Christian Today

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 31 St. Aidan, 626 A.D. Monastic founder, bishop, and miracle worker known for his kindness to animals. Known as Edan, Modoc, and Maedoc in some records, Aidan was born in Connaught, Ireland. Tradition states that his birth was heralded by signs and omens, and he showed evidence of piety as a small child. Educated at Leinster, Aidan went to St. David monastery in Wales. He remained there for several years, studying Scriptures, and his presence saved St. David from disaster. Saxon war parties attacked the monastery during Aidan's stay, and he supposedly repelled them miraculously. In time, Aidan returned to Ireland, founding a monastery in Ferns, in Wexford. He became the bishop of the region as well. His miracles brought many to the Church. Aidan is represented in religious art with a stag. He is reported to have made a beautiful stag invisible to save it from hounds.  St. Adamnan of Coldingham, 680 A.D. Confessor and prophet who was born in Irelan...

St. Francis Xavier Bianchi, Roman Catholic Barnabite Priest and miricale worker. Feastday January 31

ST. JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST, FOUNDER OF THE SALESIANS, FATHER AND TEACHER OF THE YOUNG St. John Bosco, Roman Catholic Priest. He dedicated his life to the betterment and education of street children, juvenile delinquents, and other disadvantaged youth. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method that became known as the Salesian Preventive System. Feastday January 31 ST. MARCELLA, ROMAN WOMAN, DISCIPLE OF ST. JEROM St. Marcella, Roman Catholic Widowed noblewoman of Rome, the hostess of St. Jerome and other dignitaries. She was scourged in the invasion of Rome in 410 by the Visigoths Under King Alaric who wished to extract knowledge of her wealth, which had in fact been given away. While she survived the vicious beating, she died soon after from the severity of her ordeal. Widowed nine months of marriage, she gave her wealth to the poor and founded a community of pious noble women. . Feastday January 31

ST. MARTINA, MARTYR St. Martina of Rome, Roman Catholic Virgin Martyr of Rome. A basilica was erected in her honor at the Roman Forum. Her remains were discovered there in 1634, Feastday January 30 ST. HYACINTHA MARESCOTTI, ROMAN VIRGIN Saint  Hyacintha  of  Mariscotti  (1585 - 1640 ) was a religious of the Third Order of  St . Francis and foundress of the Sacconi. At length she was touched by God's grace, and the earnest exhortations of her confessor at the time of serious illness made her see the folly of the past and brought about a complete change in her life. Jan. 30

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 29 St. Voloc, 724 A.D. Irish missionary bishop. He worked to propagate the Christian faith throughout Scotland.  St. Blath, 523 A.D. The cook in St. Brigid's convent, in Kildare, Ireland, also called Flora. She was renowned for her holiness and for her steadfast loyalty to St. Brigid in good times and in bad.

Sts. Sarbelius & Barbea, Roman Catholic Martyrs. Brother and sister, who were put to death at Edessa during the persecutions of Emperor Trajan. Sarbelius, also called Sharbel, was a high priest at Edessa, in Mesopotamia. They were arrested for converting to the faith, and were tortured with red-hot irons prior to execution. Feastday January 29

Bl. Boleslava Lament, Roman Catholic Virgin, in the midst of political upheaval founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family to promote Christian unity, help the poor and train the girls to Christian life.Jan. 29

ST. SULPITIUS SEVERUS Jan 29 Wealth and worldliness Oratory skill and business acumen were the most sought-after qualities, among educated and serious men, for they revealed the aptitude for the highest duties in Imperial service. Sulpitius distinguished himself for his eloquence, the fineness of his spirit, his ability to make use of legal cavils, his rigorous judgment and the solidity of his arguments. His reputation reached far. With luck and genius, he could aspire to the highest state offices. Completely absorbed by worldly concerns, in a time when all hopes smile at the imagination, he married a consul’s daughter, one equally wealthy and well-connected. Few young men could boast of better prospects at the beginning of career, for one full of honors. Unfortunately, these beautiful dreams for the future soon vanished. Death took away his bride and he sank into deep sadness. Providence, however,  reserved for him a most glorious destiny. Divine consolation Instead of ...

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 28 St. Glastian, 830 A.D. Bishop and patron of Kinglassie, Fife, and Scotland. He served as mediator between the Scots and Picts.  St. Richard of Vaucelles, 1169 A.D. English Cistercian abbot. He was appointed the head of Vaucelles Abbey, France, by St. Bernard.  St. Cannera, 530 A.D. An Irish hermitess, a friend of St. Senan. She is also called Cainder or Kinnera. She lived as a recluse near Bantry, Ireland, and was buried on St. Senan's Island, Enniscarthy.

St. Jerome Lou-Tin-Mei, Roman Catholic Layman and Chinese Martyr. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes 120 Catholics who died between 1648 and 1930 as its "Martyr Saints of China". Jan. 28 Bl. Lawrence Wang, Roman Catholic Layman and Chinese Martyr. Lawrence was beheaded by anti-Christian forces and received beatification in 1909. Feastday Jan28

ST THOMAS D'AQUIN, DOMINICAN, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, PATRON OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 27 St. Julian of Le Mans, 3rd century. First bishop of Le Mans, France. Tradition states that he was a noble Roman. Julian performed extravagant miracles and was honored during the Middle Ages as the patron of churches in England.  St. Natalis. A founder of monasticism in Northern Ireland and a disciple of St. Columba also called Naal. He served as abbot of the monasteries of Naile, Daunhinis, and Cill. A well in that region honors his memory.

ST. ANGELA MERICI, VIRGIN, FOUNDRESS OF THE URSULINE St. Angela Merici, Roman Catholic Saint. She founded the Order of Ursulines in 1535 in Brescia. Feastday January 27 ST. VITALIAN, POPE

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 26 St. Conan, 648 A.D. A bishop of Ireland, possibly from Scotland. It is believed that Conan taught St. Fiacre before going to the Isle of Man, where he served as a missionary and was consecrated bishop.  St. Robert of Newmister, 1000-1159 A.D. Cistercian abbot. Born in Yorkshire, England, he entered the Benedictines at Whitby and soon joined the monks at Fountains Abbey who were adopting the harder rule which was gaining prominence at the time. This community embraced the Cistercian rule, and the monastery became one of the spearhead communities for the Cistercians in England. In 1137, Robert helped to found Newminster Abbey, in Northumberland, serving as its first abbot.

Bl. Michal Kozal, Roman Catholic Priest and Bishop. Polish Martyr and 220 other priests of the diocese, who died in Dachau Concentration camp .Feastday Jan 26

STS. TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS, DISCIPLES OF ST. PAUL Timothy’s life Timothy was born in Listra (about 200 km north-west of Tarsus) to a Jewish mother and a pagan father. When Paul passed through those lands at the beginning of his second missionary journey, he chose Timothy as a companion because “he was highly esteemed by the brethren of Lystra and Iconium, (Acts 16: 2)” but he circumcised him “for the Jews that were in those regions. (Acts 16:3)” With the Apostle of the Gentiles, Timothy passed through Asia Minor and reached Macedonia. He then accompanied Paul to Athens and from there he was sent to Thessalonica. Then, he continued to Corinth and collaborated in the evangelization of the city on the isthmus. The figure of Timothy stands out like that of a great shepherd. According to the later Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, Timothy was the first Bishop of Ephesus. Some of his relics came from Constantinople in 1239, to rest in Italy, in the Cathedral of Termoli in...

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 25 St. Dwynwen. A Welsh saint credited with the saying: “Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness.” A member of the family of Brychan of Brecknock, she is venerated throughout Wales and Cornwall, England.  St.  Eochod, 697 A.D. The Apostle of the Picts of Galloway, Scotland. He was one of the twelve chosen by St. Columba to evangelize northern Britain.

St. Peter Thomas, At the behest of Pope Urban V, he journeyed to Serbia, Hungary, and Constantinople in an effort to organize a crusade against the Turks. He took part in a military operation against Alexandria, Egypt, in 1365 during which he was severely wounded. He died from his injuries at Cyprus a few months later. While never formally canonized, his feast was permitted to the Carmelites in 1608. Feastday Jan 25

ST. ANANIAS OF DAMASCUS, WHO BAPTIZED PAUL THE APOSTLE The great distinction of Ananias and his  Christian  community was the  baptizing  of St. Paul, the  Apostle to the gentiles . After the conversion on the road to Damascus, which left  Saul  blind, Ananias cured him and baptized him. After seeing Paul start his missionary work, Ananias went to Eleutheropolis, Jan 25 CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE Saint Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was to be the turning point in his spiritual life. There he met Jesus and nothing was the same after, Jan 25

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 24  Bl. William Ireland, 1679 A.D. Jesuit martyr of England. He was born in Lincolnshire and studied at St. Omer, France, where he joined the Jesuits in 1655. He was professed in 1673 and was a confessor to nuns until he was sent to England, where he became known as William Ironmonger or Iremonger. William worked for the English mission until his arrest at the London Jesuit house and his subsequent execution at Tyburn for supposed complicity in the Popish Plot. He was beatified in 1929.  Bl. John Grove, 1697 A.D. English martyr, the servant of Blessed William Ireland. He served several Jesuits at a London house until his arrest. John was martyred at Tyburn with Blessed William Ireland for alleged involvement in the Titus Oates Plot. He was beatified in 1929.  St. Cadoc, 580 A.D. A Welsh bishop and martyr, a companion of St. Gildas. Cadoc is also called Docus, Cathmael, and Cadvael. He founded Llancarfan Monastery near Cardiff, Wales, ...

Bl. John Grove, Roman Catholic layman and English Martyr,  He was executed at Tyburn for supposed complicity in the Popish Plot. Jan 24. Bl. William Ireland, Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest and English Martyr. He was executed at Tyburn for supposed complicity in the Popish Plot. Jan. 24

Bl. Anicet Hryciuk, Roman Catholic Martyr and Member of the Podlachian martyrs, Feastday January 24

Bl. Bartlomiej Osypiuk, Roman Catholic Layman and a father of two. Marytred of Podlasie. He was wounded at the scene, transported home where he prayed for his killers before dying. Feastday Jan. 24

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP OF GENEVA AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, FOUNDER OF THE VISITATION ORDER, PATRON OF THE CATHOLIC PRESS Born August 21, 1567 in Thorens-Glières, France, to an ancient noble family of Boisy, in Savoy, he trained in the best French schools, then followed the wishes of his father, who dreamed for him a legal career, and went to study law at the University of Padua. There he discovered a definite interest in theology. He graduated with honors, returned to France in 1592, and enrolled in the bar association. His greatest desire, however, was to become a priest, so the following year, December 18, he was ordained, and three days later, at the age of 26, he celebrated his first Mass. Appointed archpriest of the cathedral chapter of Geneva, Francis manifests qualities of zeal and charity, diplomacy and level-headedness. Amid the raging storm of Calvinist heresy, he volunteered to re-evangelize the Chablais region. In preaching he sought dialogue, but struggled aga...

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/26 Today marks the anniversary of the birth of of Mary Ward, whose cause for Beatification is underway at the Vatican. She was born in 1585, into a family of Yorkshire recusants, outlaw Catholics refusing to conform to the state religion. Condemned to death in London for her work among underground Catholics, she fled to the continent with a group of companions in 1609, believing herself called to start a religious order for women modelled on the mobility and missionary focus of the Jesuits, while remaining independent from them. This contradicted the Council of Trent's insistence that religious women be strictly enclosed. In a society and a church unprepared for such emancipation, she taught that 'there is no such difference between men and women, that women may not do great things'. Dubbed 'The English Ladies', Mary Ward and her sisters founded communities and schools across Europe. Mary walked over the Alps to Rome ...

Will the Blaine Amendments Fall at Last? - Crisis Magazine : Imagine there was a program to help fund alternative schooling including religious schooling, and even the costs of homeschooling, that was not under the control of the U.S. Congress. Not possible, right? Wrong! I was at the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday for oral arguments in the landmark case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. …

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 23 St. Colman of Lismore, 702 A.D.  Abbot Bishop of the monastery of Lismore, Ireland. He succeeded St. Hierlug in 698.  St. Maimbod. Irish martyr, also called Mainboeuf, missionary to them.

St. Marianne Cope, Roman Catholic Nun.  a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Syracuse, New York. Known for her charitable works and virtuous deeds, she spent many years caring for lepers on the island of Molokaʻi in Hawaiʻi. Despite direct contact with the patients over many years, Cope was not afflicted by the disease, which some faithful consider miraculou. Feastday January 23

ST. EMERENZIANA, ROMAN MARTYR St. Emerentiana Roman Catholic Martyr Feastday Jan 23 sister of St Agnes Jan. 23 ST. ILDEFONSUS, BISHOP OF TOLEDO Archbishop of Toledo; died 23 January, 667. He was born of a distinguished family and was a nephew of St.  Eugenius , his predecessor in the See of Toledo. At an early age, despite the determined opposition of his father, he embraced the monastic life in the  monastery of Agli , near Toledo.Jan. 23 SAINT EMENTIANA, ROMAN MARTYR

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS January 22 St. Brithwald, 1045 A.D. Benedictine bishop and a benefactor of Glastonbury Abbey in England. Brithwald was a monk at Glastonbury when he was named bishop of Ramsbury in 1005. He eventually moved his see to Old Sarum. Both Glastonbury and Malmesbury abbeys were under his patronage. Brithwald had visions and was a true prophet.  Bl. William Patenson, 1592 A.D. English martyr. Born at Durham, he departed his homeland and studied at Reims before receiving ordination there in 1587. The following year he sailed home and worked to promote the Catholic cause in the dangerous atmosphere of Elizabethan England. Arrested in 1591, he was tried and condemned for being a priest and was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn. During his imprisonment, he converted six other prisoners to the Catholic faith. Beatified in 1929.

Bl. William Joseph Chaminade, French Roman Catholic priest who survived persecution during the French Revolution. He founded the Society of Mary, also called the Marianists, in 1817. Feastday January 22

ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI, PRIEST, FOUNDER OF THE UNION OF THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLATE St. Vincent Pallotti, Priest (Feast - January 22) Born in Rome in 1795, St. Vincent became a priest and dedicated himself completely to God and cared for souls. He dreamed of gaining for  Christ  all  non-Catholics , especially the  Mohammedans .Jan.22  SAINT VINCENT, SPANISH DEACON AND MARTYR St Vincent was a deacon, originally from Saragossa in Spain. He was an great preacher and a courageous man. Vincent was arrested during the persecutions under Diocletian. Despite terrible tortures, he never denied the Faith. He was martyred in Valencia in 304, and immediately venerated as a saint.  Jan.22 S. ANASTASIUS, MONK AND MARTYR Anastasius was a soldier in the army of King Khusrow II, ruler of Persia, when that ruler carried the Holy Cross from Jerusalem to Persia. He was so impressed with the relic and with the demeanor of the Christians that he left...

Bl. Edward Stransham, Roman Catholic Priest and English Martyr. Hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on January 21, 1642. Feastday January 21 St. Alban Bartholomew Roe, Roman Catholic Priest and English Martyr. For seventeen years he remained in prison and was then tried and condemned. Alban was sentenced with Thomas Reynolds, another English martyr. They were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on January 21, 1642. Thomas Reynolds, Roman Catholic Priest and English Martyr, hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on January 21, 1642.

ST. AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR St. Agnes, Roman Catholic Virgin Martyr. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims, and virgins.Jan.21

ENGLISH SAINTS January 20 St. Alban Bartholomew Roe, 1642 A.D. Missionary and martyr, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Alban is believed to have been born in Bury St. Edmund's, England, about 1580. He converted to Catholicism and went to the English College at Douai, where he was dismissed for an infraction of discipline. In 1612 he became ordained Benedictine at Dieulouard, France. From there he was sent to England. In 1615 he was arrested and banished. In 1618 he returned to England and was imprisoned again. This imprisonment lasted until 1623, when the Spanish ambassador obtained his release. In 1625, once again having returned to England to care for Catholics, Alban was arrested for the last time. For seventeen years he remained in prison and was then tried and condemned. Alban was sentenced with Thomas Reynolds, another English martyr. They were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on January 21, 1642.  Bl. Thomas Reynolds, 1642 A.D. English martyr. Born Th...

Bl. Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi,Igbo Nigerian ordained a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria on December 19, 1937. Feastday Jan 20

POPE ST FABIAN, MARTYR Fabian was Pope for 14 years. He maintained relations with Eastern Christians, and divided Rome into seven diaconates for the assistance of the poor. Pope Fabian was imprisoned during the Decian persecution and died in 250. He is buried in the catacombs of St Callixtus, and is honoured as a martyr.  Jan. 20 ST. SEBASTIAN, MARTYR St .  Sebastian  was commonly invoked as a protector against the plague. According to historical records, he defended the city of Rome against the plague in 680. His association with the plague could be because he survived being shot full of arrows and in  pagan belief ,  pestilence  was delivered by arrows shot by the gods above.. Jan.20

ENGLISH SAINTS  January 19 St. Fillan. A son of Feriach and St. Kentigerna, was also known as Foelan. He became a monk in his youth and accompanied his mother from Ireland to Scotland where he lived as a hermit near St. Andrew's monastery for many years, and then was elected abbot. He later resigned and resumed his eremitical life at Glendochart, Pertchire, where he built a church and was reknowned for his miracles. Various legends attribute the most extravagant miracles to him, such as the one in which his prayers caused a wolf that had killed the ox he was using to drag materials to the church he was building, to take the ox's place. Fillan died on January 19.. . St. Henry of Sweden. Henry was an Englishman of the twelfth century residing at Rome. In 1152, he was consecrated Bishop of Uppsala, Sweden, by the Papal Legate Nicholas Breakspear, who later became Pope Adrian IV. In 1154, St. Eric, King of Sweden, led a punitive expedition against the Finns in retaliation for t...