Christian Today

  Saint of the day April 30- St. Cynwl, 6th century. A hermit, the brother of St. Deinoil, noted fir his austere life in southern Wales. Several churches in the region were dedicated to Cynwl.   St. Forannan, 932 A.D. Irish bishop of Domhnach-Mor, Ireland, no longer listed as a diocese. With twelve companions he went to Belgium and founded an abbey at Waulsort, on the Meuse River, becoming abbot in 962. Forannan introduced the Benedictine rule to Waulsort. Forannan went to Belgium in response to a dream.   Bl. Francis Dickenson, 1590 A.D. English martyr. He was born in Yorkshire, England, and was a convert to the Church. After being ordained at Reims, France, in 1589, he returned to England and was promptly arrested. Francis was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Rochester. He was beatified in 1929.   St. Gerard Miles, 1590 A.D. Martyr of England with Blessed Francis Dickinson. He was born in Lancashire, England, and went to Douai and Reims where he ...

 Saint of the day April 23 St. George, Patron of England 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.   So boldly daring and so cheerful was St. George in declaring his Faith and in dying for it that Christians felt courage when they heard about it. Many songs and poems were written about this martyr. Soldiers, especially, have always been devoted to him. We all have some "dragon" we have to conquer. It might be pride, or anger, or laziness, or greediness, or som...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 22 ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS April 22  St. Arwald, 686 A.D. Martyrs, sons of Arwald, the prince of the Isle of Wight, just off the English coast. The martyrs are called Arwald because their proper names are not known. They were slain after Baptism by King Cadwall, who was a pagan. Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, Roman Catholic  Trappist Nun. Patron of Ecumenism.Feastday April 22 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. CAIUS, POPE Caius was born in the Dalmatian city of Salona, to a noble family, possibly related to the emperor Diocletian. He was ...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 21 St. Beuno. Beuno's legend has him a monk in Wales who founded his own community and performed numerous miracles, among them, restoring St. Winifred's head after she was beheaded. However, he does seem to have been an effective preacher who evangelized much of North Wales and founded a monastery at Clynnog Fawr (Carnavonshire). Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Roman Catholic Priest, Archbishop of Canterbury  and Doctor of The Church. Feastday April 21 ST. CONRAD OF PARZHAM, CAPUCHIN For more than 40 years — from his profession of solemn vows in 1852 to his death in 1894 — Conrad of Parzham was doorkeeper at the convent of St Anne, in Altötting, Bavaria. Many people turned to the “holy porter” for a word of comfort or advice, or for a piece of bread.  April 21 ST. APOLLONIUS, PHILOSOPHER AND ROMAN MARTYR 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 ...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day 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 ho...

 Saint of the day April 19 St. Alphege, 1012 A.D. Archbishop and "the First Martyr of Canterbury." He was born in 953 and became a monk in the Deerhurst Monastery in Gloucester, England, asking after a few years to become a hermit. He received permission for this vocation and retired to a small hut near Somerset, England. In 984 Alphege assumed the role of abbot of the abbey of Bath, founded by St. Dunstan and by his own efforts. Many of his disciples from Somerset joined him at Bath. In that same year, Alphege succeeded Ethelwold as bishop of Winchester. He served there for two decades, famed for his care of the poor and for his own austere life. King Aethelred the Unready used his abilities in 994, sending him to mediate with invading Danes. The Danish chieftain Anlaf converted to Christianity as a result of his meetings with Alphege, although he and the other chief, Swein, demanded tribute from the Anglo-Saxons of the region.   Anlaf vowed never to lead his troops agai...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

  Saint of the day April 18 St. Cogitosus, 8th century. Monk of Kildare, Ireland, and the biographer of St. Brigid. This work is invaluable because of its details of St. Brigid in the era in which she lived.   St. Laserian, 639 A.D. Bishop and papal legate, brother of St. Goban, also listed as Molaisse. Laserian was born in Ireland and was a monk on lona, Scotland. He went to Rome and was ordained by Pope St. Gregory I the Great. Returning to Ireland, Laserian supported Roman liturgical images, and he went back to Rome with a group to have Pope Honorius I settle the dispute. Laserian was made a bishop and papal legate to Ireland. In 637, he succeeded his brother, St. Goban, as abbot of Leighlin. 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 ...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 17 St. Stephen Harding, O.Cist. Roman Catholic English monk and abbot, who was one of the founders of the Cistercian Order. Feastday April 17 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 ST. SIMEON, BISHOP OF SELEUCIA AND MARTYR

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

  Saint of the day April 16 St. Donan. A remarkable fact about the widespread work of the Celtic missionary saints from the fifth century onwards is that scarcely any cases of violent opposition or martyrdom are recorded until the Viking and Danish raids began at the end of the ninth century. The pagan Celts accepted the missionaries even when they did not accept their religion and pagan and Christian symbols are found side by side on the great Pictish stones. Donan (or Donnan) deserves a note in these pages not only because of the extent of his journeying but because he and his fellow monks on the island of Eigg provide the most dreadful case of martyrdom in the history of the Celtic Church. He and fifty-two of his followers were butchered within the refectory of the monastery. The only other martyrdoms recorded seem to be those of Constantine of Kintyre and of Kessog, and the latter is doubtful. St. Bernadette Soubirous, Roman Catholic Nun. Feastday April 16 Bl. Pierre Delepi...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

  Saint of the day April 15 St. Paternus. The first 5th century saint. He followed his father's path by becoming a hermit in Wales. He founded the monastery at the great church of Paternus, and became a bishop of that region. He was known for his preaching, charity and mortifications. Scholars believe his story is an amalgam.  St. Ruadan, 584 A.D. One of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, an abbot founder. He was born in Leinster, Ireland, and was a disciple of St. Finian of Clonard. Ruadan was the founder of the monastery of Lothra, in Tipperary, which had 150 monks.   St. Mundus, 962 A.D. Scottish abbot sometimes called Mund, Munde, or Mond. He founded abbeys in Argyle, Scotland. St. Hunna Called “the Holy Washerwoman,” a noblewoman who devoted herself to the poor of Strasbourg, France. The daughter of a duke and wife of Huno of Hunnaweyer, she even washed the poor, hence her name. ST. ABBONDIO

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 14 St. Tassach, 495 A.D. Bishop, also known as Asicus. One of the first disciples of St. Patrick, he was a gifted artisan, creating for St. Patrick croziers, patens, and chalices. He was later appointed the first bishop of Rahoip, Ireland, and gave Patrick the last rites. St. Lydwine, Roman Catholic  patroness of sickness. Feastday April 14 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 ST. TIBURTIUS, VALERIANUS, AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS ON THE VIA APPIA. The existence of the aforesaid martyrs, however, is a historical fact. The relation between St. Cecilia and Valerianus, Tiburtius, and Maximus, mentioned in the Acts, has perhaps some historical foundation. These three saints were buried in the Catacomb of Praetextatus on the Via Appia, where their tombs are mentioned in the ancient pilgrim Itineraria. April 14

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

  Gospel and Thought for the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day.html

  Saint of the day April 13 St. Caradoc, 1124 A.D. Welsh hermit and harpist. He served a local king in southern Wales before becoming a hermit at St. Cendydd Church in Gower, later taking up residence on Barry Island at St. Issels. Forced into exile by Henry I's invasion of the re-gion, Caradoc went to Haroldston, where he occupied the cell of St. Ismael. St. Gunioc, 838 A.D. Scottish bishop who is recorded in the Aberden Breviary. Bl. Edward Catheriek, 1642 A.D. English martyr. He was born at Carlton, near Richmond, Yorkshire, England, and educated at Douai, France. He returned to England in 1635 as a missionary priest and worked there until his martyrdom at York. Edward was beatified in 1929. Bl.. John Lockwood, 1642 A.D. English martyr, sometimes called John Lascelles. He was born in Sowerby, Yorkshire, and went to Rome to study for the priesthood as a mature man. He was ordained in 1597 returned to England the following year. He was arrested and banished in 1610 but returned t...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 12 St. Wigbert, 690 A.D. Missionary. An Anglo-Saxon, he went to Ireland and became a disciple of St. Egbert before journeying to Friesland, the Netherlands, where he spent time as a missionary. He died in Ireland. St. Julius, Roman Catholic elected Pope to succeed Pope St. Mark on February 6, 337.Feastday: April 12 ST. ZENO, BISHOP OF VERONA Zeno (d. 371) + Bishop of Verona, Italy, theological writer. A native of Africa, he was named bishop in 362 and proved an ardent opponent of Arianism. He also promoted discipline among the clergy and in liturgical life, built a cathedral, and founded a convent. April 12 ST. JOSEPH MOSCATI, PHYSICIAN OF NAPLES, Celebrated physician of Naples, Italy, noted for medical research. Joseph gave his wages and skills to caring for the sick and the poor and was a model of piety and faith. He was beatified in 1975 and canonized in 1987. April 12

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 11 St. Machai. Abbot founder of a monastery on the isle of Bute in Ireland. He was a disciple of St. Patrick and he was a leader of the evangelical mission there.   St. Mary Margaret d'Youville, 1771 A.D. Foundress of the Sisters of Charity, the Grey Nuns of Canada. She was born at Varennes, Quebec, and was baptized Marie Marguerite Dufrost de Ia Jemmerais. After being educated by the Ursulines, she was married to Francois d’Youville in 1722, becoming a widow eight years later. Mary Margaret worked to support herself and her children, aiding the Confraternity of the Holy Family as well. In 1737, she founded the Sisters of Charity, the Grey Nuns, with three companions. A formal declaration took place in 1745, and two years later she became directress of Montreal’s General Hospital, operated by her community. The Grey Nuns expanded to the United States, Africa, and South America. Mary Margaret died in Montreal on December 23. She was canonized by Pop...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 10 St. Beocca, 870 A.D. A martyr of England, 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.   St. Malchus. Irish Benedictine bishop ordained by St. Anselm as the first bishop of Watefford, England. He was a monk at Winchester, England, and was a preceptor of St. Malachy O’More. Saint Michael de Sanctis (September 29, 1591 – April 10, 1625), sometimes called Michael of the Saints, was a Discalced Trinitarian priest from Vic, Catalonia. ST. MAGDALENE OF CANOSSA, VIRGIN, FOUNDRESS OF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY. Magdalena of Canossa (1774-1835) virgin, foundress of the Canossian Family of Daughters and Sons of Charity photo. MAGDALENA OF CANOSSA, was a woman who believed in the love of the Lord Jesus and, sent by the Holy Spirit...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 09 St. Dotto, 6th century. Abbot of a monastery of the Orkney Islands of Scotland. St. Hedda. 870 A.D. Martyred Benedictine abbot of Peterborough, England. He and eighty four monks were slain by Danes marauding along the English coast.   St. Madrun. A Welsh or Cornish widow. No details of her life are extant, but some Welsh churches bear her name.   Martyrs of Croyland. 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 sub prior; and Elfgete, Savinus, Egdred, Agamund, Grimkeld, and Ulrick. Martyrs of Pannonia A group of seven Roman Catholic men and women who died at Sirmium in Pannonia, on the Danube. Feastday April 9 ST. LIBORIUS, BISHOP OF LE MANS Elected in 348 fourth bishop of Le Mans, Liborius governed the diocese for 49 years. He ordained 217 priests and 186 deacons, and was dedicated...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

 Saint of the day April 09 St. Dotto, 6th century. Abbot of a monastery of the Orkney Islands of Scotland. St. Hedda. 870 A.D. Martyred Benedictine abbot of Peterborough, England. He and eighty four monks were slain by Danes marauding along the English coast.   St. Madrun. A Welsh or Cornish widow. No details of her life are extant, but some Welsh churches bear her name.   Martyrs of Croyland. 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 sub prior; and Elfgete, Savinus, Egdred, Agamund, Grimkeld, and Ulrick. Martyrs of Pannonia A group of seven Roman Catholic men and women who died at Sirmium in Pannonia, on the Danube. Feastday April 9 ST. LIBORIUS, BISHOP OF LE MANS Elected in 348 fourth bishop of Le Mans, Liborius governed the diocese for 49 years. He ordained 217 priests and 186 deacons, and was dedicated...

  Saint of the Day - Calendar of Saints - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html

  Saint of the day April 07 St. Celsus. Celsus of Armagh was a layman named Ceallach mac Aedha. He succeeded to the bishopric of Armagh (it was a hereditary See) in 1105 when he was twenty-six, was consecrated bishop, put into effect many reforms in his diocese, and ruled well and effectively. He mediated between warring Irish factions, was a friend of St. Malachy, and ended the hereditary succession to his See by naming Malachy as his successor on his deathbed. He died on April at Ardpatrick, Munster St. Brynach, 5th century. A Celtic hermit in Wales. He built a hermitage at Carn-Englyi, near Nefyn, Gwynedd. He is identified by some with St. Brannock of Braunton. St. Finan, 6th century. Patron of monastery in Kinitty, Offaly, Ireland and Disciple of St. Brendan and founder abbot of a monastery in Kinitty, Offaly, Ireland. A native of Munster, he is also known as Finnian, and is the patron of the monastery. St. Goran, 6th century. Missionary of the district of Cornwall, England. ...