Memorial of Saints (February 1)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Pionius, martyr
• Brigid or Bride of Kildare, virgin and abbess
• Sigebert III of Austrasia
• John of the Grating, bishop
• Henry Morse, priest and martyr

St. Brigid of Kildare (ca. 450-525 A.D.) was born near Kildare and was said to have been baptized by St. Patrick himself. She established a monastery at Kildare which became a double monastery (one for men and one for women) that help spread the Christian faith throughout Ireland. This monastery developed into a great centre of learning and spirituality, and around it grew the cathedral city of Kildare. However, the original monastery was destroyed in the 12th century A.D. It is uncertain whether there were efforts to rebuild it because in the 16th century A.D., all monasteries were suppressed in Ireland. But now St. Brigid’s Cathedral, rebuilt in the 19th century, stands on the original site of the nunnery or double monastery founded by St. Brigid in the 5th century. Learn more from Intokildare.ie

The Dictionary of the Saints tells us that St. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times. Stories of the miracles which she performed grew in incredibility because each hagiographical account of those miracles tended towards more and more of expressions of piety.

St. Brigid of Kildare is called "Mary of the Gael". She is buried at Downpatrick with St. Columba and St. Patrick. She is honoured as well in parts of Scotland, Wales, and Australia, and made patron of scholars and dairy workers. Along with St. Patrick, she is a patron of Ireland.

St. Henry Morse (1595-1645 A.D.) was born at Suffolk, England, and was raised as a Protestant. He studied at Cambridge and in 1614 A.D. became a Catholic at Douai, northern France.

Henry returned to England to settle an inheritance, but he was arrested and imprisoned for four years in Southwark for his Catholic faith. He was released in 1618 A.D. and decided to return to Douai to study for the priesthood. It was in Rome where he continued his studies and where he was also ordained in 1623 A.D.

Henry Morse was then sent for the English mission the following year and was immediately arrested and imprisoned. While in prison, he became a Jesuit. Three years after, he was exiled to Flanders, where he served as chaplain to English soldiers in the army of King Philip of Spain. After a series of trips, to and fro, from England and back again, he was captured and brought to trial. Convicted of being a Catholic priest, St. Henry Morse was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on February 1.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 1]

• St. Tryphon, Martyr

St. Tryphon or Trypho (3rd century A.D.) was from Lampsakos, in Phrygia (now an area in west-central part of Anatolia, Asian Turkey, near the Sangarios River). He herded geese as a boy. This work, however, did not deprive him of his spiritual growth in the Christian faith. His spiritual knowledge of Christ increased and as a young man he was able to perform miracles, such as casting out an evil spirit that tormented the daughter of the Emperor Gordian. He suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Decius. Known very much in the Greek Church, he is the patron saint of gardeners and farmers. Learn more from Stsophiadc.org