Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love

Monday, March 03, 2025

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Commemoration of Saints (March 3)

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

Marinus and Astyrius, martyrs
Chelidonius and Emeterius, martyrs
Arthelais, virgin
Non
Winwaloe, abbot
Anselm of Nonantola, abbot
Cunegund, widow
Gervinus, abbot
Aelred of Rievaulx, abbot
Teresa Eustochio Verzeri
Katharine Drexel, foundress

St. Cunegund (978-1033 A.D.) was the empress of Germany who entered the Benedictine nuns after her husband's death [1] in 1024 A.D. Traditional stories tell that early in her married life to Henry II, the slander of some of those at the court of the Emperor caused him to question Cunegund's constancy. St. Cunegund was able to dispel with virtue all the innuendos hurled against her and emerged unscathed from the ordeal [2].

St. Cunegund devoted her last years to prayer and care of the sick. She is a patron saint of Lithuania, Poland, and Luxembourg [1].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 3]

St. Eutropias and his bodyguards, Sts. Cleonicus and Basilicus, Martyrs

Sts. Eutropias (or Eutropius), Cleonicus and Basilicus were holy martyrs from the city of Amasea, Asia Minor, in ca. 308 A.D. Eutropius and Cleonicus were brothers while Basilicus was the nephew of the great Martyr Theodore the Recruit. After the martyrdom of Theodore, the three comrades ended up in prison. They converted many of the pagans in prison to the Christian faith.

The holy martyrs persevered in their faith despite the pressure to offer public worship and sacrifice to pagan gods. On March 3, Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified. Basilicus, who was left in prison, was then led to his execution in Komana. The executioners beheaded him and threw his body into a river. His fellow Christians found his body and buried it in a ploughed field [3].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

[1] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
[2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
[3] Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, and Basiliscus of Amasea, Oca.org

Sunday, March 02, 2025

Commemoration of Saints (March 2)

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

Chad of Lichfield, abbot and bishop

St. Chad of Lichfield (d. ca. 672 A.D.) became abbot of Lastingham upon the death of his brother. He was consecrated bishop of the Northumbrians by a bishop and two other coconsecrators who were considered simoniacal [1]. Theodore, the archbishop of Canterbury, refused to recognize Chad's consecration. St. Chad yielded to Archbishop Theodore's judgment, saying:

"If you consider that I have not been properly ordained, I gladly resign. I never thought myself worthy of the office and agreed to undertake it, though unworthy, only under obedience."

St. Chad then retired to his abbacy at Lastingham.

Impressed by Chad's humility, Archbishop Theodore had Chad reconsecrated for Lichfield. Chad then built a small place where he could pray and read with seven or eight other monks; he also built a monastery in his diocese.

Chad died in 672 A.D. Venerated as a saint after his death from a plague, his relics were later transferred to the Church of St. Peter on the site presently occupied by Lichfield Cathedral. Miracles were reported from his relics in the shrine. [2]

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 2]

St. Theodotus, Priest-Martyr

St. Theodotus (d. ca. 304 A.D.) was raised by a Christian woman named Thecusa and when of age, became an innkeeper at Ancrya, Galatia. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian he helped imprisoned Christians. Thecusa and six other Christian women were arrested and paraded naked in an open chariot because they refused to wear the robes of pagan priestesses and join a pagan festival. When they continually refused they were sentenced to death by drowning. Theodotus recovered their bodies for a proper Christian burial but he was betrayed by an apostate. He was sentenced to death, tortured and beheaded. Fronto, the local priest, came to the city, recovered Theodotus' lifeless body, and sent it to the town of Malus, where a chapel was built to enshrine it. [3]