SAINTS OCTOBER 20

 SAINTS OCTOBER 20

St. Acca, 742 A.D.  Bishop and scholar, a companion of early English saints and missionaries. Acca was born in Northumbria, England, and was educated in the company of St. Bosa, a Benedictine apostle of great courage. He also met St. Wilfrid, who appointed him the abbot of St. Andrew's Monastery in Hexham, England. Acca joined St. Wilfrid as early as 678 and accompanied him to Rome in 692. When Wilfred died in 709, Acca succeeded him as the bishop of Hexham. He spent his monastic and Episcopal years erecting parish churches in the area. He also introduced Christian arts and promoted learning. Acca brought a famous cantor; a man named Maban, to Hexham, and with him introduced the Roman Chants. St. Bede dedicated several of his works to Acca, who also promoted other Christian writers. For reasons undocumented, Acca was driven out of Hexham in 732. He retired to a hermitage in Withern, in Galloway. Just before his death in 742 he returned to Hexham and was unanimously revered. When he was buried, two Celtic crosses were recreated at his gravesite. One still stands in Hexham. When his body was moved sometime later, his vestments were found intact. The accounts of Acca's miracles were drawn up by St. Aelred and by the historian Simeon of Durham.

St. Caprasius of Agen, Roman Catholic Priest and Martyr. The death of St. Faith prompted Caprasius to declare openly his Christianity. He was joined by his mother, Alberta, his brothers Primus and Felician, and by companions. They were put to death when they refused to deny the faith. Oct 20

Bl. Oleksa Zaryckyj, Roman Catholic Priest and Martyr. Shortly after he was re-interned in concentration camp Dolinka near Karaganda, where he died a martyr of the faith.

St. Bertilla Boscardin Virgin, also called Mary Bertilla. She was born in Brendola, in northern Italy. A member of the Congregation of Teachers of St. Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred hearts, she spent her life caring for children and the sick.