” #5 Rejoice and Be Glad Blessed Maria (March 17, 1914 – April 23, 1929) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed religious and a professed member from the Trappists. Maria had an intense spiritual devotion to ecumenism – something for which she had offered her life – since she desired that all would become one in Jesus Christ. http://www.propheties.it/mystics/gabriella.htm