Calendar of Saints

11 March	• yesterday • tomorrow

Daily Bread #75, by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp

Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline - The Principle of Self-Discipline, by Father Basil William Maturin

These persons, I say, make their first attack against the beasts that they have noticed are stronger and fiercer, and when these have been killed they more easily destroy the ones that are left, which are less terrible and less aggressive. Likewise, it is always the case that when the more powerful vices have been overthrown and are succeeded by weaker ones we shall obtain a perfect victory without any hardship. - Saint John Cassian

Saint Constantine II

Also known as

• Constantine of Strathclyde
• Constantine of Britannia
• Constantine of Cornwall
• Constantine III
• Constantin, Constantinus, Costantino, Costentyn, Custennin

Profile

Born a Scottish prince, the son of King Kenneth II of Strathclyde, Constantine led a life of vice until his conversion, possibly after hearing the evangelizing preaching of Saint Columba and Saint Kentigern.

Married, and the father of at least one son, and briefly king of Stathclyde. Widowed, he abdicated his position, founded a monastery at Govan on the river Clyde, became a monk there, and evangelized the region. Priest. Abbot of a monastery in Govan, Scotland. Martyr.

Older martyrologies have entries for Constantines of Strathclyde, of Cornwall, and of Rahan, Ireland; they run the details of their lives together, and they could have been one, two or three people.

Died

• bled to death in 874 in a cave near Crail after his right arm was cut off by Danish pirates
• considered a martyr in Scotland for defending his Christian land against pagan invaders

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-constantine-ii/

Saint Alexius U Se-Yong

Also known as

• Alejo U Se-yong
• Alessio U Se-yong
• Alleksio
• U Se-Yeong

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

Young layman, born to the wealthy nobility in the apostolic vicariate of Korea. Having become interested in Christianity, he met with Saint Siméon-François Berneux, and Saint Marcus Chong Ui-Bae served as his catechist. Convert. His family was strongly opposed to Christianity, and Alexius left home to work with missionaries, translating the Catechism and other texts to Korean.

During one of the repeated persecutions, all Christians in his village were arrested. Alexius gave in to his fears and denied the faith, and was released. He then repented and went to prison to confess his failure to his bishop. He was then arrested, imprisoned with the others, tortured, and finally executed for his faith. Martyr.

Born

1845 in Seoheung, Hwanghae-do, North Korea

Died

11 March 1866 at the Small West Gate, Seoul, South Korea

Canonized

6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexius-u-se-yong/

Blessed Frano Gjini

Profile

Ordained a priest in the diocese of Shkodrë, Albania on 28 June 1908. Vicar-general of the archdiocese of Durrës, Albania in 1918. Parish priest in Durrës, Derven of Fushë Krujë, Kurbin and Perlat of Kthella, Albania at different times. Chosen abbot of the Abbey Nullius of Saint Lelezhdri of Orosh in Mirdita on 29 June 1930. Consecrated titular bishop of Semta on 28 October 1930. Chosen apostolic delegate to Albania on 11 November 1945 after the previous delegate was not permitted back into the country. Chosen bishop of Lezhë, Albania on 4 January 1946. He was arrested by Communist authorities in Shkodrë on 15 November 1946 for continuing to work for the Church, sentenced to death on 8 January 1948 and executed. Martyr.

Born

20 February 1886 in Shkodër, Albania

Died

shot on 11 March 1948 in Shkodër, Albania

Beatified

• 5 November 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-frano-gjini/

Blessed Dedë Nikaj

Also known as

• Brother Ciprian
• Ciprian Nika
• Dedë Nikacj

Profile

Orphaned at age five, he was educated by the Franciscans. Studied in Shkodër, Albania, then Lankowitz and Graz in Austria, then in Rome, Italy. Ordained a priest in Rome on 25 July 1924. Taught at a Franciscan seminary from 1929 to 1932. Novice master from 1932 to 1938. Franciscan provincial master from 1938 to 1941. Director of the Franciscan seminary from 1941 to 1944. Franciscan Guardian of Gjuhadol in 1944. On 15 November 1946 the Communist authorities arrested him on a charge of concealing weapons behind a church altar. He was imprisoned, tortured, sentenced to death, and finally executed. Martyr.

Born

19 July 1900 in Shkodër, Albania

Died

shot on 11 March 1948 in Shkodër, Albania

Beatified

• 5 November 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-dede-nikaj/

Saint Aengus the Culdee

Also known as

• Aengus of Clonenagh
• Aengus of Tallaght
• Aengus Cúldeo
• Angus, Dengus, Oengo, Oengus, Ceile De

Profile

Hermit or culdee near the River Nore in Ireland where he was known to commune with angels. Hermit near Maryborough. Monk at Clonenagh in Ireland. His reputation for holiness attracted so many would-be students that he retired to be a lay brother at the monastery of Tallaght near Dublin, Ireland under the abbacy of Saint Maelruan. With Maelruan he wrote the Martyrology of Tallaght, a catalog of Irish saints, in 790. Wrote Felire, a poetic version of the martyrology. These works complete, he resumed life as a hermit and then a bishop.

Born

near Clonenagh, Ireland

Died

• 11 March 824 of natural causes
• buried in Clonenagh, Ireland

Works

• Félire Óengusso
• Martyrology of Tallaght

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aengus-the-culdee/

Saint Marcus Chong Ui-Bae

Also known as

• Jeong Eui-Bae
• Mareuko

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

Raised in a pagan family, he became a teacher. He married but was a widower with no children. He became interested in Christianity when he saw the calm with which two priests met their martyrdom. He began studying, read himself into the faith, and converted. He served as a catechist; among others, he helped bring Saint Alexius U Se-Yong to the faith; and spent his free time caring for orphans and visiting the sick. During one of the periodic persecutions of Christians, he was given a chance to leave the country, but stayed to help those who could not leave. He was seized, insulted, abused and beaten by his neighbors and his own family members for his faith, then turned over to government officials for execution. Martyr.

Born

1795 in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Died

11 March 1866 at the Small West Gate, Seoul, South Korea

Canonized

6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marcus-chong-ui-bae/

Saint Eulogius of Cordoba

Profile

Son of a senatorial family from Cordoba, Spain. Well educated. Priest. Head of an ecclesiastical school. Worked to comfort and support Christian martyrs and their survivors during Islamic persecutions in Moorish occupied Spain. Arrested several times for his faith, he wrote Exhortation to Martyrdom during one of his imprisonments. Appointed to succeed the Archbishop of Toledo, Spain, but was never consecrated. Imprisoned after he gave shelter to Saint Leocritia of Cordoba, he preached the Gospel in court, then in front of the king's counsel. Martyr.

Died

• scourged and beheaded 11 March 859 at Cordoba, Spain
• some relics translated to Paris, France in the early 860's

Patronage

• carpenters
• coppersmiths

Writings

• Apologia
• Exhortation to Martyrdom
• Memorial of the Saints

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eulogius-of-cordoba/

Blessed John Kearney

Saint Pionius of Smyrna

Also known as

Pione, Pionio, Pionios

Profile

Priest. Noted scholar and preacher. During the persecutions of Decius, Pionius and fifteen followers, hearing they were about to be arrested, spent the night of 22-23 February 250 in prayer; they were arrested in the morning at the end of Mass. They had put on their own chains and shackles to make it obvious that they were prisoners, and not going to aposticize. Every time he was taken into public, the courts, or anywhere out of his cell, Pionius preached faith to the Christians, civility to the pagans. Racked and torn with hooks to make him sacrifice to pagan gods; he refused. Martyr.

Born

at Smyrna, Turkey

Died

nailed to a stake and burned alive on 12 March 250

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pionius/

Saint Vindician of Cambrai

Also known as

Vidicianus, Vindiciano, Vindicien

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Eligius. Bishop of Arras-Cambrai, France in 669. Promoted monasticism in his diocese. Protested against the excesses of the Merovingian kings, including Theirry III, and the powerful mayors of the palace. In his later years he retired to the Saint Vaast monastery in Arras, France.

Born

632 at Bullecourt, France

Died

• 712 at Brussels, Belgium of natural causes
• buried at Mont-Saint-Eloi
• relics translated to Cambrai in 1030
• relics moved to Douai and Arras, France at unknown dates
• relics returned to Mont-Saint-Eloi in 1453
• relics moved again in in 1598 and 1601
• relics finally interred in the cathedral at Arras

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vindician-of-cambrai/

Saint Euthymius of Sardis

Also known as

Euthymios, Eutimio

Additional Memorial

26 December (Greek menology)

Profile

Studied in Alexandria, Egypt. Monk. Priest. Bishop of Sardis, Lydia (in modern Turkey) in 787. He fought iconoclasm, and condemned it at the Seventh Ecumenical Council in Nicea. For this opposition, and other conflicts with Emperor Nicephorus, Euthymmius was exiled three times. Over the next 29 years he was occasionally recalled and offered a chance to return if he would accept the iconoclast heresy; he always declined. Martyred in the iconoclast persecutions of Emperor Theophilus.

Born

mid-8th century

Died

scourged to death c.840

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-euthymius-of-sardis/

Saint Áurea of San Millán

Also known as

Oria

Profile

Daughter of Saint Amunia of San Millán, she grew up a Christian child in a village invaded by Moors. She was devoted to Saint Agatha, Saint Eulalia of Merida, and Saint Cecilia. Benedictine nun and hermit at San Millán de la Cogolla, La Rioja, Spanish Navarre. Received a vision from Agatha, Saint Eulalia of Merida, and Saint Cecilia in which they supported her vocation. Spiritual student of Saint Dominic of Silos. Miracle worker.

Born

c.1042 at Villavelayo, Spain

Died

1069 at San Millán de la Cogolla, La Rioja, Spanish Navarre of natural causes

Patronage

Villavelayo, Spain

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aurea-of-san-millan/

Saint Ðaminh Cam

Also known as

Domenic Cam

Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam

Profile

Priest in the apostolic vicariate of Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Member of the Fraternity of Dominican Priests. Worked in secret for years during the persecutions of emperor Tu-Duc, ministering to covert Catholics before he was captured. Imprisoned for years, repeatedly tortured and finally executed. Martyr.

Born

Cam Chuong, Bac Ninh, VietnamDied

beheaded on 11 March 1859 in Hung Yên, Vietnam

Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-daminh-cam/

Blessed Thomas Atkinson

Additional Memorials

• 22 November as one of the 85 Martyrs of England, Scotland and Wales
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai

Profile

Studied and was ordained at Rheims, France. Returned to England in 1588 to minister to covert Catholics. He travelled by night, hid by day, and served his flock for decades. Betrayed to the authorities, he was arrested along with the family who was hiding him. Martyred for the crime of priesthood.

Born

Menthorpe, North Yorkshire, England

Died

hanged, drawn, and quartered on 11 March 1616 at York, England

Beatified

22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-thomas-atkinson/

Saint Vincent of Léon

Additional Memorial

11 September (Benedictines)

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot of the monastery of Saint Claudius, Léon, Spain. Martyred by Arian Visigoths.

Born

Spanish

Died

• beheaded on 11 March 630
• buried in the church at the Saint Claudius monastery of Léon, Spain
• relics transferred to the cathedral of Oviedo, Spain

Patronage

Cercemaggiore, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vincent-of-leon/

Saint Benedict Crispus of Milan

Also known as

Benedetto

Profile

Archbishop of Milan, Italy from 681 until his death 45 years later. Wrote the epitaph for King Caedwalla of Wessex.

Died

• 725 of natural causes
• interred in the basilica of Saint Ambrose in Milan, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-benedict-crispus-of-milan/

Blessed Balbina the Younger

Also known as

Balbina of Assisi

Profile

Granddaughter of Saint Clare of Assisi. Balbina joined the Poor Clares at the monastery of San Damiano. Helped found the Poor Clare monastery in Arezzo, Italy. Known for a life of Christian virtues and supernatural gifts.