SAINTS FOR MARCH 22

 

SAINTS FOR MARCH 22 

ST. PAUL, BISHOP OF NARBONNE AND MARTYR, A notable missionary who is known principally because of reports made of him by St. Gregory of Tours . According to Gregory, Paul was ordained at Rome and, with other missionaries including Sts. Saturninus and Dionysius, he was assigned to Gaul to preach the Gospel. He enjoyed considerable success in the region around Narbonne, founding several churches there. He is also mentioned in various legends. Mar.22

St. Callinica & Basilissa, Roman Catholic Women Martyrs of Galatia. Wealthy matrons, Callinica and Basilissa spent their fortunes bringing aid to the imprisoned Christians in their area. They were arrested for their generosity and slain. Feastday March 22

St. Nicholas Owen. Nicholas was born at Oxford, England. He became a carpenter or builder and served the Jesuit priests in England for two decades by constructing hiding places for them in mansions throughout the country. He became a Jesuit lay brother in 1580, and was arrested in 1594 with Father John Gerard, and despite prolonged torture would not give the names of any of his Catholic colleagues; he was released on the payment of a ransom by a wealthy Catholic. Nicholas is believed responsible for Father Gerard's dramatic escape from the Tower of London in 1597. Nicholas was again arrested in 1606 with Father Henry Garnet, who he had served eighteen years, Father Oldcorne, and Father Oldcorne's servant, Brother Ralph Ashley, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Nicholas was subjected to such vicious torture that he died of it on March 2nd. He was known as Little John and Little Michael and used the aliases of Andrews and Draper. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.  

St. Lea, Roman Catholic fourth-century saint in the Roman Catholic Church based on the authority of Jerome., soon after her marriage she was widowed and left very sound financially. Instead of retiring as a wealthy widow, however, she joined a convent of consecrated virgins in the city—shedding all the money and social standing she possessed. In later years she was named the prioress of the convent. Feastday Mar.22

St. Trien, 5th century. A disciple of St. Patrick. He served as a missionary and then as abbot of Killelga Monastery, Ireland.  

St. Darerca, 5th century. The sister of St. Patrick. She was reported to have borne fifteen sons, ten of whom became bishops throughout Ireland.