SAINTS JANUARY 31

 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 Ireland and undertook a series of penitential pilgrimages. Adamnan arrived on the southwest coast of Scotland where he met St. Ebba at the Monastery of Coldingham. He became a monk in this monastery and lived a life of severe austerity. Adamnan was noted for the gift of prophecy until his death. 

 

St. Eusebius, 884 A.D. Martyred Irish Benedictine. While traveling from Ireland to Switzerland, Eusebius became Benedictine at Saint-Gall Monastery, Switzerland. He spent thirty years as a hermit on Mt. St. Victor and was cut down by a scythe when he preached to a group of pagan peasants.  

St. Madres, Saint honored in the Carse of Gowrie, Scotland, also listed as Madianus. He may be identified with St. Modoc. One tradition makes him a companion of St. Boniface Quiritinus. Many legends offer other identities, none substantiated.

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

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 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