SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 20

 SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 20 

Bl. Francis Page, 1602 A.D. Jesuit martyr of England. Born in Antwerp, Belgium, Francis was a member of an English Protestant family of Harrow-on-the-Hill, in England. Reconciled to the Catholic faith, he was ordained in 1600 and sent from Douai, France, to England. He was arrested there two years later. While in prison, Francis entered the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. He was martyred at Tyburn, England, and was beatified in 1929.  

Bl. John Finch, 1584 A.D. Martyr of England. He was a yeoman farmer of Eccleston, Lancashire, who returned to the Church. He harbored priests and acted as a clerk and catechist. John was arrested and tried with Blessed James Bell. They were executed at Lancaster. Both were beatified in 1929.  

Bl. Robert Watkinson, 1579-1602 A.D. English martyr. Born at Hemingborough, Yorkshire, he left England and studied at Douai, France, and then Rome in preparation for his ordination in 1602 in Arras, France. Sent home to work for the reconversion of England, he was arrested almost immediately and executed at Tyburn. Robert was hanged, drawn, and quartered on April 20, with Blessed Francis Page. He was beatified in 1929.  

ST. ANICETUS, POPE

Originally from Syria, Anicetus became Pope around 155. As Pope he invited St Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, to Rome to discuss the controversy over the date of Easter. The two parted amicably, but the question remained open. Pope Anicetus died during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.  April 20

ST. AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, VIRGIN AND DOMINICAN

Born to a noble family, Agnes entered religious life when she was only nine years old. By age 15, Agnes was the superior of a new community in Viterbo. She returned to her home in Montepulciano where she founded a Dominican convent in 1306. She was canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726.  April 20