Saints of the Week: Catherine, Joseph, Athanasius, Jeremias, English Martyrs, Pius V, Monica, Jesus’ Cross& More
Happy Sunday! As the Easter season comes to an end, we should focus not only on the joy and redemption of Christ’s Resurrection, but the sins and weaknesses that still keep us from achieving sanctity and eternal life. That was a focus which all the saints we celebrated this past week kept at the center of their lives.
St. Catherine of Siena (April 29/30) was an Italian Dominican tertiary and stigmatist who was mystically married to Christ and inspired both political and religious leaders with her zeal and wisdom. She convinced the pope to return the papacy to Rome from France (d.1380). Read more here. St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), carpenter/ stonemason, husband of Mary and foster-father of Christ. Through Joseph and Jesus, the dignity of the worker is restored and elevated. He who works follows their example.
Sts. Philip and James the Less, apostles (May 1/3). Philip was a Galilean who brought Nathaniel to Christ and is quoted during the miracle of the loaves and fishes and the Last Supper in John. He preached in Greece and was martyred upside down there. James was a relative of Jesus and Mary, called a “pillar” of the early Church by St. Paul. He was the bishop of Jerusalem, martyred in 62. The Prophet Jeremiah or Jeremias (May 1), one of the greatest Jewish prophets, told the (often hostile) Israelites of God’s will before and after the fall of Jerusalem. He is mentioned in multiple Old Testament books, especially the book with his name.
St. Athanasius (May 2): “Bishop of Alexandria, St. Athanasius opposed Arius [the heretic] with admirable zeal. He has left us several works in defense of the divinity of Christ. He suffered frequent persecution. He died in 373.” Known as “Athanasius Contra Mundum” (against the world) because most clerics, even the pope, were compromising on heresy.
The Finding of the Holy Cross (May 3, Latin Mass) commemorates the discovery of Christ’s cross by St. Helena, mother of Constantine, in 326. Finding several crosses, they knew Jesus’s because a woman was miraculously healed after touching it.
The Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales (May 4) were 85 “Catholics who were martyred during the persecutions by Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries.” They include John Adams, Hugh Taylor, Marmaduke Bowes, Edward Burden, William Knight, Arthur Bell, Richard Holiday, and Christopher Robinson. St. Florian of Lorch (May 4) was a 3rd century Roman officer who saved a burning town with prayer and a bucket of water. Ordered to execute other Christians, he confessed his own faith and was flayed alive and thrown in a river.
Pope St. Pius V (April 30/May 5), “of the Order of Preachers, was a Pope of great sanctity. His pontificate was one of the most glorious. He enforced obedience to the decrees of the Council of Trent and revised the Missal and the Breviary. He died in 1572.”
St. Peter of Verona (April 29) “was a famous preacher of the Dominican Order. From childhood he was conspicuous for his refutation of heretics and his singular innocence. He longed to die for the faith, and his prayer was heard in 1252.”1
St. Monica (May 4, Latin Mass) is famous for being the much-beloved mother of St. Augustine, one of the greatest Christian theologians: “Raised in a Christian family, she was given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. Mother of two, one of whom is Saint Augustine of Hippo whose writings about her are the primary source of our information about Monica. She prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband (who converted on his death bed), and of her son (who converted after a wild life). Spiritual student of Saint Ambrose of Milan. Reformed alcoholic.” Augustine warmly praised her in his writings. The Conversion of St. Augustine is commemorated on May 5.
St. Irene of Lecce (May 5) was so beautiful her father Licinius locked her in a tower, where God Himself taught her Christianity. St. Timothy baptized her and she smashed her father’s idols, so he tied her to a horse to be dragged to death, but the horse bit him instead. Her father died but Irene prayed him back to life and they both became Christian evangelizers. They successfully converted thousands of pagans, so Irene was tortured and martyred.
St. Peregrine Laziosi (May 1) was an anti-papal rebel who converted after beating and being forgiven by Philip Benizi. He became a Servite priest, dedicated to Mary, and was miraculously healed of a cancerous growth, hence his patronage against cancer. Known as the “Angel of Good Counsel” for his advice (d.1345). St. Sigismund of Burgundy (May 1) was a 6th century king who strangled his son, repented, and endowed a monastery. Defeated in battle, he became a hermit, but was captured and killed. His son St. Gistaldo (May 1) is a martyr too.
The Carthusian Martyrs (May 4), including John Houghton, William Horne, and Humphrey Middlemore, were monks “who were hanged, drawn and quartered between 19 June 1535 and 20 September 1537 for refusing to acknowledge the English royalty as head of the Church.” St. Hugh of Cluny (April 29) was a Burgundian noble who became a Benedictine monk and priest who combatted lay investiture, simony, and clerical corruption. Participated in several councils and founded nearly 2,000 new religious houses.
St. Marie of the Incarnation (April 30) married a French silk manufacturer who died soon after and left her with a little son. Marie later became an Ursuline nun, founded the first Ursuline convent in Quebec, compiled dictionaries in Iroquois and Algonquin, and had mystical visions (d.1672). Bl. Hildegard the Empress (April 30) was the Swabian wife of Emperor Charlemagne, with whom she had nine children. She did works of charity and supported monastic life. St. Antonius of Florence (May 2) was refused entry to the Dominicans so he memorized the entirety of canon law and was admitted. Priest, reformer, archbishop, theologian, healer, and Vicar-General of his order who tried to end the East-West schism at the Council of Florence (d.1459).
St. Ansfrid of Utrecht (May 3) was the married Count of Brabant and an imperial courtier. He became bishop of Utrecht and later retired to a monastery he founded (d.1010). St. Dichu (April 29), swineherd and son of a 4th century Irish chief, was St. Patrick’s first convert and gave him land for his first church. Bl. Caterina Cittadini (May 5) was a pious orphan who grew up to educate other orphans with her sister. Her organization later became the Ursuline Sisters of Somasca (d.1857).
St. Angelus of Jerusalem (May 5) was a Jewish convert from the Holy Land who preached against heresy in Italy. A miraculous healer, Angelus was martyred after rebuking a sexually perverted knight in 1220. Pope St. Alexander I (May 5) was a 2nd century pontiff, known for his salt and water blessings, and likely martyred. St. Bertha of Kent (May 1) was the Christian wife of King St. Ethelbert of Kent, whom she helped convert. Founded Canterbury Church and had two children (d.c.616).
Bl. Michal Giedroyc (May 4) was a Lithuanian hermit, prophet and miracle worker, physically deformed but holy and a talented metal worker (d.1485). Bl. Ladislas of Gielniów (May 4) was a Polish Franciscan abbot and preacher whose prayers helped stop invading Turks (d.1505). Bl. Jean-Martin Moÿe (May 4) was an 18th century French missionary to China and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence. St. Ethelred of Bardney (May 4) was a Mercian king who abdicated in 704 to be a monk. St. Nuntius Sulprizio (May 5) was an abused and sickly child who nevertheless inspired others with his holiness. St. Hilary of Arles (May 5) was a fifth century humble, charitable French bishop and orator. St. Godehard of Hildesheim (May 5) was a Bavarian bishop focused on helping the poor (d.1038). St. Judith of Prussia (May 5) was a noble Thuringian widow and mother who became a pilgrim and hermitess (d.1260). St. Britto of Trier (May 5) was a 4th century French bishop and friend of Sts. Ambrose of Milan and Martin of Tours.
Bl. Emilia Bicchieri (May 3) was a Dominican prioress dedicated to the Eucharist (d.1314). St. Conleth of Kildare (May 3) was an Irish metal worker, hermit and bishop (d.519). St. Stanislas Kazimierczyk (May 3) was a 15th century Polish preacher, confessor, professor, and novice master. Bl. Guglielmo of Florence (May 3) was a Mercedarian martyred in 1330 for ransoming Christian captives of Muslims. St. Ahmed the Calligrapher (May 3) was converted by his Christian concubine and martyred in 1682. Sts. Maura and Timothy of Antinoe (May 3) were 3rd century newlyweds tortured and martyred for keeping sacred scriptures. St. Brieuc of Brittany (May 1) was a 5th century Welsh abbot and evangelizer. St. Mafalda of Portugal (May 1) was a 13th century princess who became a Cistercian and spent a fortune on charity after her marriage was annulled.
St. Tychicus (April 29) was a deacon who followed and delivered letters for St. Paul; referred to in Ephesians. St. Antonius Kim Song-u (April 29) was a married Korean lay catechist martyred in 1841. St. Endellion of Tregony (April 29) was the holy daughter of Welsh King St. Brychan. Bl. Acardo of Avranches (April 29) was a 12th century theological writer and bishop. Bl. Benedict of Urbino (April 30) was a legal scholar who became a Capuchin priest, working with St. Lawrence of Brindisi to spread the faith. St. Erconwald of London (April 30) founded two monasteries and led one until he became bishop of London. St. Joseph B. Cottolengo (April 30) was a priest who founded religious congregations to care for the sick poor (d.1842).
St. Giuse Tuan (April 30) was a Vietnamese Dominican priest martyred in 1861. Bl. Dede Plani (April 30) was an Albanian tortured and martyred by Communists in 1948. St. Romanus of Baghdad (May 1) was a Bithynian monk who was martyred by Saracens. Sts. Exsuperius, Zoe, and sons (May 2) were slaves martyred for refusing to do a pagan sacrifice. St. Neachtain of Cill-Uinche (May 2) was a relative of St. Patrick’s. St. Alpin de Châlons (May 2) was a noble, bishop, and evangelist who negotiated with Attila the Hun to save Châlons (d.480). St. Wiborada of Gall (May 2) was a Swabian pilgrim, nun, prophetess, and bookbinder martyred in 926. St. José María Rubio y Peralta (May 2) was a Spanish Jesuit priest and spiritual director who helped the sick and unemployed (d.1929). Bl. William Tirry (May 2) was an Irish Augustinian priest martyred in 1654.
You can also read about Severus of Naples, Torpes of Pisa, Juan Vargas, Gundebert of Gumber, Robert Gruthuysen, Ava of Denain, and Daniel of Gerona (April 29); Gualfardus, Adjutor of Vernon, William Southerne, Mercurialis of Forli, Aimo of Savigny, and Ventura of Spello (April 30); Vivald of Gimignano, Amator of Auxerre, Richard Pampuri, Benedict of Szkalka, Torquatus, Ambrose of Ferentino, and Julian Cesarello (May 1); Helena Goldberg, Fiorenzo of Algeria, Boleslas Strzelecki, Joseph Luu, Gennys, Conrad of Seldenbüren, Vindemialis, Ultan, Waldebert, Germanus the Scot, Gluvias, and Juan de Verdegallo (May 2); Tommaso Acerbis, Juvenal of Narni, Arnaldo de Rossinol, Zechariah, and Marie Leonie Paradis (May 3); Richard Reynolds, Judas Cyriacus, Ethelred of Bardney, Victor Emilio Moscoso-Cárdenas, Augustine Webster, Arbeo, Paolino Bigazzini, Antonius of Rocher, Eneour, and Margareta Kratz (May 4); and Avertinus of Tours, Benvenuto Mareni, Lucio of Savoy, Grzegorz Boleslaw Frackowiak, Our Lady of Europe, Tosca of Verona, and John Haile (May 5).
Have a blessed week!
Un-cited quotes in this piece are from the Latin Mass Missal.