Christian Today

Nigeria: Seminarian Burned Alive - ZENIT - English : The attackers aimed to kidnap the parish priest. When they failed in their attempt to enter the priest's house, they set it on fire.

 SAINTS AND MARTYRS for September 12  HOLY NAME OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,  Bl. Thomas Zumarraga, Dominican martyr of Japan. Born in Vitoria, Spain, he entered the Dominicans and was dispatched to the missions in Japan. There he worked to advance the Christian cause until his imprisonment at Omura. After three years of confinement, he was burned alive with several companions. Feastday Sept 12 ST. GUY OF ANDERLECHT St. Ailbhe, 541 A.D. Bishop and preacher, one of the saints whose life has been woven into the myths and legends of Ireland. He was a known disciple of St. Patrick, and is called Albeus in some records. What is known about Ailbhe is that he was a missionary in Ireland, perhaps sponsored by King Aengus of Munster. He was also the first bishop of Emily in Munster, Ireland. Legends and traditions abound about his life. One claims that he was left in the woods as an infant and suckled by a wolf. This legend is prompted in part by Ailbhe's later life. An old she-w...

SAINTS AND MARTYRS for September 11 STS. PROTUS AND HYACINTH, MARTYRS ON THE VIA SALARIA , Sts Protus and Hyacinth were said to be eunuchs in the service of a Roman lady named Eugenia. With their help, Eugenia, along with her friend Bassilla, converted to Christianity. All suffered martyrdom after Eugenia was accused by her fiancé of being a Christian.   Bl. John-Gabriel Perboyre, Martyr of China: He was a Vincentian from Puech, France, who was ordained in 1826. In 1835 he volunteered for the missions of China and went to Honan, where he rescued abandoned children. When the persecution started, John was arrested and tortured for a year. On September 11, he was strangled to death. Pope Leo XIII beatified him in 1889, making him the first martyr in China to be so honored.Sept. 11Bl. Francis Takea, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, A twelve-year-old martyr of Japan, the son of Blessed Thomas Takea and a companion of Blessed Caspar Contenda. Francis was beheaded at Nagasaki, Japan...

SAINTS AND MARTYRS for September 10  St. Menodora, Roman Catholic Martyr, Martyred with her sisters, Metrodora and Nymphodora. They were orphans of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, who were denounced as Christians and taken before the local Roman governor, named Fronto. They refused to worship the pagan gods, and Menodora was beaten to death, as was Nymphodora. Metrodora was tortured, burned, and beheaded. Feastday, September 10 Bl. Lucy de Freitas, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan . A native Japanese, she was the widow of Philip de Freitas. Lucy, a Franciscan tertiary, was arrested for sheltering Blessed Richard of St. Anne, a Franciscan priest. Although advanced in age, Lucy defended the faith before the authorities and was burned to death for it at Nagasaki, Japan, on September 10 Bl. Agnes Takea,  Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan . She was the wife of Blessed Cosmas Takea. They were martyred with Blessed Charles Spinola by beheading at Nagasaki. Sept. 10 Bl. Mary Tanaura, and compani...

SAINTS AND MARTYRS for September 09    ST. GORGONIUS, MARTYR ON THE VIA LABICANA,  St. Peter Claver, Roman Catholic Priest and Missionary . In 1610, this Jesuit left Spain for Cartagena, Colombia to become a defender and father to the African slaves, whom he consoled, catechized and confessed until his death. The humble priest who became the conscience of the city baptized around 300,000 slaves.  After his ordination in 1616, he dedicated himself by special vow to the service of the Negro slaves-a work that was to last for thirty-three years. He labored unceasingly for the salvation of the African slaves and the abolition of the Negro slave trade, Feastday Sept 9 https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/09/09/st--peter-claver--jesuit--apostle-of--slaves-.html St. Kieran . Kieran was born in Connacht, Ireland. He was the son of Beoit, a carpenter. He studied at St. Finnian's school at Clonard and taught the daughter of the king of Cuala, as he was considered the most lear...

Document proves that nuns and religious in Rome saved 3,200 Jews during Nazi persecution - ZENIT - English : Lists of people who took refuge in religious institutes in Rome to flee Nazi-Fascist persecution found