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
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