SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 24

 SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 24 

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Roman Catholic Franciscan Capuchin Martyr. 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 was a spy for the Austrian Emperor. Fidelis was stabbed to death. Feastday April 24

St. Egbert. Egbert IS A 8th. Century an English monk of Lindisfarne, he was anxious to go on the mission to Germany. His destiny, however, was less heroic but quite important. Settling on Iona, he succeeded in persuading the monks to adopt the roman usage over the celebration of Easter - a task which took thirteen years of gentle persuasion.  

St. Diarmaid, 851 A.D. Irish bishop of Armagh known for his learning. He was named bishop in 834 but was driven from his see by a usurper, Forau. Diarmaid went to Connacht, where he ruled as primate. During his reign, Norsemen destroyed churches in Armagh in 841. 

St. Dyfnan. Founder at Anglesey, Wales. He was the son of the Welsh chieftain Brychan of Brecknock.  

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. Mary Clopas, Roman Catholic Mother of St. James the Less and Joseph, wife of Cleophas. She was one of the “Three Marys” who served Jesus and was present at the Crucifixion , and accompanied Mary Magdalen to the tomb of Christ. Tradition reports that she went to Spain as a missionary. Feastday April 24

ST. MARY ELIZABETH HESSELBLAD, FOUNDRESS OF THE BRIDGETTINES

The Servant of God was born in the little village of Faglavik, in the province of Alvsborg, on the 4 June 1870, the fifth of thirteen children born to Augusto Roberto Hesselblad and Cajsa Pettesdotter Dag. The following month she was baptized and received into the Reformed Church of Sweden.

April 24