SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 24 PRAY FOR US

 SAINTS OF THE DAY FOR APRIL 24 PRAY FOR US

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. Egbert. Egbert IS A 8th. Century an English monk of Lindisfarne, he was anxious to go on the mission to Germany. His destiny, however, was less heroic but quite important. Settling on Iona, he succeeded in persuading the monks to adopt the roman usage over the celebration of Easter - a task which took thirteen years of gentle persuasion.  

St. Diarmaid, 851 A.D. Irish bishop of Armagh known for his learning. He was named bishop in 834 but was driven from his see by a usurper, Forau. Diarmaid went to Connacht, where he ruled as primate. During his reign, Norsemen destroyed churches in Armagh in 841. 

St. Dyfnan. Founder at Anglesey, Wales. He was the son of the Welsh chieftain Brychan of Brecknock.  

St. Mellitus of Canterbury, 624 A.D. Archbishop of Canterbury from 619. In 601, he was sent from St. Andrew’s Monastery, Rome, to England by Pope St. Gregory I the Great. Mellitus spent three years as a missionary in Kent, England, aiding St. Augustine. He also became the first bishop of London and was responsible for converting the King of the East Saxons. The Saxons, however, exiled him in 616 over some conflict, but Mellitus returned to England and was named archbishop of Canterbury, in succession to St. Lawrence. Tradition states that he saved Canterbury from a disastrous fire with his prayers.  

Bishop. Mellitus was one of the second band of missionaries sent from Rome to England by Pope Gregory I.

He took with him a letter advising Augustine not to destroy the temples of the Saxons, but only their idols. The temples he was told, should be turned into churches, and the pagan feasts adapted to Christian purposes.

In 604 he was consecrated the first bishop of the East Saxons, with his see in London. He converted the King Sabert, but not his sons. When the king died they drove Mellitus out, after he refused their demand to give them the 'white bread' (the Eucharist).

Mellitus withdrew to Gaul for a year with St Justus of Rochester. When he returned to England he was made Archbishop of Canterbury. He built St Mary's Church there.

Mellitus died on this day in 624 and was buried near St Augustine in the abbey church of St Peter and St Paul. Bede said that he was 'noble by birth but yet nobler in mind'.

STS. MARY OF CLEOPHAS AND SALOME, DISCIPLES OF THE LORD These two saints were among the women who went to the sepulchre on Easter Sunday to anoint the Body of the Lord. There they heard the proclamation of the Resurrection. Mary, the wife of Clopas, is the mother of James the Less; while Salome is the wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John. 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. MARY ELIZABETH HESSELBLAD, FOUNDRESS OF THE BRIDGETTINES

The Servant of God was born in the little village of Faglavik, in the province of Alvsborg, on the 4 June 1870, the fifth of thirteen children born to Augusto Roberto Hesselblad and Cajsa Pettesdotter Dag. The following month she was baptized and received into the Reformed Church of Sweden.

April 24