Calendar of Saints

14 April	• yesterday • tomorrow

Saint Peter Gonzales

Also known as

Pedro, Pietro, Elm, Elmo, Erasmus, Telm, Telmo

Profile

Castilian nobility who mis-spent a worldly youth. Educated by his uncle, the bishop of Astorga, Spain. Priest, primarily as a step to high office. Obtained special papal dispensation to become Canon of Palencia when he was officially still too young. During a grand Christmas Day entrance into the city, his horse was spooked by the noise of the crowds. It threw him in all his finery onto a dung-heap, much to the delight of the citizens who knew his was a political, not a spiritual appointment.

Dazed, filthy, humiliated, and with the undeniable understanding that his parishioners thought he was a hack, he withdrew from the world for a period of prayer and meditation. It worked. He had a true conversion experience and spent the rest of his life making up for his lost youth and the mockery he made of his position. Joined the Dominicans. Family and friends tried to draw him back to his old life and their planned pursuit of position, but he responded, "If you love me, follow me! If you cannot follow me, forget me!"

Confessor and court chaplain to King Saint Ferdinand III of Castile. Against the opposition of more worldly courtiers, he reformed court life around the king. Worked for the Crusade against the Moors, accompanied Ferdinand into the battlefields, and then worked for humane treatment of Moorish prisoners.

A favourite of the king, Peter feared the honours and easy life would lead him to a return to his previous ways, so he left the court and evangelized to shepherds in the hills, along the waterfronts, and among Spanish and Portugese sailors who still venerate him and consider him their special patron, blending his story with that of Saint Elmo, and calling upon him for protection in the face of bad weather.

Legend says that when he lacked food for those in his charge, he would kneel and pray by a river; fish would leap onto the banks.

Born

1190 at Astorga, Spain

Died

• 15 April 1246 at Saintiago de Compostela, Tui, Spain
• buried in the cathedral at Tuy, Spain

Canonized

13 December 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV (cultus confirmed)

Patronage

• boatmen, mariners, sailors, watermen
• fisherman
• Tui, Spain
• Tui-Vigo, Spain, diocese of

Prayers

Almighty God, you bestowed the singular help of Blessed Peter on those in peril from the sea. By the help of his prayers may the light of your grace shine forth in all the storms of this life and enable us to find the harbor of everlasting salvation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

Representation

• Dominican holding a blue candle or a candle with a blue flame
• Dominican lying on his cloak which is spread over hot coals
• Dominican holding fire in his bare hands
• Dominican catching fish with his bare hands
• Dominican beside the ocean, often holding or otherwise protecting a ship
• Dominican with a boat
• Dominican with an anchor
• Dominican with a torch
• Dominican with a book

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-peter-gonzales/

Blessed Lucien Botovasoa

Profile

Eldest of nine children, Lucien was baptized at age 10 in 1918, and made his First Communion at 14 in 1922. From 1922 to 1927, he studied at the Jesuit Saint Joseph College, and became a school teacher, dedicated to both religious and secular education of children; at the end of each class, he would read about the lives of the saints to the students who wanted to stay and listen. On 10 October 1930, in the diocese of Farafangana, Madagascar, he was married to Suzanna Soazana; they were the parents of five, including the child she was carrying when he died.

Lucien joined the Crusaders of the Heart of Jesus on 18 August 1935, and served as its treasurer from 1936 to 1947. He leaned to speak Chinese, German and French, had a fine singing voice, was a musician and director of his parish choir. He was a pious man so drawn to religious life that he searched for material on saints who were married in order to learn to combine the two ways of life; his wife was afraid for a while that he was going to leave her for the monastery. He joined the Secular Franciscans in 1940 and found his spiritual home. He was enthusiastic about spreading devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and the spiritual benefits of being a Franciscan, often fasted, and wore a khaki shirt and tan trousers instead of the traditional black ones of a teacher; the colour he chose was traditional for tertiaries.

In 1947 some of the local people wanted him to run for political office, but Lucien declined saying that he knew nothing of politics and did not want to be part of it. In the spring of 1947 a persecution of Christians broke out in his region with priests and nuns at first being imprisoned, and then Christians killed at random and in groups for their faith. On the afternoon of 14 April 1947 he learned that the anti–Christian forces would be coming for him; he refused to run and instead spent the rest of the day with his wife and children. He was arrested that night, judged and condemned by the local chief, and executed; his guards and executioner were men he had taught when they were school boys. Martyr.

Born

1908 in Vohipeno, Madagascar

Died

• beheaded with a sword between 10pm and midnight on 14 April 1947 on the banks of the Mattanana River near Ambohimanarivo, Manakara, Madagascar
• he was wearing his tertiary "uniform" – khaki shirt and trousers with a black cord for a belt
• his body was tossed into the river

Beatified

• 10 April 2018 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebtrated in Vohipeno, Madagascar, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lucien-botovasoa/

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam

Also known as

Liduina, Lidwid, Lidwina, Lijdwine, Ludivine, Lydwid, Lydwine

Profile

Her father was a poor noble, and her mother a poor commoner. Lydwina early evinced a devotion of Our Lady of Schiedam. Injured in an ice-skating accident at age 16, the broken rib caused gangrene to set in, and Lydwina became paralyzed and suffered for decades. She spent her time praying, meditating, and offering her pain to God.

She developed a devotion to the Eucharist. Given to ecstatic visions in which she was shown Heaven and Purgatory, participated in Christ's Passion, and was visited by saints. Legend says that she had the gift of inedia, and that her only food for her last 19 years was the Eucharist. Miracles occurred at her bed side. Sometimes accused of being possessed, she was tested by priests. Blind her last seven years. Her final vision was of Christ administering last rites to her. Biography written by Thomas a Kempis.

Born

18 April 1380 at Schiedam, Netherlands

Died

14 April (Easter) 1433 at Schiedam, Netherlands of natural causes

Canonized

14 March 1890 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmed)

Patronage

• against sickness
• against bodily ills
• ice skating
• prolonged suffering
• roller skating
• sick people
• skaters
• skating
• Schiedam, Netherlands

Representation

• crippled woman holding a crucifix
• crippled woman receiving a branch of roses from an angel
• crippled woman receiving a lily from the angel
• crippled woman with a cross and rosary
• girl falling on ice while skating
• girl working on embroidery

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lydwina-of-schiedam/

Saint Benezet the Bridge Builder

Also known as

• Benezet of Hermillon
• Benedict, Bennet, Benet, Benoit

Profile

Shepherd. During an eclipse he received a vision telling him to build a bridge over the Rhone at Avignon; angels would watch his flocks while he was gone. When the church and civil officials refused to help him, he lifted a huge stone into place, and announced it would be the start of the foundation; eighteen miracles occurred, the officials recanted, and the bridge was built. Legendary founder of the bridge-building brotherhoods.

Born

c.1163 at Hermillon, Savoy, France

Died

• 1184
• body found incorrupt in 1669

Patronage

• Avignon, France
• bachelors
• bridge builders

Representation

boy carrying a large stone on his shoulder

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

Saint Valerian of Trastevere

Profile

Brother of Saint Tiburtius; married to Saint Cecilia. Convert to Christianity. Ministered to Christians imprisoned for their faith. Arrested and tortured for their ministry. Offered his freedom if he would sacrifice to pagan idols; he declined. Martyr.

Born

177 in Rome, Italy

Died

• beaten to death in 229 Rome, Italy
• legend says that a violent storm broke out as they died, leading to the patronage against storms

Patronage

against storms

Representation

• with an angel, whips and torture instruments
• with Saint Cecilia
• with a wedding ring

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-valerian-14-april/

Saint Thomaides of Alexandria

Also known as

Thomais, Tomaide

Profile

Fifth century wife of a fisherman. Died fending off a rape attempt by her father-in-law, and is considered a martyr.

Born

Alexandria, Egypt

Died

• struck with a sword in 476 in Alexandria, Egypt
• buried in the cemetery of a local monastery
• relics later transferred to Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
• oil from the lamps at her shrine was used as a remedy against sexual temptations

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-thomaides-of-alexandria/

Saint Tiburtius of Rome

Profile

Brother of Saint Valerian. Convert to Christianity. Ministered to Christians imprisoned for their faith. Arrested and tortured for their ministry. Offered his freedom if he would sacrifice to pagan idols; he declined. Martyr.

Died

• beaten to death in 3rd century Rome, Italy
• legend says that a violent storm broke out as they died, leading to the patronage against storms

Representation

with an angel, whips and torture instruments

Patronage

against storms

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-tiburtius-14-april/

Saint Bernard of Tiron

Also known as

• Bernard of Ponthieu
• Bernard of Abbeville
• Bernhard...

Profile

Monk in the Poitou area of France. Hermit. Travelling preacher. Founded a Benedictine monastery in the Tiron Forest and served as its abbot. Monks from his house spread throughout the British Isles, spreading the faith and building monasteries.

Born

c.1047 in France

Died

1117

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-bernard-of-tiron/

Saint Eustace of Vilna

Also known as

Eustachius, Nizilon

Profile

Young nobleman and chamberlain at the court of Duke Olgierd. Originally a fire worshipper, he converted to Christianity. Martyred for refusing to eat meat on a day of abstinence.

Died

• crucified on a tree in 13 December 1342 at Vilna, Lithuania
• initially buried in Holy Trinity Russian-Greek Church at Vilna
• head translated to the cathedral of Vilna

Canonized

by Patriarch Alexius of Kiow

Patronage

Vilna, Lithuania

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eustace-of-vilna/

Saint John of Vilna

Also known as

Milhey

Profile

Young nobleman at the court of Duke Olgierd. Originally a fire worshipper, he converted to Christianity. Martyred for refusing to eat meat on a day of abstinence.

Died

• crucified on a tree in 13 December 1342 at Vilna, Lithuania
• initially buried in Holy Trinity Russian-Greek Church at Vilna
• head translated to the cathedral of Vilna

Canonized

by Patriarch Alexius of Kiow

Patronage

Vilna, Lithuania

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-of-vilna/

Saint Abundius the Sacristan

Also known as

Abonde

Profile

Sacristan of the Church of Saint Peter in Rome, Italy. His simple, humble, holy life was an inspiration to all who knew him. Saint Gregory the Great wrote a story of his life.

Died

• c.564 of natural causes
• interred in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-abundius-the-sacristan/

Saint John of Montemarano

Profile

Benedictine monk. First bishop of Montemarano, Italy in 1074.

Died

14 April 1095 of natural causes

Canonized

1906 by Pope Pius X

Patronage

Montemarano, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-of-montemarano/

Blessed Hadewych

Also known as

Hadewig, Hedwig

Profile

Daughter of Blessed Hildegundis; sister of Blessed Herman Joseph. Premonstratensian nun. With her mother she founded a convent Mehre, Rhenish Prussia (in modern Germany). Prioress of the convent in 1183.

Born

c.1150

Died

c.1200 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-hadewych/

Saint Ardalion the Actor

Profile

An actor who specialized in mocking Christianity, and who was very popular with pagan audiences. One day during a performance in Asia Minor he suddenly announced that he had converted and was now a Christian. Martyr.

Died

burned alive in 300 in Asia Minor

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ardalion-the-actor/

Saint Antony of Vilna

Also known as

Antona

Profile

Official at the court of the grand Duke of Lithuania. Martyred with Saint John of Vilna and Saint Eustace of Vilna for refusing to eat meat on a day of abstinence

Died

crucified in 1342

Patronage

Vilna, Lithuania

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-antony-of-vilna/

Saint Lambert of Lyon

Profile

Raised in the court of Clotaire III. Benedictine monk at Fontenelle Abbey. Worked with Saint Wandrille. Abbot of Fontenelle in 666. Bishop of Lyon, France in 678.