| 17 October |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr; Optional Memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin |
Margarita, Margherita, Marguerite
Healed from a crippling disorder by a vision of the Blessed Virgin, which prompted her to give her life to God. After receiving a vision of Christ fresh from the Scourging, she was moved to join the Order of the Visitation at Paray-le-Monial in 1671.
Received a revelation from Our Lord in 1675, which included 12 promises to her and to those who practiced a true to devotion to His Sacred Heart, whose crown of thorns represent his sacrifices. The devotion encountered violent opposition, especially in Jansenist areas, but has become widespread and popular.
22 July 1647 at L'Hautecourt, Burgundy, France
• 17 October 1690 of natural causes
• body incorrupt
18 September 1864 by Pope Blessed Pius IX
13 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV
• against polio
• against the death of parents
• devotees of the Sacred Heart
• polio patients
• woman wearing the habit of the Order of the Visitation and holding a flaming heart
• woman wearing the habit of the Order of the Visitation and kneeling before Jesus who exposes His heart to her
What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He Caresses us, and to be cold immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Thouse who love thus, love themselves too much to love God with all their heart. - Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
The Twelve Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart
Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth." - from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's vision of Jesus
The sacred heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure. From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition and repentance. The second is the stream of charity which helps all in need and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find the means of surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of his friends who have attained perfection; these he wishes to unit to himself so that they may share his knowledge and commandments and, in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing his glory. This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need. Are you making no progress in prayer? The you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In the course of every activity pray as follows: "My God, I do this or I endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions." Continue to do this in every circumstance of life. But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him. - from a letter by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-margaret-mary-alacoque/
God-Bearer, Theophoros
Convert from paganism to Christianity. Succeeded Saint Peter the Apostle as bishop of Antioch, Syria. Served during persecution of Domitian. During the persecution of Trajan, he was ordered taken to Rome to be killed by wild animals. On the way, a journey which took months, he wrote a series of encouraging letters to the churches under his care. First writer to use the term the Catholic Church. Martyr. Apostolic Father. His name occurs in the "Nobis quoque peccatoribus" in the Canon of the Mass. Legend says he was the infant that Jesus took into his arms in Mark 9.
c.50 in Syria
• thrown to wild animals c.107 at Rome, Italy
• relics at Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome
• against throat diseases
• Church in eastern Mediterranean
• Church in North Africa
• bishop surrounded by lions
• chains
• lions
I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God's wheat and bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God. No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God's side. Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in my for any earthly thing. Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: "Come to the Father." I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world I want only God's bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish. Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God.
Ask for me this only in your prayers, that strength may be given me of the Lord that I may not be called but proved to be a Christian. Then shall I be seen to be faithful when the world no longer sees me. For nothing that appeareth is eternal. For the things which are perceived are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. I write to the Churches and charge you all that willingly I die for Christ, if you prevent me not. I ask of you that your love for me be not untimely; allow me to be devoured of wild beasts, through whom I may attain unto God. I am the grain of God ground between the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of Christ. Then indeed shall I be the true disciple of Christ when the world shall no longer behold my body. Beseech Christ on my behalf that through these means I may be found a perfect sacrifice. Not as Peter and Paul do I command you. They were apostles, I am the least of them; they were free, but I am a slave even unto this day, but, if you wish, I shall be the freedman of Jesus Christ, and in Him I shall rise again and be free. Amen. - from a letter to the Romans from Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Follow your bishop, every one of you, as obediently as Jesus Christ followed the Father. Obey your clergy too as you would the apostles; give your deacons the same reverence that you would to a command of God. Make sure that no step affecting the Church is ever taken by anyone without the bishop's sanction. The sole Eucharist you should consider valid is one that is celebrated by the bishop himself, or by some person authorized by him. Where the bishop is to be seen, there let all his people be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is present, there is the catholic Church. - Saint Ignatius of Antioch
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ignatius-of-antioch/
• John Colobus
• John Kolobos
• John the Little
• John the Dwarf
• Yoannis Pi Kolobos
Born to a poor but pious family. From age 18, he lived in an underground cave he dug in the desert of Skete. Spiritual student of Saint Poemen and Saint Ammoes. Noted for being short of stature, short of temper, and conceited by nature; he did not grow in height, but as his faith increased, so did his gentleness and humility. In later life he was known for absent-mindedness, his thoughts being on the spiritual life. As a test of his new humble obedience, his director ordered him to water a walking staff stuck in the sand; John did so. It later blossomed, and John referred to it as the "tree of obedience". To escape Berber invaders around 395, he fled Skete and lived for years as a hermit on Mount Queolzum, near the current city of Suez. Spiritual teacher of Saint Arsenius.
c.339 at Basta, Egypt
• at Mount Qolzum of natural causes
• when John died, his servant, who had been in a nearby village, had a vision of John being carried to heaven by a group of angels and saints
• body moved to the desert of Skete in 515
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-the-short/
• Francis Isidore Gagelin
• Frans Isidor Gagelin
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Studied at the Grand Seminary at Besancon, France. Member of the Paris Foreign Mission Society in 1817. Missionary to Vietnam in 1822. Priest. When the government began a crackdown on Christians, Francis turned himself over to the authorities of Bongson, and worked with other prisoners in the short time he had left. Martyr.
10 May 1799 in Montperreux, Doubs, France
• strangled to death on 17 October 1833 in Bãi Dâu, Saigon, Vietnam
• buried in Phukam, Vietnam
• relics later transferred to the seminary in Paris, France
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-francois-isidore-gagelin/
Lifelong layman in the archdiocese of Milan, Italy. Graduated from the University of Padua in 1880. Noted civil and canon lawyer. Taught at several universities. Dean of the law faculty in Modena. Secular Franciscan tertiary. Member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul charity group. Friend of Pope Pius XI.
4 April 1859 at Milan, Italy
• 17 October 1902 at Suna, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy of a heart lesion
• buried in Suna
• re-interred in the chapel of the Catholic University in Milan, Italy after his beatification
13 April 1947 by Pope Pius XII
colleges, schools, universities
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-contardo-ferrini/
Lifelong lay woman in the archdiocese of Valencia, Spain. Married to Girona Lozano in 1884; mother of three; all of them preceded her in death. Widowed in 1922, she devoted herself to the Church and her faith. Had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was active in parish life, a member of Catholic Action, and had a ministry to the poor. Imprisoned on 10 October in the Spanish Civil War, she spent her final week ministering to fellow prisoners. Martyr.
8 May 1861 in Sollana, Valencia, Spain
shot at dawn on 17 October 1936 against the wall of the cemetery in Algemesí, Valencia, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-tarsila-cordoba-belda-de-girona/
Richard White
25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
Cambridge educated. Teacher. Renounced Protestantism, and converted. Imprisoned and martyred for his profession of faith. While in jail, he wrote religious poetry in Welsh. Martyr.
c.1537 at Llanidloes, Powys, Wales
17 October 1584 at Wrexham, Clwyd, Wales
25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI
• large families
• parents of large families
• torture victims
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-richard-gwyn/
Baldassare Ravaschieri
Born to the Italian nobility. Franciscan Friar Minor (Observant). Doctor of theology. Priest. Guardian of Chiavari, Genoa, Italy. Preacher with Blessed Bernardine of Feltre. Gout forced him to retire from travelling, and he lived in a cell in the convent of Biansco, Italy, celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions.
1420 in Chiavari, Genoa, Italy
• 17 October 1492 in Binasco, Milan, Italy of natural causes
• buried in a marble tomb
8 January 1930 by Pope Pius XI (cultus confirmed)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-balthassar-of-chiavari/
• Catervo
• Flavius Julius Catervus
Born to the imperial Roman nobility. Roman prefect. Married layman with a son named Bassus. Brought Christianity to the city of Tolentino, Italy. Martyred for doing so.
• martyred in the 4th century in Tolentino, Italy
• relics in the Cathedral of San Catervo, Tolentino, which appears to have been built over his original sarcophagus
• sarcophagus opened in 1455 and his head transferred to a reliquary for veneration
• diocese of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia, Italy
• Tolentino, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-catervus/
Anstrude, Austru, Austrude
Daughter of Saint Blandinus of Laon and Saint Sadalberga; sister of Saint Baldwin. When Sadalberga withdrew from the world to become abbess at Saint John the Baptist convent at Laon, France, Anstrudis went with her as a nun. On the death of her mother, Anstrudis reluctantly became abbess of the convent. Noted for her care for her sisters, her all night vigils, and her self-imposed austerities. Ebroin, mayor of the palace, viciously persecuted the Church of the day, and had her brother killed. He threatened Anstudis, but her simple faith won him over.
688 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anstrudis-of-laon/
Fiorenzo, Florence, Florencio
Bishop of Orange, France. Known for his scholarship, his personal piety, and his non-stop fight against the heresies of the day. Part of the Council of Epaone in 517. Part of the Council of Arles in 527. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy.
Tours, France
c.526 in Orange, Provence, Gaul (in modern France)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-florentius-of-orange/
Mercedarian friar at the Sant'Anne convent in Palermo, Sicily. Imprisoned and tortured in Africa by Muslims for preaching Christianity. Eventually ransomed by brother Mercedarians, and retired to the Sant'Anne convent.
Sant'Anne convent in Palermo, Sicily of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-battista-de-bonafede/
Rodolph
In 1054 he gave his castle at Campo Regio to Saint Peter Damian, and became a Benedictine monk at Fonte Avellana under Saint Peter. Bishop of Gubbio, Italy in 1061. Described as a "miracle of unselfishness", noted for his charity.
c.1066 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rudolph-of-gubbio/
21 January as one of the Blessed Martyrs of Laval
Priest in the diocese of Le Mans, France. Martyred in the French Revolution.
6 January 1756 in Champfleur, Sarthe, France
17 October 1794 in Laval, Mayenne, France
19 June 1955 by Pope Pius XII at Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jacques-burin/
• Gilbert of Citeaux
• Gilbert of Ourscamp
• Gilbert the Great
Benedictine Cistercian monk at Ourscamp Abbey in the diocese of Noyon, France. Abbot at Ourscamp in 1147. Abbot at Citeaux in 1163.
in England
1167 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-gilbert-the-theologian/
Nothhelm
Friend of Saint Bede and Saint Boniface. Priest in London, England. Archbishop of Canterbury, England in 734. His research into the history of Kent, England was used by Bede in his histories.
739 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-nothelm-of-canterbury/
Peter of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Priest. Member of the Order of the Clerks Regular of the Pious Schools. Beloved teacher who worked for years with kindergarten children.
1647 in Rome, Italy of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-peter-casini/
Brought to Rome with Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Zosimus during the persecutions of Trajan. Marytr.
Philippi, Greek
mangled by wild animals c.107 in the arena of Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rufus-of-rome-17-october/
Brought to Rome, Italy with Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Rufus during the persecutions of Trajan. Marytred with Saint Rufus.
Greek
mangled by wild animals c.107 in the arena of Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-zosimus-of-rome/
Osee
Eighth century BC Old Testament prophet. His message concerned the destruction of his compatriots in Samaria.
https://catholicsaints.info/hosea-the-prophet/
Ludowanus, Ludgvan, Ludewan, Ludgran, Luchtighem, Louthiem, Louthern
No information has survived.
Ireland
6th century
Ludgran, Cornwall, England
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-louthiern/
Solina of Gascony
Fled to Chartres, France to avoid marriage to a pagan. Martyr.
Gascony, France
beheaded c.290 in Chartres, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-solina-of-chartres/
Herodion
Spiritual student of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. Bishop of Antioch for 20 years. Martyr.
c.136
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-heron-of-antioch/
Bishop of Le Mans, France. Translated the relics of Saint Scholastica from Monte Cassino to Le Mans.
c.680
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-berarius-i-of-le-mans/
Aethelbert
Great-grandson of Saint Ethelbert of Kent. Martyr.
640 at Eastry, England
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ethelbert-of-eastry/
Pagan priest in Bethfarme, Persia. Convert to Christianity. Martyr.
stoned and then drowned in a lake in Persia c.344
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-mamelta-of-persia/
Aethelred
Great-grandson of Saint Ethelbert of Kent. Martyr.
640 at Eastry, England
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ethelred-of-eastry/
Monk. Disciple of Saint Ailbe of Emly. Abbot. Bishop of Kilroot, Ireland.
6th century Irish
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-colman-of-kilroot/
A group of Christians martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian. The only details about them that have survived are their names - Alexander, Marianus and Victor.
303 in Nicomedia (in modern Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-nicomedia-17-october/
A group of Ursuline nuns martyred in the persecutions of the French Revolution.
• Hyacinthe-Augustine-Gabrielle Bourla
• Jeanne-Reine Prin
• Louise-Joseph Vanot
• Marie-Geneviève-Joseph Ducrez
• Marie-Madeleine-Joseph Déjardins
guillotined on 17 October 1794 at Valenciennes, Nord, France
13 June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-valenciennes-17-october/
Martyrs of Bolitani
A group of martyrs who were praised by Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Volitani, proconsular Africa (in modern Tunisia)
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-volitani/
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 Fidel Fuidio Rodriguez
• Blessed José Sánchez Medina
• Blessed Perfecto Carrascosa Santos
• Blessed Ramón Esteban Bou Pascual
• Blessed Társila Córdoba Belda de Girona
• Dominic Navarro
• Juan de Zamora
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition