Commemoration of Saints (March 11)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Constantine, martyr
• Sophronius, bishop
• Vindician, bishop
• Benedict Crispus, bishop
• Oengus, abbot and bishop
• Eulogius of Cordova, martyr
• Aurea, virgin
• Teresa Margaret Redi, virgin [1]

St. Oengus or Aengus (d. ca. 824 A.D.) was from a noble family in Ulster, Ireland. He entered a monastery in Leix and became one of the most learned men in Ireland in his time. His desire for solitude led him to retire to a cell a few miles from the monastery, but his asceticism and spiritual practices attracted so many visitors. He was thus forced to leave that cell.

After the Clonenagh monastery in Leix, Oengus entered the monastery of Tallaght without revealing his identity. He worked as a servant. When the abbot, Maelruain, learned of who he was, the abbot insisted that he assume a rightful place of honor because of his great learning. When Maelruain passed away in 787 A.D., St. Oengus returned to the monastery where he began - at Clonenagh in Leix. He became abbot and then was later consecrated as a bishop. He retired to Dysartbeagh, or Dysartenos, where he died on March 11.

St. Oengus or Aengus is often called "the Culdec or Culdee" (God's Vassal) for his writings. Of his writings, he is known for the Felire - a metrical hymn to the saints. It was also a register of saints and their feast days, written in the vernacular [2][3][4]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 11]

• Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem [2]

Today, March 11, St. Sophronius (d. ca. 638 A.D.), Patriarch of Jerusalem, Bishop, is commemorated in the Catholic Church and in the Byzantine Calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Before he became Patriarch of Jerusalem, he was a monk and a theologian.

He wrote much:

• composed a Florilegium ("Anthology") of some 600 texts from the Early Church Fathers
• an Encomium on the Alexandrian martyrs Cyrus and John in gratitude for the cure of his failing vision
• 23 Anacreontic (classical metre) poems
• the Life of St. Mary of Egypt

According to the Passion of the 60 Martyrs of Gaza, Sophronius was executed for baptising Muslim converts. This may have been after he was forced to flee Jerusalem (when the Saracens captured the city in 638 A.D.) and went to Alexandria where he may have died or executed [5][6].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [3] Dysartbeagh, Wikipedia.org
• [4] Oengus of Tallaght, Wikipedia.org
• [5] Sophronius of Jerusalem, Wikipedia.org
• [6] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney