Commemoration of Saints (April 11)

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

• Stanislaus, bishop and martyr
• Barsanuphius, hermit and writer
• Isaac of Spoleto, hermit and abbot
• Godeberta, virgin
• Guthlac, hermit
• Gemma Galgani, virgin [1]

Commemorated this day, April 11, are 1 bishop and martyr, 3 hermits, and 2 virgins. Foremost among the Saints commemorated today is St. Stanislaus, whose feast is celebrated as an Obligatory Memorial. According to author McBrien of the book Lives of the Saints, when the former Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Cracow, was elected to the papacy in 1978 A.D., he thought about taking the name of Stanislaus for his papal name in honor of the Saint who was also bishop of Cracow. However, he decided to finally take the name John Paul II [3].

St. Stanislaus (ca. 1030-1079) was ordained a priest and became the bishop of Cracow in 1072 A.D. At first, he was in good terms with the king, King Boleslaus. However, the king resented Stanislaus' attacks on him for his personal behavior and in the way he treated his subjects. A conflict thus ensued between them. Stanislaus excommunicated the king and the king ordered the bishop killed. The king pursued Stanislaus who was said to have fled to a chapel from the Cracow cathedral. Together with his guards, the king entered the chapel and ordered his guards to kill Stanislaus. But the guards refused. So the king himself stepped in, struck St. Stanislaus with a sword and killed the bishop on April 11, 1709 A.D. St. Stanislaus' martyrdom is likened to the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket and St. John Nepomucen who also were both slain at the order of their kings [3][4].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [April 11]

• St. Antipas, Bishop-Martyr of Pergamus
• Pharmuthius [2]

Venerable Pharmuthius the Anchorite of Egypt lived in the 4th century A.D. in a desert monastery. He gave food to St. John who practiced an ascetical life and lived in a well. Not much is known of Pharmuthius save for providing food to St. John, who lived a more ascetical life [5].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [3] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
• [4] St. Stanislaus, Catholicnewsagency.com
• [5] Venerable Pharmuthius, Oca.org