Christian Today

30 April 
 Saint Pius V; St Erkenwald - Independent Catholic News : �Saint Pius V - Pope. Anthony Ghislieri was born in 1504 in Pieddmont, Itay. He joined the Dominicans in 1518, was ordained in 1540 and then taught philosophy and theology for 16 years before becoming bishop of Suiri in 1556. He was made a cardinal in 1557 and elected Pope in 1565. His first task was to begin implementing the sweeping reforms called for by the Council. He ordered the founding of seminaries and published a new missal, a new breviary, and a new catechism

29 April 
 St Catherine of Siena - Independent Catholic News : Mystic. Dominican tertiary. St Catherine was born in 1347, the youngest of about 20 children of a Sienese dyer, Giacomo Benincasa. From a very early age she was very prayerful and refused to consider marriage. In around 1367 she joined the Dominicans, still living at home and spending much of her time in prayer. She underwent many religious experiences, frequently experiencing visions of Jesus. Gradually a group formed round her, of lay people

28 April 
 St Peter Chanel and St Louis de Montfort - Independent Catholic News : Marist priest and the first martyr of the South Seas. St Peter Chanel was born in 1804 near Cras in France. His parents were peasants. His parish priest, the Abbe Trompier, took him on as a pupil because he was so bright and very devout. Peter went to the local seminary, was ordained, and rebuilt the very run-down parish of Croizet in three years. He then joined the Marist missionaries which had been recently founded by Jean Colin at Lyon.

Bl. Peter Armengol - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Bl. Peter Armengol, Roman Catholic Missionary 1238-1304 Member of a noble Catalonian family, he is said in an extravagant story to have become an outlaw, almost killing his father in an ambush, whereupon he joined the Mercedarians. He twice went from Spain to Africa to redeem captives/ held as a hostage, he was hanged , but found to be alive by another missioner who had been delayed. He continued his work of rescuing Christians from the Muslim Moors for ten more years. He died near Tarragona, Spain.His feastday is April 27.

27 April 
 Saint Zita - Independent Catholic News : Domestic servant. Patron of maidservants. Born at Monsagrati, in 1218, she worked for the Farinelli household all her life from the age of 12. She was very conscientious, which initially did not make her popular with the other staff. She was also very generous with food for the poor, which annoyed her employers. However she eventually won everyone over by her patience and good nature and became a confidential friend of the family. Many miracles were attributed to her. Once angels are said to have baked her cakes while she was rapt in prayer.

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: New Biography of Elizabeth I: UK and US Versions : John Guy, author of several books on the Tudor dynasty and other periods of English history, including studies of Thomas More, Thomas Wols...

When Saints Choose Us : For some time now I have felt drawn to St. Therese. I wrote about her on her feast day last year in St. Therese Teaches Us to Live Simply in Great Love. To be quite honest, I am not sure when exactly she became a force in my life. It seemed to increase when I …

Under Mary's Holy Name: Victory in Vienna, September 12, 1683 : As Christian Europe tore at her own throat during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) the Ottoman Turks missed a golden opportunity to strike their centuries-old enemy.  Why?  They were themselves absorbed with war in Persia.  Moreover, they were beset by a turbulent period of harem intrigue and governed—or not—by a string of ineffectual and self-indulgent …

Saint of the Day for Tuesday, April 26th, 2016 - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online 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

26 April - Saint Pedro de Betancur - Independent Catholic News : Priest and the first saint of Guatemala. Born into a poor family on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Pedro was a shepherd until he was 24 when he began to make his way to Guatemala, hoping to connect with a relative engaged in government service there. By the time he reached Havana, he was out of money. After working there to earn more, he got to Guatemala City in the following year. When he arrived he was so destitute that he joined the bread line which the Franciscans had established.

The Eponymous Flower: Jesuit Manuel Carreia: "Islam, the Worst Plague th... : (Madrid) the famous astrophysicist and Jesuit, Father Manuel Carreira, has said "Islam, the worst plague that the human race has ever s...

25 April Saint Mark - Independent Catholic News : Evangelist. St Mark was the first Gospel writer. He is usually associated with John Mark, whose mother's house in Jerusalem was a meeting place for the Apostles. He was also probably the young man described in Mark 14: 51 who followed Christ after his arrest and then ran away. He later accompanied both Paul and Peter. Paul and Barnabas (Mark's cousin) took him with them on their first missionary journey.

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online 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. Mary Clopas - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online 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. George - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. George, Roman Catholic Martyr. Pictures of St. George usually show him killing a dragon to rescue a beautiful lady. The dragon stands for wickedness. The lady stands for God's holy truth. St. George was a brave martyr who was victorious over the devil. He was a soldier in the army of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and he was one of the Emperor's favorite soldiers. Now Diocletian was a pagan and a bitter enemy to the Christians. He put to death every Christian he could find. George was a brave Christian, a real soldier of Christ. Without fear, he went to the Emperor and sternly scolded him for being so cruel. Then he gave up his position in the Roman army. For this he was tortured in many terrible ways and finally beheaded. Feastday April 22

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Saint Anselm, the Reluctant Archbishop of Canterbu... : The late, great Ralph McInerny wrote this about St. Anselm of Canterbury, today's saint: Saint Anselm was born near Aosta in 1033. H...

22 April 
 - Saint Theodore of Sykeon - Independent Catholic News : Monk and Bishop of Anastasiopolis in Galatia. This seventh century saint was the son of a prostitute who lived in a brothel. His father was a circus entertainer and acrobat who had nothing to do with his son. Theodore's mother had her child baptised. (His name means 'gift of God') and the household's life changed, when Stephen, an elderly cook, came to live with them. His food was so delicious people came from long distances to eat there and the women were able to give up prostitution.

Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, Roman Catholic  Trappist Nun. Patron of Ecumenism.Feastday April 22

St. Abdiesus - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Abdiesus and Companions, Roman Catholic Martyrs of Persia who was caught up in the persecutions conducted by King Shapur II. Records indicate that Abdiesus was accompanied in his martyrdom by Abrosimus, Acepsimus, Azadanes, Azades, Bicor, Mareas, Milles, and a women named Tarbula. Some were Persian courtiers, others priests and bishops. Tarbula was the sister of St. Simeon, and suffered a particularly cruel death by sawing. Feastday April 22

St. Anselm - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Roman Catholic Priest, Archbishop of Canterbury and Doctor of The Church. Feastday April 21

English Historical Fiction Authors: Order! Order! - Cromwell loses it, and dissolves P... : by Deborah Swift 'Depart I say, and in the name of God, go!' On this day - 20th April  - 1653, Cromwell had finally had eno...

18 April 
 - Saint Laisren (Molaise) - Independent Catholic News : Irish monk. This 7th century saint was born in Ireland and is venerated in Ireland and Scotland. He was abbot of Old Leighlan, Co Carlow, founder of Inishmurray, Co Sligo and supported the Roman calculation of Easter. Not much else is known about him. One story suggest that he travelled to Rome and was made a bishop there. According to legend he managed to contract 30 illnesses at once as a penance. There are some large monastic

St. Apollonius the Apologist - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Apollonius the Apologist, Roman Catholic Martyr whose Apologia, or defense of the faith, is considered one of the most priceless documents of the early Church. Apollonius was a Roman senator who was denounced as a Christian by one of his slaves. The Praetorian Prefect, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, arrested him, also putting the slave to death as an informer. Perennis demanded that Apollonius denounce the faith, and when he refused, the case was remanded to the Roman senate. There a debate took place between Perennis and Apollonius that clearly outlines the beauty and the value of Christianity. Despite his eloquent defense, Apollonius was condemned and beheaded. Feastday April 18

St. Anicetus - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Anicetus, Roman Catholic Pope a Syrian from Emesa. He became pope about 155 and actively opposed Marcionism and Gnosticism. His pontificate saw the appearance of the controversy between East and West over the date of Easter. St. Polycarp, a disciple of John, is reported to have visited him in Rome about the dispute, which was to accelerate and grow more heated over the following centuries. Feastday April 17

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: St. Robert Southwell's Influence : Next month, from St. Augustine's Press : Southwell's Sphere: The Influence of England's Secret Poet  by Dr. Gary Bouchard: O...

16 April

 - Saint Bernadette - Independent Catholic News : Visionary, and later nun. Born in 1844, Bernadette was the eldest of six children born to Francois Soubirous, a miller, and his wife Louise. The family lived in great poverty. When they couldn¹t afford to pay the rent, after 1857 the family were forced to live in one room of an old prison. Throughout her childhood Bernadette suffered many illnesses, including cholera. She had asthma all her life. In 1858, when she was just 14, she began to experience

15 April 
 - Saint Ruadhan (Rodan) - Independent Catholic News : Monk. This sixth century Irish saint was the founder and abbot of Lothra in Co Tipperary. Coming from a royal Munster family, he studied under St Finian at Clonard. He is sometimes described as a bishop and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. In the parish church of Lothra, there is an ancient oratory said to be his. A number of stories and legends were written about Ruadan long after his death.

St. Domnina of Terni - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Domnina of Terni, Roman Catholic Virgin Martyr with virgin companions. They died in Termi, Umbria, Italy. It is reported that St. Valentine was martyred at the same time. Feastday April 14

13 April - 
Saint Martin I - Independent Catholic News : St Martin was the last Pope to be venerated as a martyr. Born in the Italian town of Todi in Umbria, as a young man he rose rapidly in the church, and served his predecessor Pope Theodore I as papal nuncio to Constantinople. At this time, there was a growing belief among Christians that Jesus was purely divine, without the will of a human being. The Emperor Constantine was one of the main supporters of this idea. As soon as Martin became Pope he called a council to condemn this notion.

11 April - Saint Stanislaw - Independent Catholic News : Bishop and martyr. Patron saint of Poland. St Stanislaw was born in 1010 to a noble family in Szczepanow. After his ordination, he received a canonry in Krakow. In 1072 he was consecrated bishop and became a reformer, a tireless preacher and generous benefactor to the poor. At that time, the king, Boleslaw II, was abusing his power in many ways. On one occasion he abducted someone else's wife. St Stanislaw asked him to free the woman and then threatened to excommunicate the king he did not amend his ways. Boleslaw refused and went to the Cathedral where St Stanislaw was saying Mass.

St. Marguerite d'Youville - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Marguerite d'Youville, Roman Catholic Nun. Foundress of the Sisters of Charity, the Grey Nuns of Canada in 1755. Feastday April 11

St. Beocca - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Beocca, Roman Catholic martyr of EngIand, with Ethor, lledda,Torthred, and others.The Danes raided England, concentrating on Anglo-Saxon abbeys. Beocca, Ethor, and ninety monks died in Surrey. Hedda and others died at Peterborough, and Torthred and others died at Thorrey Abbey. All were venerated as martyrs. Featday April 10

Martyrs of Pannonia - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Martyrs of Pannonia A group of seven Roman Catholic men and women who died at Sirmium in Pannonia, on the Danube. Feastday April 9

Martyrs of Croyland - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Martyrs of Croyland Roman Catholic Benedictine monks who were slain by the Danes during an invasion of Croyland Abbey, England, and the surrounding area. The abbot was Theodore. Others suffering included Askega, the prior; Swethin, the subprior; and Elfgete, Savinus, Egdred, Agamund, Grimkeld, and Ulrick. Feastday April 9

St. Julie Billiart - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Julia Billiart , Roman Catholic Nun and Foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Feastday April 8

7th April - Saint John Baptiste de la Salle - Independent Catholic News : Teacher and founder. St John was born at Rheims in France, in 1651 to a wealthy family. He was given a canonry as a young man. He trained for the priesthood at Saint Sulpice, In 1678 he became a priest, and could have continued living a rather relaxed life. Instead, he decided to devote himself to the education of poor boys. He gave up his canonry and fortune and set about training a group of young men who were the first Brothers of the Christian Schools. They established free schools in Paris, Rome and later England. The success of the congregation drew great hostility from professional schoolmasters and others.

6th April - Saint William of Aebelholt - Independent Catholic News : Augustinian abbot. Born in France in 1127, William of Aebelholt went on to become one of Denmark's most revered saints. His letters are a valuable source of information about the early church there. William was a canon in Paris when in 1171 he was invited by the bishop of Roskilde to take care of the reform of the abbey of Eskilso in Ise Fjord, Zealand.

St. Sixtus I - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Sixtus I, Roman Catholic Pope and Martyr, during the reign of Hadrian c. 115-c. 125. Feastday Apr.6

St. Celestine I - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Celestine I, Roman Catholic Pope. The founder of the papal diplomatic service and sent Palladius to evangelize Ireland in 431. Feastday Apr.6

St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Apocalypse : St. Vincent Ferrer was one of the greatest preachers the Church has ever known, but even if we are not called to evangelize on the same scale, there are a few important things we can take from his life and example to use in our own lives as we share the gospel in our individual way.

St. Vincent Ferrer - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Vincent Ferrer, Roman Catholic Valencian Dominican friar, missionary and a logician. Feastday April 5

Martyrs of Lesbos - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Martyrs of Lesbos, Five virgin Roman Catholic maidens who suffered martyrdom for the faith on the Greek island of Lesbos. Feastday Apr.5

4th April - Saint Benedict the African & Feast of the Annuniciation - Independent Catholic News : Laybrother. Born in Sicily in 1526, of African slave parents, St Benedict was freed by his owner at a young age. When he was 21 some Franciscan hermits saw him being publicly insulted because of his colour. They were impressed by the dignified and patient way he endured being taunted, and invited to join their group. In time he became their leader. When the group dispersed, in around 1564, he joined the Franciscan Friars at Palermo, as a laybrother, working in the kitchens.

English Historical Fiction Authors: Henry VIII and the Break with Rome : Judith Arnopp There are many unanswered questions about the Tudors but probably the most asked is ‘What makes the Tudors so fascinati...

Saint of the Day for Monday, April 4th, 2016 - Saints St. Isidore of Seville, Roman Catholic Priest and Doctor of The Church. Isidore was the first Christian writer to try to compile a summa of universal knowledge, in his most important work, the Etymologiae his learning caught fire in Spanish minds and held back the Dark Ages of barbarism from Spain. Feastday April 4

St. Agape - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Agape, Roman Catholic Martyr, Agape and her sisters Chionia and Irene, Christians of Thessalonica, Macedonia, were convicted of possessing texts of the Scriptures despite a decree issued in 303 by Emperor Diocletian naming such possessions a crime punishable by death. When they further refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, the governor, Dulcitius, had Agape and Chionia burned alive. When Irene still refused to recant, Dulcitius ordered her sent to a house of prostitution. There she was unmolested after being exposed naked and chained, she was put to death either by burning or by an arrow through her throat. Feastday April 3

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: The Former Bishop of St. Asaph Dies in Rome : Thomas Goldwell, the former Bishop of St. Asaph's in Wales (mostly) died on April 3, 1585 in Rome. He was the last surviving bishop of...

2nd April 

- Saint Francis of Paola - Independent Catholic News : Patron saint of seafarers. Founder of the Franciscan Minim Friars, Born at Paola in Calabria, in 1416, St Francis lived at a friary for a year when he was 13. He made a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, and then became a hermit living in a cave overlooking the sea. When he was 20, he was joined by two companions. The neighbours built them a chapel and cells to live in. Later others came. The Friars were called the Minims and were approved by the Pope in 1474. There was usually only one priest in each community. They followed the Franciscan ideal.

St. Pedro Calungsod - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Pedro Calungsod, Roman Catholic Filipino Martyr. While missionary work in Guam along with Diego San Vitores were both murdered after baptizing an infant and mother who converted to the Roman Catholic faith. Feastday April 2

Bl. Peter Verhun - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Bl. Peter Verhun, Roman Catholic Priest and Martyr. Peter was a priest for Ukrainian Catholics at Berlin, Germany. Apostolic Visitor to Germany. Peter was arrested for his faith in 1945, and exiled to Siberia. Feastday April 2

1st April 
 - Saint Hugh of Grenoble - Independent Catholic News : Bishop and monk. St Hugh was born in 1052, at Chateauneuf in France. He was the son of a knight called Odilo and educated at the cathedral school at Valence, where he became a canon. Hugh is said to have been very gifted, and good looking. He was also very shy. The bishop of Die, who was a papal legate made him his secretary. In 1080 he attended the Synod of Avignon which reviewed the

St. Theodora - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Theodora, Roman Catholic Martyr. According to the Acta of Pope St. Alexander (r 105-115), she was the sister of St. Hermes and was martyred some time after her brother. She had given aid and care to her brother during his difficult time in prison. Feastday April1