Calendar of Saints

16 June	• yesterday • tomorrow

Saint Benno of Meissen

Also known as

Benedict

Profile

Born to the Saxon nobility, the son of Blessed Bezela of Goda; as an adult he was heavily involved in the power politics of his day. Educated in the abbey of Saint Michael, Hildesheim, Germany. Priest. Canon at the imperial chapel at Gozlar, Hanover. Chaplain to Emperor Henry III. Bishop of Meissen in 1066. Participated in the synod of Forcheim, Germany in 1078.

He spent a year in prison for backing the nobility and Pope Saint Gregory VII against Emperor Henry IV over lay investiture and the control of the Church by the State. At one point he was summoned to Rome, Italy; he ordered the canons to lock the cathedral while he was gone in case emperor Henry tried to occupy it. Henry did, and threw the keys of the cathedral into the river as a symbol to show no one could lock the church against him. When Benno returned, he went to the river and found the key; legend says it was protected by a fish.

Following the death of Pope Gregory VII, Benno pledged his allegiance to the anti-pope Guibert, but in 1097 he returned to support of the lawful Pope Urban II.

Even with all the polical involvement and turmoil, Benno never lost sight of his calling as a diocesan bishop. He visited parishes, preached and conducted Mass, enforced discipline among his clergy, and fought simony any place he found it. He was an accomplished musician, supported music and chant in the churches and monasteries, and wrote on the Gospels. In his later years he served a missionary to the Wends.

Benno continued to be an involved and controversial figure in politics even after his death. His biographer, Jerome Emser, worked a lot of Church versus State material into the book. Martin Luther wrote a furious diatriabe against Benno's canonization.

Born

1010 at Hildesheim, Germany

Died

• 16 June 1106 of natural causes
• buried in the cathedral of Meissen, Germany
• when the cathedral was rebuilt in 1285, his relics were translated to the new structure, with many miraculous cures accompanying the move
• relics translated to the bishop's castle at Stolp when Saxony became Protestant
• relics translated to Munich, Germany in 1580

Canonized

1523 by Pope Adrian VI

Patronage

• anglers, fishermen
• weavers
• diocese of Dresden-Meissen, Germany
• Munich, Germany

Representation

• bishop holding a fish with keys in its mouth
• bishop with a book on which lays a fish and two keys
• fish
• key

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-benno-of-meissen/

Saint Lutgardis

Also known as

• Lutgardis of the Sacred Heart
• Lutgardis of Tongres
• Lutgardis of Aywieres
• Ludgard, Ludgardis, Luitgard, Lutgard, Lutgarde, Lutgart, Luthgard, Lutgarda

Profile

A pretty girl with a fondness for clothes and no apparent religious vocation, Lutgardis was sent to the Black Benedictine convent near Saint Trond at age 12 because her dowry had been lost in a failed business venture, and there was thus little chance for a life as a normal, married lay woman. In her late teens Lutgardis received a vision of Christ showing her His wounds, and in 1194 at age 20 she became a Benedictine nun with a true vocation. She had visions of Christ while in prayer, experienced ecstacies, levitated, and dripped blood from forehead and hair when enraptured by the Passion. Chosen as prioress of her community in 1205, she repeatedly refused to be abbess.

The Benedictine order was not strict enough for Lutgardis, and on the advice of her friend Saint Christina the Astonishing, in 1208 she joined the Cistercians at Aywieres (near Brussels in modern Belgium) where she lived for her remaining 30 years. She displayed the gifts of healing, prophecy, spiritual wisdom, and was an inspired teacher on the Gospels. Blind for the last eleven years of her life, she treated the affliction as a gift - it reduced the distraction of the outside world. In one of her last visions, Christ told her when she was to die; she spent the time remaining in prayer for the conversion of sinners.

Born

1182 at Tongres, Limburg, Belgium

Died

• 16 June 1246 at Aywieres (modern Awirs), Belgium of natural causes, just as night office began on the Saturday night following Feast of the Holy Trinity
• relics transferred to Ittre, Belgium on 4 December 1796 to avoid destruction in the French Revolution

Patronage

• birth, childbirth
• blind people, againts blindness
• disabled, handicapped of physically challenged people
• Belgium
• Flanders, Belgium

Representation

• woman with Christ showing her His wounded side
• blind Cistercian abbess
• Cistercian nun being blinded by the Heart of Jesus
• Cistercian to whom Christ extends his hand from the cross
• woman in attendance when Christ shows his Heart to the Father

Video

YouTube PlayList

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

Saint Cyriacus of Iconium

Also known as

Cyr, Cyricus, Quiriac, Quiricus

Profile

Son of Saint Julitta. When Cyriacus was a small child, his mother was sentenced to death at Tarsus during the persecutions of Diocletian. Cyriacus made a childish attack on Alexander, the sentencing magistrate, and announced that he was a Christian like his mother. The angry magistrate threw the child to the ground, smashing his skull and killing him instantly.

Some scholars claim that the entire story is fiction, and there is no question that earlier writers hugely embellished this popular and frequently retold story.

Blessed Charlemagne dreamed he was saved from death by a wild boar during a hunt by the appearance of a child who promised to save if Charlemagne would clothe him. The bishop of Nevers explained that the child was Cyriacus, and that he wanted the emperor to repair the roof of Saint Cyr's cathedral. This led to the Cyriacus' representation as a naked child riding a wild boar.

Born

c.301

Died

• c.304 at Tarsus by having his skull crushed
• relics enshrined at Nevers, France, and in the monastery of Saint-Amand in Tournai, France

Patronage

• against death of children
• torture victims

Representation

• child being thrown to the ground or down a set of steps by a judge
• child thrown to the ground with a fountain springing from his blood
• holding Saint Julitta by the hand
• naked child sitting a wild boar

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyriacus-of-iconium/

Martyrs of Làng Cóc

Profile

A group of five Christian laymen, four farmers and a doctor, from the same village in the apostolic vicariate of Central Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). During the persecutions of emperor Tu Duc, they were each ordered to stomp on a cross to show their contempt for Christianity; they each refused. Imprisoned, tortured and martyred.

• Anrê Tuong
• Ðaminh Nguyen
• Ðaminh Nguyen Ðuc Mao
• Ðaminh Nhi
• Vinh Son Tuong

Born

in Ngoc Cuc, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam

Died

beheaded on 16 June 1862 in Làng Cóc, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam

Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-lang-coc/

Saint Julitta of Iconium

Also known as

Juliot

Profile

Mother of Saint Cyriacus of Iconium. Widow. Moved from Iconium to Isauria to avoid persecution as a Christian. Tortured and martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian. Legend says that from the site of her burial there erupted a miraculous spring of water that cured the sick and improved the health of those who immersed in it.

Some scholars claim that the entire story is fiction, and there is no question that earlier writers hugely embellished this popular and frequently retold story.

Died

• c.304
• sources describe several methods, all horridly painful

Patronage

• against death of children
• single laywomen
• torture victims
• widows

Representation

• burned at the stake
• holding a cross and palm
• holding Saint Cyricus by the hand
• martyred, with a fountain springing from her blood
• standing near oxen

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julitta-of-iconium/

Blessed Donizetti Tavares de Lima

Profile

One of nine boys born to Tristão and Francisca Cândida Tavares de Lima; his father was a lawyer, his mother a professor. Ordained a priest in the diocese of São João da Boa Vista, Brazil in 1908. Serving as a parish priest, he became known as a miracle worker and healer. In 1955, in obedience to his bishop, Father Donizetti limited himself to normal parish work and never spoke of miracles again.

Born

3 January 1882 in Cássia, Brazil

Died

at 11.15am on 16 June 1961 in at the parish hall in Tambaú, Brazil of natural causes

Beatified

• 23 November 2019 by Pope Francis
• the beatification recognition was celebrated at the Church of São José, Tambaú, Brazil with Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu as the chief celebrant

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-donizetti-tavares-de-lima/

Saint Aurelian of Arles

Also known as

Aurelian the Sinner

Profile

Bishop of Arles, Gaul (modern France) in 546. Founded a monastery and convent in Arles, and brought many relics to them including a piece of the True Cross. The Rule he gave each of the houses in his diocese stressed devotion to the saints and martyrs. Assisted at the Council of Orleans in 549. Referred to himself as Aurelian the Sinner. Papal vicar of Gaul under Pope Vigilius, from whom he received the pallium, one of the symbols of his high office.

Died

• 16 June 551 at Lyon, Gaul (modern France) of natural causes
• entombed at the chapel of Saint Nizier in Lyons

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aurelian-of-arles/

Saint Tycho of Amathus

Also known as

• Tycho of Amato
• Tycho of Amatante
• Tycho of Limassol
• Tychon, Ticon

Profile

Son of a poor baker. First bishop of Amathus (modern Limassol), Cyprus in the early 5th-century. Fought to rid Cyprus of its remaining pagan culture, idols and worship, particularly that related to Aphrodiate. Saint Joseph the Hymnographer composed an Office in his honour. Saint John the Merciful wrote a biography of him.

Died

c.425

Patronage

vine growers (legend says that revitalized a dead vineyard by planting and praying over a single dead leaf)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-tycho-of-amathus/

Blessed Antoine Auriel

Also known as

Constant

Profile

Priest and parochial vicar in the diocese of Cahors, 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

19 April 1764 in Fajolles, Lot, France

Died

16 June 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France

Beatified

1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-antoine-auriel/

Saint Ferrutio and Saint Ferreolus of Besançon

Profile

Brothers. Ferrutio was a priest, Ferreolus a deacon. They were sent by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons to evangelize the area of Besançon, France where they worked for 30 years. Martyrs.

Born

Asia Minor

Died

c.212 in the area of Besançon, France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ferreolus-of-besancon/
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ferrutio-of-besancon/

Martyrs of Africa

Profile

A group of five Christians martyred together. We know nothing else but the names – Cyriacus, Diogenes, Marcia, Mica, Valeria

Died

unknown location in Africa, date unknown

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-africa-16-june/

Saint Aureus of Mainz

Also known as

Aureo

Profile

Brother of Saint Justina of Mainz. Bishop of Mainz, Germany. When the Huns attacked Mainz, Aureus fled briefly into exile, but returned. While celebrating Mass in the cathedral, he, his sister and everyone else there were massacred during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Martyr.

Died

in the cathedral of Mainz, Germany while celebrating Mass

Representation

• bishop at the altar being murdered by Huns
• with Saint Justina of Mainz

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aureus-of-mainz/

Saint Palerio of Telese

Profile

Bishop of Telese, Italy. Saint Equizio of Telese served as his deacon.

Died

• buried in the church of San Palerio at an unknown point
• grave re-discovered following a vision in 1167
• relics re-discovered in 1712 when the old church was being demolished
• relics enshrined under the high altar of the church of Saint John the Baptist on 5 March 1713

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-palerio-of-telese/

Blessed Thomas Redyng

Also known as

Thomas Reding

Additional Memorial

4 May as one of the Carthusian Martyrs

Profile

Carthusian choir monk of the Charterhouse in London, England. Martyred for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church.

Died

starved to death on 16 June 1537 in Newgate Prison, London, England

Beatified

29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII

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

Saint Ismael of Menevia

Also known as

Osmail, Ysfael

Profile

Sixth century son of Budic, prince of Cornouaille, Brittany (in modern France), who was forced into exile at Dyfed, Wales. Budic later returned to Brittany, but his three sons preferred Wales where they all became holy men. Ismael was the spiritual student of Saint Teilo of Llandaff who ordained him bishop of Menevia, Wales. Several churches are dedicated in his honour in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, Wales.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ismael-of-menevia/

Saint Justina of Mainz

Profile

Sister of Saint Aureus of Mainz. When the Huns attacked Mainz, Justina fled briefly into exile, but returned. While celebrating Mass in the cathedral, Justina, her brother and everyone else there were massacred during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Martyr.

Died

martyred in the cathedral of Mainz, Germany while celebrating Mass

Representation

being murdered with Saint Aureus of Mainz

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-justina-of-mainz/

Saint Berthaldus

Also known as

Bertaud, Berthold

Profile

Hermit in the Ardennes region of France. Ordained by Saint Remigius of Rheims. The town of Chaumont grew up around his titular abbey and church in the archdiocese of Rheims, France. Indulgences for pilgrimages to Berhaldus' shrine were granted in 1451 and 1466.

Born

Ireland

Died

• c.540 of natural causes
• miracles reported at his death

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

Saint Similian of Nantes

Also known as

Sambin, Similiano

Profile

Bishop of Nantes, France. Saint Gregory of Tours testified to his holiness.

Died

310 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-similian-of-nantes/

Saint Graecina of Volterra

Also known as

Gracinea, Graeciniana

Profile

Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

• early 4th century
• relics discovered in the Camaldolese church of Saint Justus and Saint Clement, Volterra, Italy in 1140

Representation

young woman with a dagger

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-graecina-of-volterra/

Saint Actinea of Volterra

Profile

Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

• beheaded at Volterra, Etruria, Italy in the early 4th century
• relics discovered in the Camaldolese church of Saint Justus and Saint Clement, Volterra, in 1140

Representation

young woman with a dagger

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-actinea-of-volterra/

Saint Cettin of Oran

Also known as

Cetagh, Cethach, Cethagh

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Patrick. Bishop. Helped Patrick evangelize Ireland. His shrine at Orran was a place of pilgrimage for centuries, apparently survived into the 18th century.

Died

5th century of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cettin-of-oran/

Saint Ceccardus of Luni

Also known as

Cichardo, Ceccardo

Profile

Bishop of Luni, Italy. Martyr.

Died

c.860 in Carrara, Italy

Patronage

Carrara, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ceccardus-of-luni/

Blessed Gaspare Burgherre

Profile

Mercedarian friar. A member of the Roman Curia, he resigned his position to work to free Christians enslaved by Muslims. Freed 200 of them in the Andalusia region of Spain.

Died

1497

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-gaspare-burgherre/

Saint Colman McRhoi

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Columba of Iona. Deacon. Helped found the monastery of Reachrain (modern Lambay Island), Dublin, Ireland, and served as its abbot.