Saint of the Day

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JANUARY 5

Alacrinus of Casamari
Apollinaris Syncletica
Cera of Kilkeary
Charles of Mount Argus
Convoyon of Redon
Dorotheus the Younger
Gaudentius of Gnesen
Gerlac of Valkenburg
John Nepomucene Neumann
Kiara
Lomer
Maria Repetto
Martyrs of Egypt
Paula
Simeon Stylites
Syncletica
Talida of Antinoë
Telesphorus

Pope TELESPHORUS

Also known as
Telesforo

Memorial
5 January (Latin Church); 22 February (Greek Church)

Profile
Greek, probably from Calabria. Pope. Celebrated Easter on Sunday but maintained fellowship with communities that did not. Started the tradition of Christmas Midnight Mass, and decided that the Gloria should be sung. Some legends say he was a hermit before his election, and that he instituted the tradition of Lent, but these are doubtful. Martyred, possibly due to conversions caused by his preaching.

Papal Ascension
128-129

Died
martyred 138-139; the details have not survived

Representation
pope with a chalice over which three Hosts hover (may refer to the celebration of Christmas with 3 Masses said to represent the temporal, spiritual, and eternal birth of Christ); pope with a chalice with a nearby club (possibly an indication of his martyrdom)
 
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JANUARY 6

Anastasius VIII
Andre Bessette
Diman Dubh of Connor
Edeyrn
Eigrad
Epiphany of the Lord
Erminold of Prüfening
Frederick of Saint-Vanne
Gertrude van Oosten
Guarinus
Hywyn of Aberdaron
John de Ribera
Macra of Rheims
Martyrs in Africa
Melchior
Merinus
Peter of Canterbury
Raphaela Maria Porras
Schotin
Wiltrudis of Bergen




ANDRE BESSETTE

Also known as
Alfred Bessette


Memorial
6 January


Profile
Son of a woodcutter, and eighth of twelve children. His father died in a work-related accident, his mother of tuberculosis, and he was adopted at age twelve by a farmer uncle who insisted he work for his keep. Farmhand, shoemaker, baker, blacksmith, factory worker. At 25 he applied to join the Congregation of the Holy Cross; initially refused due to poor health, but he gained the backing of Bishop Bourget, and was accepted.

Doorkeeper at Notre Dame College, Montreal. Sacristan, laundry worker and messenger. Spent much of each night in prayer. On his windowsill, facing Mount Royal, was a small statue of Saint Joseph, to whom Andre was especially devoted. "Some day," he believed, "Saint Joseph will be honored on Mount Royal."

Andre had a special ministry to the sick. He would rub the sick person with oil from a lamp in the college chapel, and many were healed. Word of his power spread, and when an epidemic broke out at a nearby college, Andre volunteered to help; no one died. The trickle of sick people to his door became a flood. His superiors were uneasy; diocesan authorities were suspicious; doctors called him a quack. "I do not cure," he always said. "Saint Joseph cures." By his death, he was receiving 80,000 letters each year from the sick who sought his prayers and healing.

For many years the Holy Cross authorities had tried to buy land on Mount Royal. Brother Andre and others climbed the steep hill and planted medals of Saint Joseph on it, and soon after, the owners yielded, which incident helped the current devotion to Saint Joseph by those looking to buy or sell a home. Andre collected money to build a small chapel and received visitors there, listening to their problems, praying, rubbing them with Saint Joseph's oil, and curing many. The chapel is still in use.

Born
9 August 1845 near Montreal, Canada as Alfred Bessette

Died
6 January 1937 of natural causes; more than a million people paid their respects at his funeral

Beatified
23 May 1982 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized
pending
 
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JANUARY 7

Aldric
Anastasius of Sens
Brannock
Canute Lavard
Cedd
Clerus of Antioch
Crispin I of Pavia
Crispin II of Pavia
Cronan Beg
Edward Waterson
Emilian of Saujon
Felix
Januarius
Julian of Cagliari
Kentigerna
Lucian of Antioch
Nicetas of Remesiana
Raymond of Penyafort
Reinhold
Theodore of Egypt
Tillo of Solignac
Valentine
Wittikund of Westphalia



LUCIAN of Antioch

Memorial
7 January (Western Church); 15 October (Eastern Church)

Profile
Following the death of his wealthy parents, he gave away his possessions, and studied rhetoric, philosophy, and Scripture under Macarius at Edessa. Hermit briefly in his youth. Ordained in Antioch. Spiritual director of Saint Pelagia of Antioch.

Head of a school of theology in Antioch; one of his students was Arius, founder of Arianism. Friend of Paul of Samosata and other heretics, and may have been excommunited himself at one point, but later came back to full communion.

Noted Scripture scholar, working to insure that copyists made the most exact copies possible, correcting copyist errors by comparing against older texts in the original languages. His edition of the complete Bible, known as the Lucian Recension was used by many churches, and by Saint Jerome during his work on the Vulgate.

Arrested in Nicomedia during the persecution of Diocletian, and spent nine years in prison. Dragged before the emperor as an example, he struggled to his feet and gave a great defense of the faith. He thrown back in the cells, given no food or water for 14 days, then hauled before the tribunal and interrogated; he answered all questions with "I am a Christian." Martyr.

Born
mid 3rd century at Samosata, Syria

Died
tortured, starved, and run through with a sword in 312 at Nicomedia, Bithynia; buried at Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis)

Canonized
Pre-Congregation

Representation
imprisoned priest lying on potshards and consecrating the Eucharist on his own breast
 
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PETER of Sebastea
Memorial
9 January
Profile
Son of Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia. Youngest of ten children. Brother of Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, and Saint Macrina the Younger. His father died when Peter was an infant, and he was raised and educated by Saint Macrina. Monk in a monastery in Armenia on the Iris River, a house that had been founded by his parents and was headed by his brother Basil. Abbot of the house in 362. Worked to help people suffering in a famine in Pontus and Cappadocia. Ordained in 370. Bishop of Sebastea in 380. Fought fiercely against Arianism in his see. Attended the General Council of Constantinople in 381.
Born
c.340 in Caesarea, Cappadocia
Died
c.391 in Sebastea of natural causes
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Additional Information
Ecole Glossary, by Karen Rae Keck
Open Directory Project
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alben Butler
Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P Kirsch
 
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THOMIAN of Armagh
Also known as
Thomas; Thomas of Armagh; Thomian; Toiman; Toiman of Armagh; Toimen; Toimen of Armagh
Memorial
10 January
Profile
Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, from c.623. Involved in the controversy over the proper date for celebrating Easter.
Died
c.660
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
 
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JANUARY 11

Alexander of Fermo
Anastasius
Balthasar
Boadin
Brandan
Ethenea
Fidelmia
Francisca Salesia
Honorata of Pavia
Hyginus
Leucius of Alexandria
Leucius of Brindisi
Lucius
Mark
Palaemon
Paldo
Peter
Peter of Alexandria
Salvius
Salvius of Amiens
Severus of Alexandria
Taso
Tato
Theodosius
Theodosius of Antioch
Theodosius the Cenobiarch
Vitalis of Gaza
William Carter

BALTHASAR
Memorial
11 January
Profile
One of the Three Magi.
Patronage
epilepsy, epileptics, playing card manufacturers, sawmen, sawyers
Reading
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star 3 at its rising and have come to do him homage."

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Matthew 2:1-12
 
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JANUARY 12

Antony Mary Pucci
Arcadius of Mauretania
Bartholomew Alvarez
Benedict Biscop
Bernard of Corleone
Caesaria of Arles
Castulus
Emmanuel d'Abreu
Eutropius
John Gaspard Cratz
John of Ravenna
Marguerite Bourgeous
Martin of León
Martyrs of Ephesus
Martyrs of Iona
Modestus
Probus of Verona
Rogatus
Satyrus
Tatiana of Rome
Tigrius
Victorian
Vincent da Cunha
Zoticus

BERNARD of Corleone

Also known as
Bernardo de Corleone; Philipi Latini; Filippo Latino

Memorial
12 January

Profile
Shoemaker by trade, and considered the greatest swordsman and duelist in Sicily in his day. After mortally wounding a man named Canino in a duel, he sought sanctuary from the law in the church of the Capuchin Friars Minor in Palermo. While hiding there, he had a true conversion, and became a lay-brother of the Order in 1632, changing his name to Brother Bernardo.

Noted for his extreme austerity and self-imposed penances in an attempt to atone for his earlier life. Had the gift of healing animals by prayer.

Born
February 1605 at Corleone, Sicily as Filippo Latino

Died
12 January 1667 at Palermo, Sicily

Beatified
15 May 1768 by Pope Clement XIII

Canonized
10 June 2001 by Pope John Paul II
 
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HILARY of Poitiers

Also known as
Athanasius of the West; Doctor of the Divinity of Christ
Memorial
13 January; formerly 14 January
Profile
Born of wealthy polytheistic, pagan nobility, Hilary's early life was uneventful as he married, had children (including Saint Abra), and studied on his own. Through his studies he came to believe in salvation through good works, then monotheism. As he studied the Bible for the first time, he literally read himself into the faith, and was converted by the end of the New Testament.

Hilary lived the faith so well he was made bishop of Poitiers from 353 to 368. Hilary opposed the emperor's attempt to run Church matters, and was exiled; he used the time to write works explaining the faith. His teaching and writings converted many, and in an attempt to reduce his notoriety he was returned to the small town of Poitiers where his enemies hoped he would fade into obscurity. His writings continued to convert pagans.

Introduced Eastern theology to the Western Church. Fought Arianism with the help of Saint Viventius Proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1851.
Born
315 at Poitiers, France
Died
368 of natural causes
Patronage
against snakes, backward children, snake bites
Prayers
Prayer for Perseverance in Faith...,
...Acknowledging that God is in His Creation
Additional Information
Ecole Initiative, by Karen Rae Keck
Christian Biographies, by James Keifer
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Catholic Information Network
Catholic Encyclopedia
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Works
On the Councils at CCEL
On the Councils at NewAdvent
On the Trinity at CCEL
On the Trinity at NewAdvent
Homilies on the Psalms at CCEL
Homilies on the Psalms at NewAdvent

Readings
To those who wish to stand in God's grace, neither the guardianship of saints nor the defenses of angels are wanting.

- Saint Hilary: Commentary on the Psalms, 365AD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have been promised, and he who made the promise is trustworthy: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Yes, in our poverty we will pray for our needs. We will study the sayings of your prophets and apostles with unflagging attention, and knock for admittance wherever the gift of understanding is safely kept. But yours it is, Lord, to grant our petitions, to be present when we seek you and to open when we knock.

Impart to us, then, the meaning of the words of Scripture and the light to understand it, with reverence for the doctrine and confidence in its truth. Grant that we may express what we believe. Through the prophets and apostles we know about you, the one God the Father, and the one Lord Jesus Christ. May we have the grace, the face of heretics who deny you, to honor you as God, who is not alone, and to proclaim this as truth.

- from a sermon on the Trinity by Saint Hilary
 
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JANUARY 13

Agrecius of Trier
Andrew of Trier
Berno of Cluny
Elian
Elian ap Erbin
Enogatus of Aleth
Erbin
Forty Martyred Soldiers at Rome
Glaphyra
Godfrey of Cappenberg
Gumesindus
Hermylus
Hilary of Poitiers
Hildemar
Ida of Argensolles
Ivetta of Huy
Kentigern
Leontius of Caesarea
Potitus
Servusdei
Stephen of Liège
Stratonicus
Veronica of Milan
Viventius


VERONICA of Milan

Also known as
Veronica of Binasco

Memorial
13 January

Profile
Grew up in a poor peasant family in a small village, doing chores and working the fields. She had no formal education, and tried unsuccessfully to teach herself to read at night. She began to have religious ecstasies, visions of the life of Christ, and was taught her catechism by the Virgin Mary. Our Lady explained it in the form of three mystical letters, one that signified purity of intention, the second abhorrence of complaining, and the third a reminder to daily meditate on the Passion. Augustinian lay-sister at the convent of Saint Martha, Milan, at age 22, being instructed for three years before she was allowed to join. Assigned to beg alms in the street for the support of the house. She suffered alternating bouts of intense physical pain and religious ecstacies for years. She received a vision of Christ in 1494, and was given a message for Pope Alexander VI; she made a journey to Rome to deliver it. Following a six-month illness, she died on the date she had predicted.

Born
c.1445 at Binasco, Italy, a small village near Milan


Died
13 January 1497 in Milan, Italy of natural causes

Beatified
1517 by Pope Leo X (cultus confirmed); 1672 by Pope Clement X (devotion extended to the entire Augustinian Order)
 
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FELIX of Nola

Memorial
14 January
Profile
Elder son of Hermias, a Syrian soldier who had retired to Nola, Italy. After his father's death, Felix sold off most of his property and possessions, gave the proceeds to the poor, and pursued a clerical vocation. Ordained by, and worked with Saint Maximus of Nola.

When Maximus fled to the mountains to escape the persecution of Decius, Felix was arrested and beaten for his faith instead. Legend says he was freed by an angel so he could help his sick bishop. Felix hid Maximus from soldiers in a vacant building. When the two were safely inside, a spider quickly spun a web over the door, fooling the imperial forces into thinking it was long abandoned, and they left without finding the Christians. The two managed to hide from authorities until the persecution ended with the death of Decius in 251.

After Maximus' death, Felix was chosen as bishopric of Nola, but declined, favoring Quintus, a "senior" priest who had seven days more experience than Felix. Farmed his remaining land, and gave most of the proceeds to people even poorer than himself. Much of the little information we have about Felix came from the letters and poetry of Saint Paulinus of Nola, who served at a porter at the door of a church dedicated to Saint Felix, and who gathered information about him from churchmen and pilgrims.

Though Felix died of natural causes, he is normally listed as a martyr because of the torture, imprisonment, and privations he experienced in the persecutions.
Born
3rd century at Nola, near Naples, Italy
Died
c.255 of natural causes; buried at Nola; for centuries his tomb was the site of pilgrimages
Name Meaning
happy ( = Felix)
Patronage
against eye disease, against eye trouble, against false witness, against lies, against perjury, domestic animals, eyes
Representation
cobweb; deacon in prison; spiderweb; young priest carrying an old man (Maximus) on his shoulders; young priest chained in prison with a pitcher and potsherds near him; young priest with a bunch of grapes (symbolizes his care of the aged Maximus); young priest with a spider; young priest with an angel removing his chains
Additional Information
Catholic Online
 
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JANUARY 14

Amadeus of Clermont
Barbasymas
Datius of Milan
Deusdedit
Euphrasius
Felix of Nola
Felix of Rome
Isaias
Macrina the Elder
Malachy
Martyrs of Mount Sinai
Martyrs of Raithu
Odo of Novara
Peter Donders
Sava

PETER DONDERS

Memorial
14 January
Profile
Son of Arnold Denis Donders and Petronella van den Brekel. Peter grew up poor, rarely getting to school, working at home and in a local factory with his brother Martin, and dreaming of becoming a priest. With the help of local priests and a wealthy patron, he enter the seminary at the College of Herlaar at age twenty-two, initially working as a servant while he studied. At age twenty-six her applied to the Franciscans, Jesuits and Redemptorists, but was turned down by each. Ordained on 5 June 1841 after nearly ten years of work.

Missionary to the Dutch colony in Surinam, Dutch Guiana, arriving in Paramaribo on 16 September 1842. Evangelized and ministered to plantation slaves, constantly in touch with his superiors to complain of the terrible treatment of the workers. He baptized at least 1200 in his first couple of years, and worked among the sick during an epidemic in 1851. Transferred to the leper colony of Batavia in 1856. There he ministered to both the body and soul of the 600 or so patients. His constant harassment of the colonial authorities resulted in much better care for the patients.

When the Redemptorists arrived in Surinam in 1866 to take charge of the mission, Peter joined the Order, becoming a 57 year old novice in 1866, and making his final vows on 24 June 1867. He then returned to Batavia with a crew of Redemptorists ready to help the lepers. With the added help, Father Peter expanded his work, and began to evangelize the Indians in the region. He learned their languages and had made a good start on the work when his health failed. His superiors transferred him to easier assignments, but as the end approached, Peter returned to Batavia where he worked with the patients until his end.

Born
27 October 1809 at Tilburg, Holland

Died
14 January 1887 at Batavia, Surinam of natural causes; he is buried there

Beatified
23 May 1982 by Pope John Paul II; on 11 April 1978, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared miraculous the cure of Louis John Westland from osteomyelitis by Blessed Peter's intercession

Canonized
pending

Readings
We can say that he was an apostle of the poor. In fact, he was born into a poor family and had to lead the life of a worker before he could pursue his priestly vocation. He dedicated his whole priestly life ot the poor. In addition, he is an invitation and an incentive for the renewal and reflourishing of the missionary thrust which in the last century and in this one has made an exceptional contrubution to carrying out of the Church's missionary duty. Joining the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer late in life, he practiced in an excellent way what Saint Alphonsus proposed as an ideal for his religious: imitate the virtues and examples of the Redeemer in preaching the divine word to the poor.

-Pope John Paul II in the beatification homily for Blessed Peter
 
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ARNOLD JANSSEN

Memorial
15 January
Profile
Albert felt an early call to the priesthood, and was ordained in August 1861. Well educated, he taught science and catechism for twelve years. Chaplain and director of the Ursuline convent at Kempen in 1873. Director of the diocesen Apostleship of Prayer in 1874. Editor of a journal about missionary work in 1873.

In 1875 he established a missionary society called the Society of the Divine Word in Steyl, Holland; it received papal approval in 1901. The order, which soon had houses in Holland, Austria, and Germany, was composed of missionary priests who worked in Toga, New Guinea, Japan, Paraguay, and throughout North America.

In 1889, Albert founded the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters to assist the priests in their mission. The sisters serve as teachers in mission lands, especially of young girls. With the help of Blessed Maria Virgo, Arnold formed the sisters a contemplative branch named Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration who devote themselves to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and prayer for the success of missionary efforts. These sisters are nicknamed Pink Sisters because of the color of their habit.
Born
1837 at Goch, Germany
Died
15 January 1909 of natural causes
Beatified
19 October 1975 by Pope Paul VI
Canonized
pending; miracle approved on 20 December 2002
Additional Information
 
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ACURSIES
Memorial
16 January
Profile
Friar Minor. Saint Berardes, Saint Peter, Saint Otto, Saint Acursies and Saint Adjutus were sent by Saint Francis of Assisi to evangelize the Moors of the West. They preached in Italy, Aragon, Coimbra, Seville, and finally in Morocco, where they were banished and, upon their return, martyred.
Died
martyred 16 January 1220 in Morroco by being scourged till their ribs appeared bare, having burning oil and vinegar poured into the wounds, their bodies rolled on sharp stones and potsherds, then their heads split by sword; their relics were ransomed, and are now in the monastery of the holy cross in Coimbra
Canonized
1481 by Pope Sixtus IV
 
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