Calendar of Saints - 13 September

13 September	• yesterday • tomorrow
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor

Daily Bread #28, by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp

Mary: The Perfect Woman, Rhythm XIV - The Circumcision

God found in [Joseph], a second David, to whom He could confidently entrust His plans, even the most hidden. He revealed to him, as to another David, the mysteries of His Wisdom and disclosed to him, what no teacher in the world, could know. - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint John Chrysostom

Also known as

• Greatest of the Greek Fathers
• Golden-Mouth
• Giovanni Crisostomo

Profile

John's father died when he was young, and he was raised by a very pious mother. Well educated; studied rhetoric under Libanius, one of the most famous orators of his day. Monk. Preacher and priest for a dozen years in Syria. While there he developed a stomach ailment that troubled him the rest of his life.

It was for his sermons that John earned the title Chrysostom = golden mouthed. They were always on point, they explained the Scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went on for hours. Made a reluctant bishop of Constantinople in 398, a move that involved him in imperial politics. He criticized the rich for not sharing their wealth, fought to reform the clergy, prevented the sale of ecclesiastical offices, called for fidelity in marriage, encouraged practices of justice and charity. Archbishop and Patriarch of Constantinople. Revised the Greek Liturgy. Because John's sermons advocated a change in their lives, some nobles and bishops worked to remove him from his diocese; he was twice exiled from his diocese. Banished to Pythius, he died on the road.

Greek Father of the Church. Proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 451.

Born

c.347 at Antioch, Asia Minor

Died

407 of natural causes

Name Meaning

• God is gracious; gift of God (John)
• golden-mouthed (Chrysostom)

Patronage

• epileptics; against epilepsy
• Constantinople; Istanbul, Turkey
• lecturers, preachers, speakers, orators (proclaimed on 8 July 1908 by Pope Pius X)

Representation

• bees
• dove
• pen

Video

• YouTube PlayList: About Saint John
• YouTube PlayList: Works by Saint John

Readings

God asks little, but He gives much. - Saint John Chrysostom

When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to his enemies...but to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, those who were pleasing to Him, and who have great power in God. - Saint John Chrysostom, Orations, 396

Let us relieve the poverty of those that beg of us and let us not be over-exact about it. - Saint John Chrysostom

It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life. - Saint John Chrysostom

What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips? - Saint John Chrysostom

When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration. - Saint John Chrysostom

If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give much less than He does when he bestows suffering. By miracles you would make yourself debtor to Him, while by suffering He may become debtor to you. And even if sufferings had no other reward than being able to bear something for that God who loves you, is not this a great reward and a sufficient remuneration? Whoever loves, understands what I say. - Saint John Chrysostom

It is clear through unlearned men that the cross was persuasive; in fact, it persuaded the whole world. Paul had this in mind when he said, "The weakness of God is stronger than men." That the preaching of these men was indeed divine is brought home to us in the same way. For how otherwise could twelve uneducated men, who lived on lakes and rivers and wastelands, get the idea for such an immense enterprise? How could men who perhaps had never been in a city or public square think of setting out to do battle with the whole world? That they were fearful, timid men, the evangelist makes clear; he did not reject the fact or try to hide their weaknesses. Indeed he turned these into a proof of the truth. What did he say of them? That when Christ was arrested, the others fled, despite all the miracles they had seen, while he who was leader of the others denied him! How then account for the fact that these men, who in Christ's lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once Christ was dead - if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their courage? It is evident, then, that if they had not seen him risen and had proof of his power, they would not have risked so much. - from a homily by Saint John Chrysostom on the first letter to the Corinthians

O envious one, you injure yourself more than he whom you would injure, and the sword with which you wound will recoil and wound yourself. What harm did Cain do to Abel? Contrary to his intention he did him the greatest good, for he caused him to pass to a better and a blessed life, and he himself was plunged into an abyss of woe. In what did Esau injure Jacob? Did not his envy prevent him from being enriched in the place in which he lived; and, losing the inheritance and the blessing of his father, did he not die a miserable death? What harm did the brothers of Joseph do to Joseph, whose envy went so far as to wish to shed his blood? Were they not driven to the last extremity, and well-nigh perishing with hunger, whilst their brother reigned all through Egypt? It is ever thus; the more you envy your brother, the greater good you confer upon him. God, who sees all, takes the cause of the innocent in hand, and, irritated by the injury you inflict, deigns to raise up him whom you wish to lower, and will punish you to the full extent of your crime. If God usually punishes those who rejoice at the misfortunes of their enemies, how much more will He punish those who, excited by envy, seek to do an injury to those who have never injured them? - Saint John Chrysostom

I beseech you, my brothers, to be ever on your guard against the habit of swearing and blaspheming. If a slave dare to pronounce the name of his master, he does it but seldom, and then only with respect; therefore is it not a shocking impiety to speak with contempt and irreverence of the name of the Master of angels and seraphim? People handle the book of the Gospel with a religious fear, and then only with clean hands, and yet your rash tongue would inconsiderately profane the name of the Divine Author of the Gospel. Would you wish to know with what respect, fear, and wonder the choirs of the angels pronounce the adorable name? Listen to the prophet Isaiah: "I saw," says Isaiah, "the Lord sitting upon a throne high and elevated; upon it stood the seraphim, who cried one to another and said, Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of His glory." See with what terror they are seized, even while they praise and glorify Him. As for you, my brethren, you know how cold and indifferent are the prayers you say, and you know how frequently you blaspheme a name so majestic, so sacred, and how you try to make excuses for the bad habit you have contracted. It is easy, yes, I say, it is easy, with a little care, attention, and reflection, to leave off this vicious habit. Since we have fallen, my brethren, into this sin of blasphemy, I conjure you, in the name of our Lord, to rebuke openly these blasphemers. When you meet with such who publicly sin in this respect, correct them by word of mouth, and, if necessary, by your strong arm. Let these shameless swearers be covered with confusion. You could not employ your hand to a holier work. And if you are given into custody, go boldly before the magistrate, and say in your defense that you have avenged a blasphemy. For if a person is punished for speaking contemptuously of a prince, is it not reasonable to suppose that a person who speaks irreverently of God should be sentenced to a severer punishment? It is a public crime, a common injury which all the world ought to condemn. Let the Jews and infidels see that our magistrates are Christians, and that they will not allow those to go unpunished who insult and outrage their Master. Do you remember that it was a false oath that overturned the houses, temples, and walls of Jerusalem, and from a superb city it became a mass of ruins? Neither the sacred vessels nor the sanctuary could stay the vengeance of a God justly angered against a violater of His word. Sedecias did not receive a more favored treatment than Jerusalem. Flight did not save him from his enemies. This prince, escaping secretly, was pursued and taken by the Assyrians, who led him to their king. The king, after asking him the reason of his perfidy, not only caused his children to be killed, but deprived him of his sight, and sent him back to Babylon, loaded with iron chains. Would you know the reason why? It was that the barbarians and Jews who inhabited the country adjoining Persia should know, by this terrible example, that the breach of an oath is punishable. - Saint John Chrysostom, from the Seventh Homily

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-chrysostom/

Blessed Gertrude Prosperi

Also known as

Sister Maria Luisa Angelica

Profile

Born to a wealthy, pious family, the daughter of Dominic and Maria Diomedi. Joined the Benedictines at the monastery of Sante Lucia di Trevi on 4 May 1820, taking the name Sister Maria Luisa Angelica. Served as nurse, sacristan, camerlenga and novice mistress. Elected abbess on 1 October 1837; she served for the rest of her life. Revived obsservance to the Rule of the Order. Devoted to Eucharistic adoration. Received a visions of Christ carrying his cross, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and of Jesus as a pilgrim.

Born

• 19 August 1799 in Fogliano di Cascia, Perugia, Italy
• baptized on the same day at the parish church of San Hippolytus in Fogliano di Cascia

Died

• 13 September 1847 in Trevi, Perugia, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the church of Santa Lucia in Trevi

Beatified

• 12 November 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI
• beatification recognition celebrated at the cathedral of Spoleto, Italy
• her beatification miracle involves the healing of a woman in Umbria, Italy of a brain-related illness

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-gertrude-prosperi/

Blessed María López de Rivas Martínez

Also known as

María of Jesus

Profile

Born wealthy, but she gave it all up. Her father died when Maria was four years old, and she was raised by her paternal grandparents. Well educated. Joined the Carmelites at Toledo, Spain at age 17 and lived 63 years as a Carmelite nun. Stigmatist. Prioress. In 1600 she was unjustly accused of an offense by one of her sisters; she removed as prioress and isolated for 20 years. Close friend of Saint Teresa of Avila; Teresa trusted her so much that Maria was a test reader for The Interior Castle.

Born

18 August 1560 in Tartanedo, Guadalajara, Spain

Died

13 September 1640 in Toledo, Spain

Beatified

14 November 1976 by Pope Paul VI

Readings

Sisters, it's a great crime not to have trust in God. He is omnipotent! - Blessed Maria

If you have to go on living, it is because you have to live for others. As for taking rest, eternity awaits you. - Blessed Maria

In suffering love and in loving, suffer! - Blessed Maria

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-maria-lopez-de-rivas-martinez/

Saint Amatus

Also known as

Aimé, Amad, Amat, Amé

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Born to the nobility. Entered the abbey of Saint Maurice of Agaune in Switzerland while still very young. Spent thirty years there as a schoolboy, Benedictine monk, and hermit. Accompanied Saint Eustace to Luxeuil Abbey in 614, and became a monk there. Brought the Merovingian nobleman Saint Romaric to the faith. Among his other charities, Romaric founded a Benedictine double monastery of Remiremont Abbey at Habendum in 620, and Amatus served as its first abbot.

Born

c.567 at Grenoble, France

Died

13 September 629 in Remiremont, Vosges, France of natural causes

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

Saint Aigulf

Profile

Benedictine monk at Fleury, France. He led a party of monks sent to retrieve the relics of Saint Bernard from the Lombards. Abbot at the monastery in Lerins, France c.670, taking over a house badly in need of reform. Aigulf worked to restore order and discipline to the house, and many of the brothers supported him, but some resisted, and following a riot by the they conspired to have Aigulf and four of his supporters kidnapped, taken to the island of Capri, Italy, blinded, tortured and murdered. Though not a martyr in the standard sense, he died due to his defense of monastic life.

Born

c.630 at Blois, France

Died

murdered c.676 on Capri, Italy

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

Blessed Claude Dumonet

Profile

Priest in the diocese of Autun, France. Imprisoned on a ship in the harbor of Rochefort, France and left to die during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the French Revolution. One of the Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort.

Born

2 February 1747 in Prissé, Saône-et-Loire, France

Died

13 September 1794 aboard the prison ship Washington, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France

Beatified

1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-claude-dumonet/

Saint Venerius of Tino

Saint Litorius of Tours

Profile

Bishop of Tours, Tertia Lugdunensis, Gaul (in modern France) who built the first church within the walls of the city.

Died

371 in Tours, Gaul (modern France)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-litorius-of-tours/

Blessed James Saul

Additional Memorial

20 June as one of the Irish Martyrs

Profile

Franciscan Friar Minor monk. Martyr.

Born

Irish

Died

13 September 1647 in Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland

Beatified

27 September 1992 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-james-saul/

Saint Maurilius of Angers

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Martin of Tours in France. Missionary. Bishop of Angers, France c.407.

Born

Milan, Italy

Died

c.430

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maurilius-of-angers/

Saint Amatus of Sion

Profile

Monk. Abbot at Agaunum, Switzerland. Bishop of Sion, Switzerland. Due to a false accusation, he was exiled from his see, first to Péronne, France, and then Breuil, France; in both places he lived as a model, prayerful monk.

Died

690 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-amatus-of-sion/

• 7th century
• relics are in Fécamp, France

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

Saint Macrobius

Profile

Martyed in the persecution of emperor Licinius.

Born

Cappadocia (in modern Turkey)

Died

c.321 in Tomis near the Black Sea (in modern Turkey)

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

Saint Philip of Rome

Profile

Father of Saint Eugenia of Rome. Saint Protus of Rome and Saint Hyacinth of Rome worked in his home.

Died

3rd century

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-philip-of-rome/

Saint Evantius of Autun

Also known as

Evancius, Evance

Profile

Bishop of Autun, France c.400.

Born

France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-evantius-of-autun/

Saint Columbinus of Lure

Profile

Monk. Spiritual student of Saint Deicola. Abbot of Lure in France.

Died

c.680

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-columbinus-of-lure/

Martyred with several unnamed companions.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gordian-of-pontus/

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War

Thousands of people were murdered in the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Spanish Civil War from 1934 to 1939. I have pages on each of them, but in most cases I have only found very minimal information. They are available on the CatholicSaints.Info site through these links:

• Blessed Bienvenido Villalón Acebrón
• Blessed Emilio Antequera Lupiáñez
• Blessed Florencio Arnáiz Cejudo
• Blessed Francisco Rodríguez Martínez
• Blessed Joaquín Gisbert Aguilera
• Blessed José Álvarez-Benavides de La Torre
• Blessed José Cano García
• Blessed José Román García González
• Blessed Juan Capel Segura
• Blessed Juan Ibáñez Martín
• Blessed Luis Eduardo López Gascón
• Blessed Manuel Alvarez y Alvarez
• Blessed Manuel Martínez Giménez
• Blessed Pío Navarro Moreno
• Blessed Ramiro Argüelles Hevia
• Blessed Sabino Ayastuy Errasti
• Blessed Teófilo Montes Calvo

Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Bernard the Pilgrim
• Marcellino of Carthage

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