Memorial of Saints (January 31)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• John Bosco, priest
• Cyrus and John, martyrs
• Marcella, widow
• Aedan or Maedoc of Ferns, bishop
• Adamnan of Coldingham
• Ulphia, virgin
• Eusebius, martyr
• Nicetas of Novgorod, bishop
• Francis Xavier Bianchi

St. John Bosco (1815-1888 A.D.) was the founder of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, which is commonly known as the Salesian order. He is the patron saint of Catholic publishers, editors and young apprentices.

Born near Turin in Italy, John grew up in poverty. He entered the seminary with clothes from charity and was ordained a priest in 1841 A.D. After ordination, he began a lifelong devotion to educating boys and young men, mostly from the working class, and mainly from the newly industrialized city of Turin. He even invited his mother to join him in his apostolate to poor and homeless boys. He became a pioneer in vocational training and his work attracted other priests to help him. This nucleus of priests became the core from which a religious community emerged. With encouragement from a professor at the Turin seminary, Joseph Cafasso, St. John Bosco in 1859 A.D. organized a religious community to continue his work. The Salesians were formally approved in 1884 A.D. A community of women that paralleled the work of the priests was also formed through Mary Mazarello. They became the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, or the Salesian Sisters.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 31]

• Sts. Cyrus and John, Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries

Sts. Cyrus and John are both commemorated this day, January 31, in the Roman Calendar and in the Byzantine Calendar. St. Cyrus (d. ca. 303 A.D.) was an Alexandrian doctor who used his calling to convert many of his patients to Christianity. Together with an Arabian physician named John, they encouraged Athanasia and her three daughters to remain constant in their faith under torture at Canopus, Egypt. All six were beheaded. St. Cyrus and St. John are invoked by those who have difficulty in sleeping. Learn more at Oca.org

Memorial of Saints (January 30)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Martina, virgin and martyr
• Barsimaeus, bishop
• Bathildis, widow
• Aldegundis, virgin
• Adelelmus or Aleaume, abbot
• Hyancintha Mariscotti, virgin
• Mutien Marie Wiaux

St. Hyacintha Mariscotti (1585-1640 A.D.) was the foundress of two confraternities in Viterbo, Italy, to care for the sick, the aged and the poor. Born of a noble Italian family and educated at a local Franciscan convent, her parents forced her to enter a convent where her sister was already a nun. She lived in luxury in this state of life until illness and the influence of a saintly Franciscan confessor converted her from her ways. She was then given the responsibility to be mistress of novices wherein she practiced wisdom and common sense. She died on January 30, 1640 A.D., was beatified in 1726 A.D. by Pope Benedict XIII, and was canonized in May 14, 1807 A.D. by Pope Pius VII.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 30]

• Feast of the Three Holy Bishops/Three Cappadocian Fathers: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom
• St. Hippolytus, Priest-Martyr

The Feast of the Three Holy Bishops, Three Cappadocian Fathers or Three Hierarchs, was based on a vision to St. John Mauropous, bishop of Euchaita, in the year 1084 A.D. The three appeared to John Mauropous and said that they were equal before God: "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another." As a result, a January 30 feast day commemorating all three in common was instituted around 1100 A.D. under the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. The Three Holy Bishops are also commemorated in the Roman Calendar at different dates: St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen on January 2, and St. John Chrysostom on September 13.

Citations:

• Feast of the Three Holy Fathers, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Goarch.org
• Three Holy Hierarchs, Wikipedia.org

Memorial of Saints (January 29)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Sabinian, martyr
• Gildas the Wise, abbot
• Sulpicius "Severus", bishop

St. Gildas the Wise (ca. 500-570 A.D.) was born in Scotland. He probably was married and got widowed before he became an ascetic at Wales with St. Finnian as a disciple. He became a monastic leader who influenced the development of monasticism in Ireland. He is known for his written work, De excidio Britanniae ("On the Ruin of Britain"). This work, which was also cited by Venerable Bede, describes the decadence of contemporary British secular rulers and clerics. St. Gildas also founded a monastery on an island in Brittany's Morbihan Bay. This island is known as the "island of monks."

Learn more on Saints in the Roman Calendar [January 29]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 29]

• Translation of the Relics of St. Ignatius, the "Theoforos," Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Antioch
• Sts. Roman, James, Philotheus, and St. Aphraates, Martyrs

Memorial of Saints (January 28)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church
• Peter Nolasco, confessor
• John of Reomay, abbot
• Paulinus of Aquileia, bishop
• Charlemagne
• Amadeus, bishop
• Peter Thomas, bishop

St. Thomas of Aquinas (ca. 1225-1274 A.D.) was of noble ancestry. He was the son of a count and a relative of both the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the King of France. Thus, his family was strongly opposed to him entering the Order of Preachers. Despite all the dissuasion of his family members, he managed to obtain studies in Paris and Cologne with St. Albert the Great, and was ordained as a Dominican around 1250 A.D.

Before the acknowledgement of the social sciences as one of the means to understand the Christian faith in the world, it was the scholastic theology of St. Thomas Aquinas that dominated the official theology of the Church and the tradition of reason and divine revelation.

St. Thomas drew a sharp distinction between faith and reason. He emphasized that the fundamental Christian doctrines, though impossible to establish by reason, are not contrary to reason and can be understood by revelation. Nevertheless, as regards such truths as God's existence, St. Thomas believed that it can be discovered by natural reason.

St. Thomas Aquinas was canonized a saint in 1323 A.D. and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V in 1567 A.D. He is the patron saint of students, schools, colleges and universities.

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

Lord, Father all-powerful, and ever-living God, I thank you, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth, but in the kindness of your mercy, you have fed me with the precious body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation.

May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will.
May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions.
May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good.
May it be a strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual.
May it unite me more closely to you, the one true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with you.

And I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Biographical sketch, teaching and spirituality, and excerpts from the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 28]

• Ephraem, "Prophet of Syrians and cithara of Holy Spirit"

In the Roman Calendar the feast of St. Ephraem is commemorated every 9th of June. In the Byzantine Calendar he is commemorated every 28th of January. He is commemorated also this day by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches. On June 10, he is commemorated by the Episcopal Church in the USA.

St. Ephraem, or Ephrem (ca. 306-373 A.D.) was only a deacon, but he wrote many works in Syriac on exegetical, dogmatic, and ascetical themes with Scriptures as his main sources.

He:

• wrote against the Arians
• wrote against the Gnostics
• wrote on the Last Judgment
• was devoted to the Blessed Virgin
• introduced hymns in public worship and religious instruction
• composed Nisibeian hymns
• composed canticles for the seasons

St. Ephrem was called "Harp of the Holy Spirit" or "cithara of the Holy Spirit". In 1920 A.D., Pope Benedict XV declared him Doctor of the Church - the only Syrian to be honored as such.

St. Ephrem: Birth and early life, his life in Nisibis, his retirement at Edessa, and his work in the famine of Edessa & death, Learn more

Memorial of Saints (January 27)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Angela Merici, virgin
• Julian of Le Mans, bishop
• Marius or May, abbot
• Vitalian, pope

St. Angela Merici (ca. 1470/74-1540 A.D.) was one of the Saints and Leaders of the Counter Reformation that sparked and enkindled a spiritual revival in the Church.

The leaders who reawakended Catholic life together with Angela Merici:

• St. Philip Neri (1515-1595 A.D.)
• St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582 A.D.)
• St. John of the Cross (d. 1591 A.D.)
• St. John of God (d. 1550 A.D.)
• St. Camillus of Lellis (d. 1614 A.D.)
• St. Jane Frances de Chantal (d. 1641 A.D.)
• Peter of Bérulle (d. 1629 A.D.)
• St. John Eudes (d. 1680 A.D.)
• St. Vincent de Paul (d. 1660 A.D.)
• Armand Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé (d. 1700 A.D.)
• St. John Baptist de la Salle (d. 1719 A.D.)
• St. Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556 A.D.)

St. Angela Merici founded the Ursuline nuns. At first, she became a Franciscan tertiary and began to devote her life to the education of poor girls. But then, she and several companions placed themselves under the patronage of St. Ursula, who may have been a fourth-century British princess who was martyred. They began with no vows and wore lay clothing. Soon, they followed a Rule which prescribed virginity, poverty and obedience. The community finally became a Congregation in 1544 A.D. St. Angela Merici was canonized in 1807 A.D.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 27]

• Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom

3rd Sunday of the Year (C)

(Edited) Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

3rd Sunday of the Year (C), January 27, 2013

Liturgical readings

Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

"He entered the synagogue on the sabbath and stood up to do the reading."

The Lord begins His public ministry in this gospel story. He enters the synagogue at Nazareth, unrolls the scroll and reads a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The passage He read from Isaiah refers to the mission of the promised Messiah. Jesus, after finishing the reading, rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant, and sat down. Those present in the synagogue knew His family background, for that synagogue was located in Nazareth where He had been reared. There could have been an emphatic silence that pervaded the whole synagogue - a silence where the presence of God was deeply felt. When all those present had their eyes on Jesus, He said: "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

"This scripture passage is fulfilled". What did Jesus mean? The passage from Isaiah speaks about 'liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and the release of prisoners'. When the Lord said that, He was referring to His very Person and role as Savior. God sent Him to proclaim freedom to all those captive to sin. But what does being captive to sin mean? If we look forward to how this was interpreted by the teachers of the faith, St. Gregory (who lived 500 years after Christ), wrote about eight vices (in thought and in spirit) that draw souls away from God. He lists them down as: pride, ambition, anger, hatred, gluttony, impurity, greed and sadness. All these enslave and imprison, and bring darkness to the heart. It was to free us from these that Jesus said, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

What Jesus proclaimed was the Good News, not only in word, but in His very person and actions. And that Good News is meant for all. This is opposite to the spirit of the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus calls everyone, especially all souls who are infirm at one time or another. He offers freedom from darkness and mediocrity. He calls all to seek the Kingdom and its everlasting Light. It is the healing power of His Light that restores the light of God's image and likeness in all. Not all accept the message; but God does not give up. His call continues through the Church, in the time of St. Gregory, and up to now in the Sacraments. Those who see, seek and receive the light in the Sacraments, find in Jesus everything they have ever wanted or hoped for. Those who respond to the call, respond in gratitude and are encouraged by God's Spirit to do their part to build the "city of God" wherever they work or live.

Memorial of Saints (January 26)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Timothy and Titus, bishops
• Robert of Molesmes, Alberic, & Stephen Harding, abbots
• Paula, widow
• Conan, bishop
• Eystein, bishop
• Margaret of Hungary, virgin

St. Timothy (d. ca. 97 A.D.) was living in Lystra when St. Paul visited in the year 47 A.D. He joined St. Paul for the second and third missionary journeys and is frequently mentioned in both the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul's letters. According to tradition, St. Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus and was stoned to death when he opposed a pagan festival.

St. Titus (1st century A.D.) accompanied St. Paul on his third missionary journey and acted as St. Paul's secretary at the council in Jerusalem. Both of them travelled to Crete where Paul consecrated Titus as its first bishop. When St. Paul left Titus at Crete, he sends a letter to Titus that is similar to Timothy. The letter instructs St. Titus to conduct his mission as a bishop who is called: to be God's steward; blameless; and with a firm grasp of God's Word. St. Paul instructs Titus to make his preaching based on sound doctrine which no one can dispute.

The Cistercian Story at Citeaux, France (ca. 1112 A.D.)

Pope Alexander II named St. Robert of Molesmes (ca. 1024-1110 A.D.) superior of a group of hermits. St. Robert moved this group from Collan to Molesmes in 1075 A.D. However, there was a great influx of not-so-good candidates to the monastery. When St. Robert was unsuccessful in raising the standards of Benedictine ideals in this group, he, St. Alberic (d. 1109 A.D.), and St. Stephen Harding (d. 1134 A.D.), left and founded a new community at Citeaux in 1098 A.D. This monastery was dedicated to a strict observance of the rule of St. Benedict of Nursia.

The strict observance of the Benedictine rule exacted quite a toll on the population at Citeaux. When both St. Robert and St. Alberic already passed away, the responsibility for Citeaux was left in the hands of St. Stephen Harding. St. Stephen Harding did not give up even when there was a dearth of vocations to the novitiate. He kept on with the remaining members of the community following the rule as before.

One day, while St. Stephen Harding was working in the fields, the soul of a departed member of the community appeared to St. Stephen. That brother assured Stephen that the community will not die and that the Lord has been pleased by the way of life of the brethren. The grief of Stephen at the want of vocations to the novitiate began to disappear.

That vision of Stephen while working at the fields assured him that the Cistercian way of life was acceptable to God and seemed to prophesy an increase of numbers in the monastery. Other signs also came from other members of the community. One day in the year 1112 A.D., the iron hammer which hung at the lowly gate of the monastery sounded, and 31 men entered, and upon meeting Stephen, begged to be admitted as novices. They were of the noblest houses of Burgundy. The whole troop was led by one young man of about 23 years old. That leader of the whole troop of 31 men was to become St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Cîteaux at Google Maps

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 26]

• Xenophon, his wife, Mary and sons, Arcadius and John
• Theodore, Hegumen-Abbot of Monks of Studites, and his brother, John

Memorial of Saints (January 25)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Conversion of Paul, Apostle
• Artemas, martyr
• Juventinus and Maximinus, martyrs
• Publius, abbot
• Apollo, abbot
• Praejectus or Prix, bishop
• Poppo, abbot

St. Paul the Apostle (ca. 1/5-62/67 A.D.) was a prominent early Christian missionary. Originally a persecutor of those who follow the Christian faith, he had an encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus. Blinded by the experience, his conversion to the faith began. Pious stories, religious paintings and other art forms describe his encounter with Christ as falling from the horse after a blinding light. However, the Scripture account of his encounter with Jesus in the Acts of the Apostles does not mention anything about his travelling on a horse. This may have been interpretations of a plausible truth: he was on a long trip to Damascus. But the point of his conversion was this: St. Paul was called by Christ to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Being healed from his blindness and after being integrated gradually into the faith communities of the apostles, St. Paul began his missionary journeys to establish Christian communities around the eastern Mediterranean. He wrote letters (or epistles) to these communities and the manuscripts that survived from then on now form part of the canon of the New Testament. After much preaching and mission work, he was eventually arrested, imprisoned and executed sometime between 62 or 67 A.D.

As a Jew and a Pharisee, Paul believed in the oneness of God and the revelation of God in the Hebrew Scriptures. Then from his conversion experience, he became convinced about the centrality of Jesus Christ and the truth of His death and resurrection. He believed and preached that "in Christ" there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile (letters to the Galatians 3:28, and Romans 3:22). This Christian conviction extended to the belief that all are saved through faith in Christ rather than the law of Moses (Romans 3:21-30). No longer under the Mosaic law, Christians were now to be guided by the Holy Spirit and by faith working through love and service to one another, in the life and example of Christ and His apostles.

St. Paul is the patron saint of Greece and Malta, and the Cursillo movement.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 25]

• Gregory, the Theologian

Memorial of Saints (January 24)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church
• Babylas, bishop and martyr
• Felician, bishop and martyr
• Messalina, martyr
• Macedonius

Related blog posts:

• St. Francis de Sales, [bishop and doctor of the Church]
• Francis de Sales, Proponent of the French School of Spirituality

St. Francis de Sales' advice to recall God's presence during the day

"...in this practice is contained one of the most sure means of your spiritual progress...In the course of the day, recall to mind the presence of God, as often as you can...Become aware of what God is doing and of what you are doing: you will realize that his eyes are turned toward you and, with unparalleled love, fixed on you all the time...keep in mind...always to recollect yourself again and again in the solitude of your heart, while outwardly dealing with others and your occupations. This spiritual solitude cannot be prevented by the many people who are around you. They are not around your heart but only around your body. So your heart can remain by itself all alone, in the presence of God alone." (Introduction to the Devout Life, II, 12)

St. Macedonius (ca. 340-430 A.D.) was a Syrian anchoret who is reputed to have performed numerous miracles of healing. One miracle attributed to him was when his prayers caused a childless mother, who had been without child for thirteen years of married life, to bear a child. That child was named Theodoret. St. Macedonius was surnamed "the Barley Eater" because he was said to have lived on barley for forty years. More on St. Macedonius at Wikipedia.org

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 24]

• Xenia of Saint Petersburg

Saint Xenia (ca. 1732-1803 A.D.) lived about forty-five years after the death of her husband, and departed to the Lord at the age of seventy-one. By the 1820s A.D., many people flocked to her grave and ask her to intercede with God for them. The visitors to her grave took the earth from her grave that it had to be replaced every year. Later on, a chapel was built over her grave. Those who ask St. Xenia for her intercession receive healing from illness, and deliverance from their afflictions. She is also known for helping people who seek jobs. More on St. Xenia of Petersburg at OCA.org and at Wikipedia.org

Memorial of Saints (January 23)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Ildephonsus of Toledo, bishop
• Henry Suso, mystic
• Emerentiana, virgin and martyr
• Asclas, martyr
• Agathangelus and Clement, martyrs
• John the Almsgiver, patriarch
• Bernard or Barnard, bishop
• Lufthildis, virgin
• Maimbod, martyr

Blessed Henry Suso (ca. 1295-1366 A.D.) was the third great mystic produced by the German Dominicans in the 14th century A.D. After joining the Dominicans at an early age and influenced by Meister Eckhart, he aspired to an academic career. However, upon Eckhart's condemnation, Henry was attacked by his confreres. Henry gave up teaching, concentrated on preaching, and worked as an adviser to the Dominican nuns.

These are the written works of Blessed Henry Suso:

• The Little Book of Truth
• The Little Book of Wisdom
• The Little Book of Letters
• The Life of the Servant

The Life of The Servant is the work for which Blessed Henry is most known today. His The Little Book of Wisdom is also widely known. The Latin version of the writing is even more widely known than the German version, because the Latin version was translated into eight languages and had more than six hundred manuscripts - second to Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ.

Author's note: The three great German Dominican mystics are Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, and Henry Suso. They were major writers in the 14th century German mystic movement.

Learn more on Saints in the Roman Calendar [January 24]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 24]

• St. Clems, Priest-Martyr
• St. Agathangel, Martyr

St. Agathangel or Agathangelus was the deacon of St. Clement (d. ca. 308 A.D.), who was bishop of Ancrya, Galatia. Agathangelus was converted by Clement. At a young age, Clement already devoted himself to the education of the young and poverty-stricken. Both St. Clement and St. Agathangelus were tortured for years because of their Christian faith. Both were reportedly miraculously saved from death many times until they were finally executed by sword at Ancrya.

Today in the history of Christianity in England

January 23, 1645 A.D. is the day of death of Mary Ward. Mary founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the period of anti-Catholic persecution in England. She was inevitably imprisoned. Upon her exile to the European continent, she continued in her efforts to secure papal approval for the Institute she founded. Her detractors worked to have the Institute suppressed. Imprisoned temporarily in a convent, she returned to England where she died in 1645 A.D. The Rule of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary was finally approved by Pope Clement XI in 1703 A.D. It had a marked infuence on religious life in the European continent.

Memorial of Saints (January 22)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Vincent, deacon and martyr
• Anastasius, martyr
• Blesilla, widow
• Dominic of Sora, abbot
• Berhtwald, bishop
• Valerius of Saragossa
• Vincent Pallotti, priest

St. Vincent Saragossa (d. ca. 304 A.D.) is the patron saint of Portugal. He was a deacon martyred under Dacian, governor of Spain, during the imperial reign of Maximian. How he was martyred came down to the faithful through pious stories. One account says that he was imprisoned, starved, and then racked and roasted on a gridiron. All this because he refused to hand over the sacred books and sacrifice to the pagan gods. Dying from that brutal treatment, he is now regarded also as the patron saint of vine growers and wine makers because of the protection he gives aginst frosts which often occur on, or near his feast, January 22.

St. Vincent of Pallotti (1795-1850 A.D.) was the son of a grocer before he was ordained at twenty-three. Receiving his doctorate in theology, he served in several parishes in his native city. He founded the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, also known as the Pallottines. He was canonized in 1963 A.D. by Pope John XXIII.

Related blog post:

• St. Stephen and the Martyrs of the Early Christian Eras, Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 22]

• St. Timothy, Apostle
• St. Anastasius, Venerable-Martyr of Persia

St. Anastasius the Persian (died ca. 628 A.D.) is commemorated both in the Roman Calendar and in the Byzantine Calendar on this day. He was a soldier in the Persian army whose original name was Magundat. He was attracted to Christianity when he saw the relics of the True Cross brought back to Persia during its sack of Jerusalem in 614 A.D. Converting to the faith, he was baptized in Jerusalem and took the name Anastasius. He became a monk at Jerusalem in 621 A.D. but was arrested when he began preaching against pagan worship. Tortured to shake him from his conviction to prevent pagan worship, he was strangled and then beheaded after 68 other Christians were martyred in his very presence.

Memorial of Saints (January 21)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Agnes, virgin and martyr
• Fructuosus of Tarragona, bishop and martyr
• Patroclus, martyr
• Epiphanius of Pavia, bishop
• Meinrad, martyr
• Alban Roe, priest and martyr

St. Agnes (d. ca. 305 A.D.) was killed at a very young age during the persecution of Christians by Diocletian. Her head is venerated in a chapel of the church at Sant'Agnese in Agonia on the Piazza Navona, and the rest of her remains are entombed in the church of the same name in the Via Nomentana.

St. Alban Bartholomew Roe (ca. 1583-1642 A.D.), whose original name was Bartholomew Roe, was a student at Cambridge when he met an imprisoned Catholic. He was so impressed by the Catholic's faith that he converted to Catholicism. He became a Benedictine monk in France (in 1612 A.D.) taking the name Alban. When ordained he was sent on a mission to England. St. Alban Roe was arrested many times: in 1615, 1618, and 1625 A.D. After serving 17 years in prison, he was tried and convicted for being a Catholic priest. Together with Blessed Thomas Reynolds, they were executed on January 21. Pope Paul VI canonized Alban Bartholomew Roe in 1970 A.D. as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Citation from Wikipedia.org: Blessed Thomas Reynolds (1560-1642 A.D.) was beatified by Pope Pius XI on December 15, 1929 A.D. as one of the One Hundred and Seven Martyrs of England and Wales. These are a group of clergy and laypersons who were executed on charges of treason and related offences in the Kingdom of England between 1541 A.D. and 1680 A.D.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 21]

• Maximus, Confessor
• St. Neophitus, Martyr
• Sts. Eugene, Canidius, Valerian and Aquilas, Martyrs
• Meinrad

Today, the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches celebrate the feast of St. Maximus the Confessor (ca. 580-662 A.D.) and St. Meinrad (d. ca. 861 A.D.). In the Roman Calendar, St. Maximus the Confessor is commemorated on August 13 while St. Meinrad's commemoration coincides with the Byzantine Calendar.

St. Meinrad was a hermit at Einsiedeln, who after being a hermit for 25 years, was clubbed to death by robbers. St. Meinrad's hermitage was made into a regular Benedictine monastery and still exists today.

Related blog post:

• St. Maximus the Confessor, Abbot of Chrysopolis, Learn more

Memorial of Saints (January 20)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Fabian, pope and martyr
• Sebastian, martyr
• Euthymius the Great, abbot
• Fechia, abbot
• Eustochia Calafato

When St. Fabian (d. ca. 250 A.D.), a layman, was in the assembly to elect a new pope, a pious story says that a dove flew inside and settled on the head of Fabian. Taken as a sign from God by the clergy and people assembled, they elected Fabian pope on January 10, 236 A.D.

Though there is little knowledge of his pontificate, after being martyred in 250 A.D. under the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Decius, his tomb still exists in the cemetery of St. Callistus. St. Cyprian wrote about St. Fabian and said that the glory of this pope's death corresponded with the purity and holiness of his life.

St. Sebastian (ca. 257-288 A.D.) became a soldier in the Roman army around 283 A.D. Discovered to be a Christian, Sebastian was sentenced to be shot to death by archers. His body was pierced with arrows and was left for dead. When the widow of St. Castulus [St. Castulus was the Emperor's chamberlain who sheltered Christians in his home] came to get his body for burial, she found Sebastian still alive. So she nursed him back to health. After recovering fully from his wounds, Sebastian refused to flee from the persecution. Eventually, he was seized and beaten to death.

St. Sebastian's popularity may be attributed to his many depictions in early Christian, medieval and Renaissance art. He is always represented as pierced with arrows or holding an arrow. St. Sebastian is the patron of archers, athletes, and soldiers.

St. Eustochia Calafato (1434-1491 A.D.) entered the Poor Clare convent of Santa Maria de Basico. As a Poor Clare, she was noted for her aid to the poor, her self-imposed penances, and her austerities. St. Eustochia was canonized in 1988 A.D. She is one of the incorrupt bodies of Beati and Saints featured in a YouTube video by czarneszci (8:13 minutes)

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 20]

• Euthymius the Great, Hegumen-Abbot

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches commemorate Euthymius the Great (ca. 378-473 A.D.) on January 20. It also coincides with the Roman Calendar's commemoration of his feast on this day.

Euthymius the Great was from Armenia. He spent approximately 66 to 68 years in the desert and died at the age of ninety-five after having been ordained a bishop at one point to minister to the growing numbers of Arab converts in Palestine.

2nd Sunday of the Year (C)

Author's note: In the Philippines today, Sunday, January 19, 2025, the country celebrates the Feast of the Child Jesus. The Feast is commemorated with much festivity in different parts of the country, and the liturgical readings are different from the readings for the 2nd Sunday of the Year (C) in the Universal Church.

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

2nd Sunday of the Year (C), January 20, 2013
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-12

"Jesus performed this first of His signs at Cana."

The gospel story in John reveals well the humanity and divinity of Jesus. In the first of His signs at Cana, Christ's divinity shone bright among those who knew of it. No one knew of this sign save for Mary His mother, His disciples, and those waiting on table during the wedding feast. Even the waiter in charge of the wedding feast did not know it was the Lord who had changed the water into wine. But the waiter in charge noticed a remarkable change in the quality of the wine that was served. He said to the groom: "People usually serve the choice wine first...what you have done is keep the choice wine until now."

Wine gives joy to any occasion. It is served not only on wedding feasts like the wedding at Cana, but in our own time for important celebrations like corporate anniversaries and sports victories. But there is a celebration where wine has a very important and deeper meaning: the Eucharist. In that celebration, wine (along with the bread), are offered by the people to God in the person of the priest-presider or any other higher official of the clergy. It is this bread and wine offered that becomes the Body and Blood of our Redeemer during the consecration. If one considers the wine at Cana and the wine consecrated in the Eucharist, one can clearly see that both are miracles; both are life-giving actions performed by the Lord. The choice wine at Cana is of very good quality; and the bread and wine in the Eucharist is the highest good Catholics can receive in their life of faith.

The Lord has given all the faithful a memorial of His life in the Eucharist. Upon His Ascension, He promised that He will always be with His followers until the end of time. In John 16:22, He says: "you are sad for a time, but I shall see you again; then your hearts will rejoice with a joy no one can take from you." It is only with the gift of faith in the Eucharist that one can see this promise revealing itself daily in each of the lives of the faithful. The more one lives in the Spirit of Jesus in Word, Sacrament, and action, the more one cherishes this Truth of hope and joy. It is a hope and joy that heals any soul from the darkness of meaninglessness that all find in death in the world. Jesus is the Truth that is like the wine in Cana and the Eucharist: "what [God] has done is keep the choice wine until now".

Memorial of Saints (January 19)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Canute or Knute, king and martyr
• Germanicus, martyr
• Nathalan, bishop
• Albert of Cashel, bishop
• Fillan or Foelan, abbot
• Wulstan, bishop
• Henry of Uppsala, bishop and martyr
• Marguerite of Bourgeoys, foundress

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 19]

• Macarius of Egypt, and Macarius of Alexandria, Monks
• St. Euphrosinia, Virgin

Memorial of Saints (January 18)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Margaret of Hungary, nun
• Prisca, virgin and martyr
• Volusian, bishop
• Deicolus or Desle, abbot

St. Margaret of Hungary (1242-1270 A.D.) was the daughter of King Bela IV. She entered the convent at the age of thirteen and practiced great austerities. She died at the age of twenty-eight and a local cult developed almost immediately. Beatified in 1789 A.D., she was then canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1943 A.D. when Hungary was under Nazi domination.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 18]

• Athanasius and Cyril, Archbishops of Alexandria

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches celebrate the feast of St. Athanasius of Alexandria and St. Cyril of Alexandria. The Roman Calendar commemorates St. Athanasius on May 2 and St. Cyril on June 27.

Related blog posts:

• St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Archbishop, Greek Father of the Church, Doctor of the Church: ca. 297-373 A.D.
• St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Learn more

Memorial of Saints (January 17)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Anthony, abbot
• Speusippus, Eleusippus, and Meleusippus, martyrs
• Genulf or Genou, bishop
• Julian Sabar, hermit
• Sabinus of Piacenza, bishop
• Richimir, abbot
• Sulpicius II or Sulpice

St. Anthony (251-356 A.D.) lived a life of prayer, penance, and the strictest austerity. He ate only bread and water once a day and engaged in struggles with the devil. He resisted and fought temptations that are legendary. Learn more.

Sts. Speusippus, Eleusippus, and Meleusippus (d. ca. 155 or 175 A.D.) were said to be triplets who were martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Learn more at Wikipedia.org

St. Sulpice (d. ca. 647 A.D.) was born of wealthy parents and became bishop of Bourges in 624 A.D. He fought for the rights of his people against King Dagobert's minister, Lullo.

St. Sulpice was reported to have converted the population at Bourges to the Christian faith with his holiness and charity. The famous St. Sulpice Seminary in Paris is named after him.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 17]

• Anthony, the Great

Memorial of Saints (January 16)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

St. Marcellus I succeeded St. Marcellinus to the papacy in 308 A.D. As Pope, Marcellus reorganized the Church in Rome and settled the lapsi controversy by issuing a papal decree. This decree caused widespread civil disorders. It was due to this unrest that led Emperor Maxentius to send Marcellus into exile (died ca. 309 A.D.).

St. Priscilla is the wife of the Christian martyr Mancius Glabrio. She is traditionally known to be the mother of St. Pudens. But what she is more known for is her home on the Via Salaria in Rome, which was used by St. Peter the Apostle as his headquarters for leading the Christians. St. Priscilla's home has a catacomb underneath it (died ca. 98 A.D.).

St. Honoratus is the founder of the monastery in Lérins, off the coast of southern France. In honor of this saint, the island is now called Saint-Honorat. St. Honoratus was named archbishop of Arles in 426 A.D. The monastery he founded produced southern France's leading bishops and writers - one of whom was St. Vincent of Lérins. St. Honoratus is the patron saint of bakers (died ca. 429 A.D.).

St. Fursey was an Irishman who left his home to build a monastery at Killursa. Twelve years later, he went with his brothers Sts. Foillan and Ultan, to settle in England, where they built a monastery on land donated by Sigebert. After several years in this monastery, St. Fursey went on to Gaul (now in France) and built a monastery at Lagny (died ca. 648 A.D.).

St. Henry of Cocket was from Denmark, and since his youth wanted to live a religious life. He travelled to England and built a hermitage on the island of Cocket, off the coast of northeastern England (known at that time as Northumberland). Henry lived as a hermit until his death in ca. 1127 A.D.

St. Berard and his Franciscan companions (Sts. Peter, Odo, Accursio, and Adjutus) were the Franciscan order's first martyrs. St. Francis of Assisi sent St. Berard and his four companions to a mission among the Muslims in southern Spain and Morocco. Despite warnings from the local Muslim sultan at the time, they continued to preach zealously Christ and the gospel. All five Franciscans were martyred for Christ on January 16, 1220 A.D.

More on the life of St. Honoratus and the influence of the Five Franciscan Martyrs

In ca. 405 A.D., St. Honoratus (d. ca. 429 A.D.) founded a monastery of the early Church which was to be of influence to others. This is located in an island off the southern coast of Gaul (now France) opposite modern-day Cannes. That island is now called Saint-Honorat. This monastery produced southern Gaul's bishops and writers, including St. Vincent of Lerins, who gave the Church an enduring criterion of tradition, namely, quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus (Latin for "what [has been believed] everywhere, always, and by all"). St. Vincent Lerins was a priest and monk and one of the Latin Church Fathers.

St. Anthony of Padua was inspired by the five Franciscan martyrs, Sts. Berard, Peter, Odo, Accursio, and Adjutus, who were sent by St. Francis himself as missionaries to the Muslims in Seville and Morocco. When the relics of these five Franciscan friars, who were martyred in Morocco, were brought to Portugal, it deeply impacted Anthony. He was so moved by their courageous witness for Christ that he fervently desired to follow in their footsteps.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 16]

• Veneration of the venerable Chains of St. Peter

Memorial of Saints (January 15)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Paul the First Hermit, confessor
• Maur, abbot, and Placid
• Macarius the Elder
• Isidore of Alexandria
• John Calybites
• Ita of Killeedy, virgin and abbess
• Bonet or Bonitus, bishop
• Ceowulf

St. Paul the Hermit (ca. 233-342 A.D.), also known as Paul of Thebes, is traditionally regarded as the first hermit in Christian history. He fled to the desert during a period of persecution (probably during the reign of Emperor Decius) and lived there to well more than one hundred years old. He is one of the centenerian-saints featured in this Blog.

St. Macarius the Elder or Macarius the Great (ca. 300-390 A.D.) was born in Upper Egypt and became a cattle-herder in his youth. He became a hermit and practiced the greatest austerities. He was accused of assaulting a woman but proved his innocence and became a hero for his patience and humility during that trying ordeal. To escape the adulation, he retired to the desert of Skete, was ordained, and was much sought after for his spiritual wisdom. He lived in Skete for sixty years more and died there. Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 15]

• Paul of Thebes and John the "Tent-dweller"

The feast of St. Paul the Hermit or Paul of Thebes, is commemorated in both the Roman Catholic Church and in the Byzantine Calendar on this day, January 15. He is celebrated in the East through the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches and the Coptic and Armenian rites.

January 15 in the history of Christianity

January 15 is the day of birth of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968 A.D.). The Episcopal Church in the United States of America commemorate Dr. King's day of assassination on April 4.

Memorial of Saints (January 14)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Felix Nola, confessor
• Macrina the Elder, widow
• Barbasymas and Companions, martyrs
• Datius, bishop
• Kentigern or Mungo, bishop
• Sava, bishop
• Odoric of Pordenone, friar

St. Felix of Nola (d. ca. 260 A.D.) was the son of Hermias, a Roman soldier who had an estate at Nola near Naples, Italy. On the death of his father Hermias, Felix distributed his inheritance to the poor and was ordained by Bishop Maximus of Nola. During the persecution of Christians by Decius, St. Maximus fled to the desert and Felix, being the bishop's assistant, was arrested in his stead and imprisoned. An angel was said to have released Felix from prison and directed him to his ailing bishop, Maximus. As an opportunity presented itself, Felix brought bishop Maximus back to Nola.

Decius died in 251 A.D. but Felix continued to be hidden until the persecution completely ended. When bishop Maximus passed away, the people naturally and unanimously selected Felix as their bishop. However, Felix declined the honor in favor of Quintus, a priest who is senior to Felix.

St. Felix of Nola decided to live on a small piece of land and shared what he had with the poor. His tomb soon became famous for the miracles that happened to people who visited his tomb. St. Paulinus, who became a bishop of Nola a century later in 410 A.D., wrote all that is known today of St. Felix of Nola.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 14]

• Fathers of Sinai and Raitha

The Holy fathers slain at Sinai and Raithu are saints venerated together on January 14 by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Greek Catholic Churches. There were two occasions when the monks and hermits were murdered by the barbarians. The first occasion took place in the 4th century A.D., when 40 fathers were killed at Mt. Sinai, and 39 were slain at Raithu on the same day. The attack at Raithu is attributed to the tribe called the Blemmyes, from parts of Arabia.

The names of the fathers were:

• Isaiah,
• Sabbas,
• Moses and his disciple Moses,
• Jeremiah,
• Paul,
• Adam,
• Sergius,
• Domnus,
• Proclus,
• Hypatius,
• Isaac,
• Macarius,
• Mark,
• Benjamin,
• Eusebius,
• Elias,
• and others

The second occasion was the killing of the martyrs of Raithu about the middle of the 5th century A.D.

Sinai and Raithu are both located in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Raithu is now known as El Tor, which is the capital of the South Sinai Governorate. The Raithu desert is situated around El Tor, between Saint Catherine and the Red Sea. It is part of the Archdiocese of Mount Sinai and Raithu of the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

It is to be noted that the attack came from barbarians and other tribes. Although unverifiable, the attacks may not have been religious in nature as Islam came into being only in the 7th century A.D.

Citation from Wikipedia.org

Memorial of Saints (January 13)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

St. Hilary of Poitiers was a layman who reluctantly became bishop of Poitiers in ca. 350 A.D. Since the Arians were influencing the Church at the time, Hilary defended the orthodox teaching of the Church against them. He fought against Arian Bishop Saturninus, and as a consequence was exiled to Phrygia. After some time, Hilary was able to return to Poitiers and was instrumental in a synod's deposition and excommunication of Saturninus. Hilary was a good theologian. He wrote many treatises and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1851 A.D. (died ca. 368 A.D.).

St. Agrecius was bishop of Trèves and attended the Council of Arles in 314 A.D. As bishop, he devoted himself to reconverting the people back to the Christian faith in the area around Trèves. Nothing more is known of Agrecius save for the story that his appointment as bishop was upon the request of Empress Helena, who also sent Agrecius some of the relics of the Cross of Christ (died ca. 329 A.D.).

St. Berno joined the Benedictines at St. Martin's, Autun, and became abbot of Baume-les-Messieurs. He also founded the monastery of Gigny and became its abbot. After some time, Duke William of Aquitaine made him abbot of Cluny. St. Berno is the first of the great abbots of the monastery at Cluny, in France - a monastic reform movement that had an enormous influence on the spirit of monasticism in Europe (died ca. 927 A.D.).

St. Remigius (d. 533 A.D.) was bishop of Rheims and apostle of the Franks. He baptized the king of the Franks, Clovis I (481-511 A.D.), as well as his whole family and followers - some three thousand in all. He is one of the patron saint of France together with St. Joan of Arc, St. Denis, and St. Bernadette Soubirous, St. Martin of Tours, and St. Therese of Lisieux.

Related blog posts:

• More details on the life and work of St. Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
• Sts. Berno, Odo and Aymard: The First Three Benedictine Abbots of Cluny, France, Learn more
• St. Remigius, St. Bernadette, St. Joan of Arc, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Denis: The Patron Saints of France, Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 13]

• Sts. Hermylas and Stratonicus, Martyrs

This day in the history of Christianity

George Fox (1624-1691 A.D.) died on January 13, 1691 A.D. He was the founder of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. George Fox's life was one of commitment to peace, human equality, and the poor, a commitment for which he paid with the price of imprisonment and persecution.

Feast of the Lord's Baptism (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Feast of the Lord's Baptism (C), January 13, 2013

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 104
Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

"The Christ will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire."

Only a few passages in the gospels reveal the Triune Person of God: as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The gospel this Sunday in Luke 3:15-16, 21-22, represents one of those few passages. It is the passage that describes the Lord's baptism by John the Baptist. Though St. John appears first in the scene of the gospel story and is shown also as a protagonist, he himself emphasizes that he is not the Messiah. He appeared first because his mission is to baptize with water. It is the One who follows after him who is the Christ, and the One who will baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire. As the gospel continues to describe this baptism event, we see Jesus approaching John. John baptizes Him and then the skies open. The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove. A sound from above was then heard. It was the Father's voice from heaven resounding with the words: "You are My beloved Son; on You My favor rests."

Many preachers and writers along the history of the Church's growth reflected on this event of the Lord's baptism. One of them was St. Gregory Nazianzen (ca. 329-390 A.D.). He is one of the Greek Fathers of the Church and a contemporary of St. Basil who guided the Church in the 4th century A.D. He speaks of the baptism of the Lord with themes of conversion and light. He says that the Light of Christ is also the responsibility of each of the baptized faithful to bring to a world in need of that Light. This is St. Gregory's message:

"Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives God delight as the conversion and salvation of man, for whom His every word and revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside the great Light, bathed in the glory of Him who is the Light of heaven."

All the faithful in Catholicism are privileged to have access to this rich spiritual tradition that continues to our present times. We do not only have the Scriptural tradition, but also the many reflections of the Church's teachers in the many centuries after Christ. So aside from the teaching of St. Gregory Nazianzen in the 4th century A.D., we also have the teaching of St. John Paul II in our own century and millenium. He associated the baptism of the Lord to the theme of light when he included this event in the mysteries of light of the rosary prayers. John Paul II made the Lord's baptism as the first light mystery for all the faithful to see that the light of prayer must lead to bringing that light to the very circumstances the faithful work and live in. It is a light that creates in oneself and in others a Church that becomes "a living force for all."

Memorial of Saints (January 12)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Arcadius, martyr
• Tigirius and Eutropius, martyrs
• Caesaria, virgin
• Victorian, abbot
• Benedict or Benet Biscop, bishop
• Antony Pucci, priest
• Marguerite Bourgeoys, religious
• Aelred of Rievaulx, monk

St. Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167 A.D.) was born in Hexham, England, and also known as Ethelred. He became part of the court of King David of Scotland and was known for his piety and spirituality. At 24 years of age, he left Scotland and became a Cistercian monk at Rievaulx, Yorkshire, England. Considered a saint in his own lifetime, St. Aelred was also known as a writer. He composed On Spiritual Friendship and wrote numerous sermons and prayers.

Since St. Aelred of Rievaulx died on the 12th of January, some liturgical sources peg his feast day on January 12. Other liturgical sources, perhaps from older ones, peg his feast day on February 3.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 12]

• St. Tatiana, Martyr
• Eupraxis, Venerable

Memorial of Saints (January 11)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Theodosius the Cenobiarch
• Salvius or Sauve, bishop

St. Salvius (d. ca. 625 A.D.) or St. Sauve of Montreuil, succeeded Ado as bishop of Amiens. He was the fifth Bishop of the French city of Amiens . He lived on the cusp of the 6th century and 7th century A.D. Often confused with Salvius of Albi and Salvius of Valencijn, he was made the patron saint against speech impediments, of Montreui, the Frisian town of Dronrijp and of the town of Saint-Sauflieu, in France. Learn more from Anastpaul.com

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 11]

• Theodosius, Hegumen-Abbot

St. Theodosius (423-529 A.D.) is commemorated this day in both the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar. He was a leading pioneer of cenobitic or monasticism in community. Born in Cappadocia in Asia Minor, St. Theodosius built a large monastery at Cathismus near Bethlehem and filled it with vocations. He attached three infirmaries to the monastery:

• one for the sick,
• one for the aged,
• and one for the mentally disturbed.

There were also four churches attached to the monastery:

• one for the Greeks
• one for the Armenians
• one for the Slavs
• and one for those doing penance or recovering from mental illness

The monastic complex resembled a small city and became a good example of its kind in the East. It was probably because of this achievement that the patriarch of Jerusalem appointed Theodosius as abbot general of all cenobitic communities in Palestine - thus earning him the title, "Cenobiarch."

Related blog posts:

• St. Theodosius, Feast: January 11
• Saints Who Lived to a 100 Years (Part Three)

Memorial of Saints (January 10)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• William of Bourges, abbot
• Marcian
• John the Good, bishop
• Agatho, pope
• Peter Orseolo

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 10]

• Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa
• Venerable Dometian, Bishop of Melite
• Marcian, Presbyter

St. Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 330-395 A.D.) was the third of the three great Cappadocian Fathers (with his brother St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen). He became bishop of Nyssa in 371 A.D. Greatly influenced by the writings of Origen and Plato, Gregory wrote numerous theological treatises, which were considered the true exposition of the Catholic faith. Among his writings were:

• Catechetical Discourse
• treatises against Eunomius and Appolinaris
• a book on virginity
• commentaries on Scripture

The feast day of Saint Gregory of Nyssa is January 10 in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. The Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church celebrate his death on March 9.

The second General Council of Nicaea (680-681 A.D.) called him "Father of the Fathers." Learn more

Memorial of Saints (January 9)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

St. Marciana was a Christian from Mauritania, in the West coast of Africa. Accused as a Christian during the rule of Emperor Diocletian, she was arrested and brought to gladiators who tried to rape her. Her virginity however was miraculously preserved. But eventually, she was sent to the ampitheater where she was killed by a wild bull and a leopard (died ca. 303 A.D.).

Sts. Julian and Basilissa (his wife), used their home as a hospital to care for the poor and the sick. After St. Basilissa's death, Julian was arrested as a Christian during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. St. Julian was martyred together with a priest, and a mother and her child (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Peter of Sebastea is a brother of St. Basil (who founded Eastern monasticism). Peter entered a monastery in Armenia and eventually became its abbot in 362 A.D. In 380 A.D., he became bishop of Sebastea. As bishop, he worked against the Arian heresy and attended well the General Council of Constantinople (died ca. 391 A.D.).

St. Waningus left his position as a governor in Neustria to devote his life to God after a dream he experienced. In the dream, St. Eulalia of Barcelona warned him of the difficulties a rich man will have in entering the Kingdom of God. Because of this warning in a dream, St. Waningus left his political life, and together with St. Wandrille, helped to found an abbey, a church, and a convent (died ca. 683 A.D.).

St. Adrian of Canterbury became abbot of a monastery near Naples, Italy. St. Theodore, who became archbishop of Canterbury, appointed Adrian to be abbot of St. Augustine's monastery. As abbot of this monastery, the monastery became renowned as a center of learning. When St. Adrian's tomb was exhumed, his body was found to be incorrupt (died ca. 710 A.D.).

St. Berhtwald of Canterbury became abbot of Reculver in Kent, England. He succeeded St. Theodore as archbishop of Canterbury. Berhtwald was archbishop for thirty-seven years. He was noted to be a very good scripture scholar (died ca. 731 A.D.).

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 9]

• St. Polyeucte, Martyr
• Eustratius, Venerable

January 9 in the Philippines commemorates the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

In Tagalog the feast is called "Pista ng Itím na Nazareno". Officially and liturgically it is the National Feast of Jesus Nazareno, a religious festival held in Manila, Philippines. It is also known as the Traslación after the mass procession associated with the feast. Centered around the statue of the Black Nazarene, an image of Jesus Christ, is carried along the streets of Manila proper atop an engineless carriage. This carriage is surrounded every year by more than a million devotees, with devotees near the carriage exerting efforts to ride the carriage to get closer to the statue. They do this by as an act of faith in the miraculous powers of the Black Nazarene. Learn more at Wikipedia.org

Memorial of Saints (January 8)

St. Severinus of Noricum was an ascetic. He loved the contemplative life and also his mission among the Roman peoples of Noricum in Austria. From his life and mission in Noricum, he moved on to become superior of different monasteries - teaching his monks love for the poor, the sick and the oppressed. St. Severinus was also known for his prophecies and his miracles. One of his miracles was to help the famine-stricken city of Faviana. Through his intercessory prayers, the ice in the river Danube (next to Faviana) cracked. Because of this miracle, the city acknowledged him as their wonder-worker (died ca. 533 A.D.).

St. Apollinaris the Apologist defended the faith through a letter he sent to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (ca. 161-180 A.D.). Apollinaris pointed out that a recent military victory had been achieved mainly because of the Emperor's twelfth legion - which was composed mainly of Christian soldiers. Apollinaris argued that both the prayers and the fighting skills of these Christian soldiers contributed much to the victory of the Emperor. The prayers of the Christian soldiers produced a miraculous rain shower that quenched their thirst. When this rain shower then turned into a thunderstorm, it blinded and then frightened the Emperor's opponents (died ca. 179 A.D.).

St. Lawrence Giustiniani was an archbishop of Venice known for his concern for the poor. Early in life, he entered an Augustinian monastery and was ordained priest in 1046 A.D. He eventually became superior general of the Augustinian canons from 1424-1431 A.D. As general, he wrote works of an ascetical and mystical nature. When he became archbishop, his episcopate was noted for its austerity and charity to the poor -in the form of food and clothing (died ca. 1455 A.D.).

St. Lucian of Beauvais was a missionary in Gaul. Catholic tradition tells us that he is a companion of St. Denis of Paris. Lucian was made bishop of Beauvais. He was martyred there together with Maximian and Julian. Lucian's companions were martyred earlier before his own execution (died ca. 290 A.D.).

St. Severinus of Septempeda was the brother of St. Victorinus. Severinus became bishop of Septempeda in Ancona, Italy. The area in which he administered his see was later on to be known as San Severino (died ca. 550 A.D.).

St. Erhard was an Irishman. Tradition says he became auxiliary bishop of Ratisbon and then abbot of Ebersheimmünster Abbey. Nothing more is known of St. Erhard save for these little biographical details about his life (died ca. 686 A.D.).

St. Gudula was educated at Nivelles under her cousin St. Gertrude. After her cousin Gertrude's death in 664 A.D., she returned to the family castle near Morzelles. It was here that she led a holy life dedicated to God until her death. She was noted for her help to the poor in her area and became patroness of Brussels (died ca. 712 A.D.).

St. Pega was the sister of St. Guthlac. She lived a secluded life near her brother's hermitage at Croyland in the Fens in England. She was reputed to have cured a blind man. After her brother's death, she made a pilgrimage to Rome where she passed away (died ca. 719 A.D.).

St. Thorfinn was a Norwegian who became a canon of the cathedral at Nidaros. In time, he became bishop of Hamar. His support of the archbishop of Nidaros against King Eric caused his exile. In his exile he experienced a shipwreck, but was eventually able to reach the Cistercian abbey of Ter Doest near Flanders. His life was commemorated in a poem written by Walter de Muda (died ca. 1285 A.D.).

Other Saints celebrated on January 8 in the Roman Calendar

• St. Wulsin, bishop

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 8]

• Venerable George the Chozebite, Abbot and St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzikus
• Venerable Dominika of Carthage
• Sts. Juliana and Basilissa, Martyrs
• Afterfeast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
• Venerable Gregory the Recluse, of the Kiev Caves
• Hieromartyr Isidore and 72 others at Yuriev, Estonia
• Saint Paisius of Uglich
• Saint Carterius of Caesarea in Cappadocia
• Martyrs Theophilus the Deacon, and Helladius, in Libya
• Martyrs Julian and his wife, Basilissa, and those with them in Egypt
• Venerable Elias the Hermit, of Egypt
• Martyr Abo the Perfumer, of Tbilisi, Georgia
• Venerable Gregory of Ochrid
• Learn more

St. Isidore the Hieromartyr was a priest in Derpto, Estonia. There was a treaty between Moscow and Livonia that obligated protection for the Orthodox believers in Yuriev, Estonia (now present-day Derpto). The Livonian knights, who were German Catholics, broke the treaty and forced the Orthodox believers to become Roman Catholics. St. Isidore bravely stood his ground in defense of Orthodoxy. When St. Isidore and 72 of his parishioners went to bless the waters of the River Omovzha (or Emaiyga, now Emajogi) for the Feast of Theophany, they were arrested. St. Isidore and his 72 parishioners refused to renounce Christ or the Orthodox Faith. Enraged by this, the authorities had them thrown into prison.

The bishops and the judges demanded that they convert to Catholicism. When they still refused to do so, they were dragged back to the river and pushed through the hole in the ice that they had cut to bless the water. So they all suffered and died for Christ, Who bestowed on them crowns of unfading glory. During the spring floods, the incorrupt bodies of the holy martyrs, including the fully-vested body of the hieromartyr Isidore, were found by Russian merchants journeying along the river bank. They buried the saints around the church of Saint Nicholas. Although people began to venerate these saints shortly after their death, they were not officially glorified by the Church until 1897 A.D.

Memorial of Saints (January 7)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Raymond of Penafort, priest
• Lucian of Antioch, martyr
• Valentine, bishop
• Tillo
• Aldric, bishop
• Reinold
• Canute Lavard
• Kentigerna, widow

St. Raymond of Penafort (1175-1275 A.D.) was born into a noble family. His 100 years of life had the opportunity to accomplish many things. Given an excellent education, he taught philosophy in Barcelona by the age of twenty. Ten years later, he earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law.

In 1222 A.D., he entered the Dominican order. St. Raymond became noted for his preaching and for converting heretics, Jews, and Moors, as well as reforming Christians who have fallen-away because of their slavery to the Moors. One office Raymond was called to be responsible for was to be Pope Gregory IX's confessor. In 1235 A.D., the pope named Raymond as Archbishop of Tarragona - a position St. Raymond did not want. In 1238 A.D., he was elected master general of the Dominican order. He resigned at the age of sixty-five but did not retire as he resumed his work of preaching and converting and establishing friaries in Spain and North Africa. St. Raymond of Penafort died on January 6, 1275 A.D. and was canonized in 1601 A.D.

St. Raymond of Penafort is one of the Saints who lived to 100 years, Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 7]

• Synaxis of St. John, the glorious Prophet

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches celebrate a feast in honor of John the Baptist on this day, January 7.

Memorial of Saints (January 6)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Andre Bessette, religious
• Peter of Canterbury, abbot
• John of Ribera, bishop
• Raphaela of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, virgin
• Wiltrudis, widow
• Erminold, abbot
• Charles of Sezze, religious
• Guarinus or Guerin, bishop

St. Andre Bessette (1845-1937 A.D.) was a Holy Cross brother with a reputation for the power of healing. He was born in the village of Saint-Gregoire d'Iberville in the diocese of Montreal, Canada. Though unable to be educated because of the death of both his parents, he chose to work. He went to the USA to work in manual occupations but returned to Canada and joined the Brothers of the Holy Cross.

Taking final religious vows in 1874 A.D., he served as janitor, infirmarian, and other duties at the College of Our Lady of the Snows near Montreal. He was then transferred to the city of Montreal itself where he helped build the Oratory of St. Joseph - the saint to whom he was greatly devoted. Much attention was centered on St. Andre Bessette because of the number of cures that were attributed to him. He was known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal". He died on January 6, 1937 A.D. at the age of ninety-one. Beatified by St. John Paul II in 1982 A.D., he was then raised to the altar as a Saint on October 17, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI.

St. Charles of Sezze (1616-1670 A.D.) was born at Sezze, Italy, on October 19. He became a shepherd and wanted to become a priest. When unable to do so because he barely learned to read and write, he applied as a lay brother at Naziano, and served in various menial positions. He became known for his holiness, simplicity and charity.

Despite his lack of education, Charles began to put his insights into writing. Besides an extensive correspondence, he wrote a number of devotional works, described as “solid, spiritual, and seraphic.” Most famous was his spiritual autobiography, “The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God,” written at the command of his confessor. His other written works were:

• Birth of Holy Mary's Novena
• Christmas Novena
• Holy Settenario
• Invalid Path of the Soul
• Jesus Christ's Talk about Life
• The Three Ways

He was canonized in 1959 by St. John XXIII.

Learn more from:

• Franciscantradition.org
• Wikipedia.org

Short review of all the Saints Lives' for the month of January.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 6]

• Epiphany, or Holy Manifestation of the Divinity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany (C), January 6, 2013

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

"On entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother."

It is only in the gospel of Matthew that we find the story of men from the East, who traveled to Judea, to learn the whereabouts of a newly born "king of the Jews". These men are named differently in various bible translations: as astrologers, wise men, Magi, or men from the East who studied the stars. Since the birth of Jesus was preannounced as a prophecy even outside of Judea, these men from the East also knew about that prophecy. Thus, when they saw the star that announced the birth, they traveled to Judea to follow that star at its rising. Once at Judea and as soon as they reached the area where the star pointed to, they were overjoyed as they arrived and entered the house where the child was. After a moment of adoration, each one opened their coffers and presented the child Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As we depart from these gospel reading and search for messages in Catholic spirituality along the continuum of Christian centuries, St. Peter Chrysologus (bishop of the 5th century A.D.) has this to say about the Epiphany:

"Today the Magi find the one they have followed as he shone in the sky...the Magi see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the one they have long awaited; as he lay hidden among the stars...the Magi look in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a King, myrrh for one who is to die...so the Gentiles, who were the last, become the first: the faith of the Magi is the first fruits of the belief of the Gentiles."

Jesus is our God, our King and our Redeemer. His humility as a newborn child, being one like us except for sin, leads us to discover a God who is in solidarity with the frailness of all humanity. The mission and ministry of Jesus to the sick, the poor and those in bondage to sin, reveals to all a King who serves everyone in His Kingdom. And His death on the Cross presents to the faithful a Redeemer, who sealed a covenant in His blood, to save mankind from sin. And His death, which appeared meaningless at first, brings everyone now to life everlasting. The Lord Jesus manifested Himself as God, King and Redeemer, not only for His own people, but to all - as the visit and faith of the Magi attest. He is not only the hope of Israel, but the hope of all humanity and creation.

Memorial of Saints (January 5)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• John Nepomucene Neumann, bishop
• Apollinaris Syncletica, virgin
• Syncletica, virgin
• Simeon Stylites
• Convoyon, abbot
• Dorotheus the Younger, abbot
• Gerlac

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 5]

• Sts. Theopemptus and Theonas, Martyrs
• Syncletica, Venerable
• St. Micheas, Prophet

Memorial of Saints (January 4)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Elizabeth Ann Seton
• Gregory of Langres, bishop
• Pharaildis, virgin
• Rigobert of Rheims, bishop

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821 A.D.) was America's first native-born saint, canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975 A.D. She was Episcopelian at first but converted to Christianity in 1805 A.D. Because her conversion left her without support from family and friends, she opened a school in Boston to support herself and her children. In 1809 A.D., the rector of St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore invited Elizabeth to open a school. It was this invitation that prompted Elizabeth to found a religious community along with four companions. They began what was to be the start of the Catholic parochial school system in the United States.

Archbishop Carroll of Baltimore approved the rule of Elizabeth's community in 1812 A.D., and in 1813 A.D., their new congregation, the Sisters of Charity, became the first American religious society. Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 4]

• Synaxis of 70 Apostles
• Theoktistus, Hegumen-Abbot

The Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches honor the Seventy Apostles on this day, January 4. These are the ones whom Jesus sent ahead in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit (Luke 10:1)

Memorial of Saints (January 3)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Most Holy Name of Jesus
• Genevieve, virgin
• Antherus, pope and martyr
• Peter Balsam, martyr
• Bertilla of Mereuil, widow

The name of Jesus comes from the Aramaic Yeshu and the Hebrew Jehoshua, which means "Yahweh is salvation." This name was given to Christ by the angel Gabriel at the time of his annunciation to Mary that she would be the Mother of God (Luke 1:31). This name, Jesus, is a common name among Arabic people and is given in baptism to children in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries. However, in modern times, this is not encouraged as before.

The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus is observed as an Optional Memorial on January 3 by Catholics following the present General Roman Calendar. The Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, also celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3, as the Order's titular feast. Observance of the feast was officially granted to the Franciscans in 1530 A.D. and spread over a great part of the Church.

St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444 A.D.), a Franciscan who preached missions all over Italy, attracted great crowds as he preached devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus - denouncing the evils of his times. Bernardine of Siena's method of preaching was to hold a board on which were the three letters of the Savior's name in its Greek form - IHS - surrounded by rays of yellow and flaming red. St. Bernardine persuaded the people to copy these plaques and place them over their dwellings and public buildings.

Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and observance of its feast at local levels has been practiced since the 15th century A.D. The Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians kept the feast on 14 January and the Dominicans on 15 January. Many Eastern Churches celebrate the feast on January 1 which was also the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ. Around 1643 A.D. the Carthusians were able to obtain the celebration of the feast on the Second Sunday after Epiphany.

A Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus was written by St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John of Capistrano in the 15th century A.D. St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John of Capistrano were at the forefront of the Catholic Reformation at the grass roots. Learn more on The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation.

Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Learn more at Wikipedia.org

Learn more on the Most Holy Name of Jesus at Wikipedia.org

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 3]

• St. Malachias, Prophet
• St. Gordius, Martyr

Memorial of Saints (January 2)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church
• Macarius of Alexandria
• Munchin, bishop
• Vincentian
• Adalhard or Adelard, abbot
• Caspar del Bufalo

Sts. Basil and Gregory are two of the four original Eastern Doctors of the Church. The title was bestowed on Gregory in 1568 A.D. because of his teaching on the Trinity. His feast day is celebrated in the East on January 25 and again on January 30 (with Sts. Basil and John Chrysostom).

Related blog posts:

• St. Basil the Great
• St. Gregory Nazianzen

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 2]

• Silvester, Pope of Rome

Memorial of Saints (January 1)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• Concordius, martyr
• Felix of Bourger
• Almachius or Telemachus, martyr
• Euphrosyne, virgin
• Eugendus or Oyend, abbot
• William of Saint Benignus, abbot
• Fulgentius, bishop
• Clarus, abbot
• Peter of Atroa, abbot
• Odilo, abbot
• Franchea, virgin
• Guiseppe Maria Tomasi

In 1981 A.D., St. John Paul II invited bishops from around the world to meet in Rome to commemorate the 1,550 anniversary of the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. It was defined at the Council of Ephesus that Mary was truly the Mother of God. The Greek word used in this definition was Theotokos (God-Bearer).

What was the reason for this definition? Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople considered the role of Mary and concluded that Mary was not the Mother of God. According to him, Mary was merely "Christ-bearer" and not "God-bearer", since she had given birth to only a human being, Jesus. (Author's note: This is in relation to another heresy called Arianism, which was settled in the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.) St. Cyril of Jerusalem strongly protested that statement of Nestorius, and the stage was set for the confrontation at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D.

At Ephesus, in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the bishops of the Council listened to the debates between St. Cyril of Jerusalem and Nestorius, the patriarch of Constantinople. A throng of Christians were in front of that Church with flaming torches. Soon, in the twilight of day in June, the bishops emerged from the Council to announce their decision that Mary is truly Theotokos, the Mother of God.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem preached a homily to the bishops of the Council of Ephesus to express his joy at their decision:

I see here a joyful company of Christians, met together in ready response to the call of Mary...Holy and incomprehensible Trinity, we salute You at whose summons we have come together in this Church of Mary, Mother of God...Mother of God, we salute you, precious vessel, worthy of the world's reverence...the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held Him whom no place could contain...We salute you, for in your womb He, who is beyond all limitation, was confined...Because of you, the angels and archangels make merry..What more is there to say? Because of you the light of the only-begotten Son has shone upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

St. William of Saint Benignus (962-1031 A.D.) was born in the family's castle of his father, Count Robert. When William was 7 years old, he was given to the monks of the Benedictine abbey of Locadio. Then, in 987 A.D., he joined St. Majolus at Cluny. Upon his ordination in 990 A.D., he was named abbot of St. Benignus at Dijon. He built that abbey into a great center of spirituality, education and culture. It became the mother monastery of some forty monasteries in Burgundy, Lorraine, Normandy, and northern Italy. St. William traveled widely, spreading the reform of Cluny to other monasteries. He died at Fecamp Monastery in Normandy.

St. Odilo (962-1049 A.D.) was named abbot of Cluny in 994 A.D. During his abbacy, he increased substantially the number of abbeys dependent on Cluny. He was devoted to the Incarnation and the Blessed Virgin, inaugurated All Souls' Day with an annual commemoration of the departed faithful, and was known to have experienced spiritual ecstasies. He died at a priory at Souvigny while on a visitation of his monasteries. Learn more of St. Odilo and the Abbots of Cluny.

Learn more on Saints in the Roman Calendar for the Month of [January]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 1]

• Feast of Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
• The Feast of St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea