Calendar of Saints

18 March	• yesterday • tomorrow
Optional Memorial of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

It cannot be denied that in the first ages of the Church there appears a greater devotion to Saint John the Baptist than to Saint Joseph; nowadays the very reverse is the fact. Why is this, if it be not because the worship of the Spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus is better suited to us than that of the mighty Saint who was the herald of His coming? There is no jealousy in heaven, and the great Saint John, the very apostle of disinterested love, would willingly point to Saint Joseph and say, as he did to our Lord, " He must increase, and I must decrease." The thought of the sweet Saint who guarded Jesus and Mary in their weary flight through the wilderness was to be more useful to Christians than the remem brance of the stern voice which sounded through the desert. - Father Dalgairns

Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline - The Seat of the Conflict, by Father Basil William Maturin

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Also known as

Cirillo, Kyrillos

Profile

Raised a Christian in Jerusalem. Well educated, especially in religion. Priest, ordained by Saint Maximus. A great teacher of catechumens, Cyril's instructions are still source documents for the Church's early teachings. Bishop of Jerusalem in 348. Exiled three times by the Arians, usually on some trumped up charge like selling church furniture, but actually on theological grounds. Attended the Council of Seleucia in 359. Attended the Council of Constantinople in 381. Greek Father of the Church. Doctor of the Church.

Born

315

Died

386 of natural causes

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

Then during the Eucharistic prayer we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition. - Saint Cyril: Catechetical Lectures, 350AD

Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence of their own, even when the tongue is silent. For deeds prove the lover more than words. - Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Since Christ Himself has said, "This is My Body" who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body? - Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyril-of-jerusalem/

Saint Edward the Martyr

Also known as

Edward II

Additional Memorial

20 June (translation of relics)

Profile

Son of King Edgar the Peaceful, and ÆthelflÆd. On Edgar's death in 975, there was a disputed succession between Edward and his younger half-brother, Æthelred, Edgar's son by Ælfthryth, but Edward was chosen King of England at age 13; he reigned less than three years. Killed at the behest of his step-mother Elfrida so her son could take the throne, and popularly proclaimed a martyr.

Born

962

Died

• stabbed to death in the evening of 18 March 978 at Corfe Castle, Dorsetshire, England
• buried at Wareham, England
• relics translated to Shaftesbury Abbey on 13 February 981, and resided there for over 500 years
• relics hidden in 1539 when the abbey was seized by the state
• relics re-discovered in 1931 during an archeological dig on the site
• relics re-interred in the Brookwood Cemetery, Saint Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church, Woking, England under the care of monks in the Greek Orthodox tradition

Patronage

against glandular diseases

Representation

• king with dagger and cup
• king with dagger and falcon
• king with sceptre and sword
• king on horseback, drinking mead, while assassins move toward him

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-edward-the-martyr/

Saint Anselm of Lucca the Younger

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Nephew of Pope Alexander II. Bishop of Lucca, Italy in 1073. Due to a dispute over imperial investiture, Anselm initially refused to accept the regalia of his office from Emperor Henry IV, but later gave in and accepted. He retired to lived as a Benedictine monk in a Cluniac monastery of Polirone in San Benedetto Po, Italy.

Recalled by Pope Gregory VII. Anselm's canons were slack in observance of the austere life, were placed under papal interdict and excommunicated, revolted, were supported by the emperor, and drove Anselm from his see in 1079.

Anselm retired to Canossa, Italy, as spiritual director of Countess Matilda of Tuscany, and then reformed the monasteries in her lands. Supported Pope Gregory VII's efforts to end lay investiture. Apostolic legate to Lombardy under Pope Victor III, again settling problems caused by the lay investiture conflict. Worked against the anti-pope Guibert of Ravenna. His prayers obtained the rout of the enemies of Gregory VII.

Born

1036 at Mantua, Italy

Died

• 18 March 1086 at Mantua, Italy of natural causes
• relics in the cathedral of Mantua

Patronage

Mantua, Italy

Representation

man standing in front of an army that is in confusion

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anselm-of-lucca-the-younger/

Saint Frigidian of Lucca

Also known as

Erigdian, Finnian, Frediano, Fredianus, Fridian, Fridianus, Frigdianus, Frigianu, Frigidanus

Profile

Sometimes confused with Saint Finnian of Moville. Son of King Ultach of Ulster, Ireland. Educated in Irish monasteries. Priest. After a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy he settled as a hermit on Mount Pisano. Bishop of Lucca in 566, though he often left the city to spend days in prayer and solitude. Formed the clergy of his see into a community of canons regular. Rebuilt the cathedral in Lucca after it was burned by the Lombards.

The River Serchio frequently flooded the town of Lucca. Legend says that when the citizens called on Frigidian for aid, he asked for a rake or hoe, prayed over it, ordered the river to follow him, then dug new, safe course for the river by dragging the tool through the dirt.

Born

in Ireland

Died

18 March 588 of natural causes

Representation

• bishop hoeing a piece of ground
• bishop raking a piece of ground
• bishop with a crown at his feet
• changing the course of the River Serchio
• walking in procession as the Volto Santo crucifix is brought to Lucca on an ox cart

Patronage

Lucca, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-frigidian-of-lucca/

Blessed Aimée-Adèle le Bouteiller

Also known as

Amata Adele, Marta, Martha, Marthe

Profile

Third of four children of Andrea and Maria Francesca le Bouteiller Morel; the family were farmers and linen weavers, and her father died of tuberculosis when she was only 10 years old. Around age 20 she went to work as a maid. Aimee joined the Sisters of the Christian Schools of Mercy at the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte on 19 March 1841 and made her profession on 14 September 1842, taking the name Sister Martha; her novice mistress was Blessed Placide Viel. Martha worked in the kitchen, the fields, the wine cellar, caring for her sisters and guests at the house, serving 250 people a day during peace time, 500 a day during war, serving them drink and encouraging their faith. Legend says that her prayers insured that the cellars never ran dry.

Born

2 December 1816 in Percy, France as Aimée-Adèle

Died

Palm Sunday 18 March 1883 in Saint Sauveur-le-Vicomte Abbey in Normandy, France from a stroke

Beatified

4 November 1990 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-aimee-adele-le-bouteiller/

Saint Alexander of Jerusalem

Also known as

Alexander of Cappadocia

Additional Memorial

• 12 December (Orthodox calendar)
• 22 December (Greek calendar)

Profile

Studied in Alexandria, Egypt. Fellow student with Origen. Bishop of Cappadocia. Imprisoned from 204 to 211 for his faith during the persecutions of Severus. Pilgrim to Jerusalem upon his release. Coadjutor bishop of Jerusalem with Saint Narcissus in 212. Censured for encouraging Origen to teach in churches while still a laymen. Developed a large theological library. Imprisoned again during the persecutions of Decius. When given a chance to save himself by denouncing Christianity, he made a public pronouncement of his faith. He was thrown to wild animals, but they refused to attack him. Re-imprisoned, Alexander died in chains from general maltreatment. Martyr.

Died

251 at Ceasarea

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexander-of-jerusalem/

Saint Salvator of Horta

Also known as

• Salvatore Grionesos da Horta
&bul; Salvador, Salvatore

Additional Memorial

17 April (Friars Minor)

Profile

Shepherd. Shoemaker. Franciscan lay brother at Barcelona, Spain. Cook, beggar and porter at the friary in the Horta-Guinardó area of Barcelona. Miracle worker and healer. His cell became a destination for sick pilgrims; said to have cured as many as 2,000 in a single day.

Born

1520 at Santa Columba, Gerona, Spain

Died

18 March 1567 at friary at Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy of natural causes

Canonized

17 April 1938 by Pope Pius XI

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-salvator-of-horta/

Blessed Celestine of the Mother of God

Also known as

• Celestina Donati
• Maria Anna Donati
• Marianna Donati

Profile

She early felt drawn to religious life. Founded the Congregation of the Daughters of the Poor of Saint Joseph Calasanzio (Calasanzian Sisters) in 1889 with a mission to teach the poor and the children of prisoners.

Born

26 October 1848 in Marradi, Florence, Italy as Maria Anna Donati

Died

18 March 1925 in Florence, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

• 30 March 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated at the Cathedral of Florence, Italy, presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-celestine-of-the-mother-of-god/

Our Lady of Mercy

Also known as

Nostra Signora della Misericordia

Profile

On 18 March 1536, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared several times to the farmer Antonio Botta outside the city of Savona, Italy. Her message concerned the on-going war between Savona and the Republic of Genoa, and the urged them to “mercy and not justice”. A sanctuary and chapel were built on the site of the apparition; hospitals, homes for the elderly and orphanages were soon built as part of the sanctuary complex, one of which is still functioning today.

Patronage

Savona, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/our-lady-of-mercy/

burned alive in 304 at Nicomedia

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eucarpius-of-nicomedia/

Saint Trophimus of Nicomedia

Profile

Died

burned alive in 304 at Nicomedia

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-trophimus-of-nicomedia/

Martyrs of Nicomedia

Profile

Commemorates the Christians who were martyred anonymously, either singly and in small groups, by local pagans in the area of Nicomedia prior to the year 300, and who may have been over-looked in the waves of Diocletian persecutions that resulted in the deaths of thousands.

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-nicomedia-18-march/