| 19 December |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
• Guillaume de Grimoard
• Urbanus V
Born to the nobility, one of four children of Guillaume de Grimoard, Lord of Bellegarde, and of Amphélise de Montferrand; his brother later became a cardinal and papal legate. Guillaume became a Benedictine monk at the priory of Chirac, France in 1327. Priest, ordained at the Chirac monastery in 1334. He studied literature and law in Montpellier, France, and then law at the University of Toulouse, France. He received a doctorate in Canon Law on 31 October 1342, and was known as one of the most learned men of his day. Appointed prior of Nôtre-Dame du Pré in the diocese of Auxerre, France by Pope Clement VI. Abbot of Saint-Germain en Auxerre monastery on 13 February 1352. Benedictine Procurator-General at the Papal court. Taught canon law in Montpellier, in Paris and in Avignon, France. Vicar-general of the diocese of Clermont, France c.1350. Vicar-general of the diocese of Uzès, France in 1357. Served as papal legate in Italy several times. Abbot of the abbey of Saint Victor in Marseilles, France from August 1361 to 1362. Advisor to Pope Innocent VI. Apostolic Nuncio in Italy.
Sixth of the Avignon Popes; he took the name Urban saying that "all the popes who have borne this name were saints". As pope he eschewed the pomp of the throne, and continued to live by the Benedictine Rule, which led to opposition from courtiers who preferred a more regal life in court. He cut tithes in half, supported students, clerical training, seminaries and colleges, worked to re-unite Latin and Greek Christians, fought the heresies of the day, built churches and monasteries, restored many that had fallen on hard times or fallen away from discipline. He fought absentee bishops, bishops of multiple dioceses, and simony, founded a university in Hungary, restored the medical school in Montpellier, and approved the establishment of the University of Krakow. He preached crusade against the Viscontis in Italy, accusing them of theft of Church property. Preached crusade against the Turkes in 1363, but little came of it as many of the leaders died of natural causes before troops could be put into the field. Urged by Saint Bridget of Sweden and by Saint Catherine of Siena to return the papacy to Rome, he moved his court back to Rome, entering the city on 16 October 1367, the first pope to do so in 60 years. He was met by jubilant Romans and clergy. He re-discovered relics of Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostle in the papal chapel of the Lateran basilica when he prepared to say Mass there on 1 March 1368; they were later placed and new reliquaries and enshrined. However, outbreaks of plague and violence in the city led him to return to France, arriving there on 24 September 1370. He fell ill soon after, and his remaining weeks were ones of physical decline.
1310 Grizac Castle, Languedoc, France as Guillaume de Grimoard
• elected on 28 September 1362
• consecrated on 6 November 1362
• 19 December 1370 at Avignon, Papal States (in modern France) of natural causes
• interrred in the chapel of John XXII in the cathedral of Sante Marie de Domps in Avignon
• relics moved to the abbey church of Saint-Victor in Marseille, France on 31 May 1371 where they were interred in a tomb Urban built for himself
• Cause opened by Pope Gregory XI, and many miracles were documented through Urban’s intervention, but the process ground to a halt when the papacy returned to Rome, Italy, and the Cause of an Avignon Pope was a low priority
• 10 March 1870 by Pope Pius IX (cultus confirmation)
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-blessed-urban-v/
Guglielmo, Gulielmus
16 December (Carthusians)
Hermit in the Torre Mondovi region. Carthusian lay-brother at the Charterhouse of Casularum, Lombardy, Italy where he managed the house's external affairs. He was wholly un-learned in theology, philosophy or the ways of the world aside from his assigned duties, but in spiritual life and good works he was considered a saint in life.
One day when coming in from the fields, William was attacked by thieves, and defended himself by tearing the leg off his donkey and using it as a club to drive off the attackers; afterways he re-attached the leg, and the pair continued home.
1065 in Garessio-Borgoratto, Diocese of Mondovi, Italy
c.1120 in Casotto, Italy of natural causes
29 March 1860 by Pope Pius IX (cultus confirmation)
• with a donkey
• holding a donkey's leg
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-william-of-fenoli/
• Bernard Paleara
• Bernard Pagliara
• Bernhard, Berard, Bernardo, Berardo
Born to the nobility; brother of Blessed Colomba of Mount Brancastello. Benedictine monk at Monte Cassino abbey. Priest Bishop of Teramo, Italy in 1115. Known as a zealous reformer, evangelist, and for his charity.
c.1050 in the castle of Pagliara near Castelli, Isola del Gran Sasso, Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy
• 19 December 1122 of natural causes
• buried in the chapel of Saint Anne in the Old Cathedral of Teramo, Italy
• relics transferred to the new cathedral in 1174
• relics transferred to a chapel devoted to Saint Bernard in 1776
• Teramo, Italy, city of
• Teramo, Italy, diocese of
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-bernard-valeara-of-teramo/
• Kasimir Wolowska
• Maria Marta Wolowska
• Maria Marta of Jesus
• Mary Martha of Jesus
• Maria Marta of Gesù Wolowska
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin taking the name Maria Marta of Jesus. Prioress of the convent in Slonim, Belarus. Fed, sheltered, hid and taught Jews during the Nazi persecutions. Imprisoned and executed for this work. Martyr.
30 September 1879 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland as Kazimiera Wolowska
19 December 1942 in Slonim, Minskaya voblasts', Belarus
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-kazimiera-wolowska/
• Maria Eva Noiszewska
• Maria Ewa of Providence
• Maria Ewa od Opatrznosci
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, taking the name Maria Ewa of Providence. School teacher in Slonim, Belarus. Imprisoned and executed by Nazis for helping to hide Jews. Martyr.
11 June 1885 in Uzumiskiai, Vilniaus rajonas, Lithuania as Bogumila Noiszewska
19 December 1942 in Slonim, Minskaya voblasts', Belarus
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-bogumila-noiszewska/
Stephen Nguyen Van Vinh
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Layman farmer in the apostolic vicariate of East Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Convert. Dominican tertiary. Imprisoned, tortured and executed for his faith in the persecutions of emperor Minh Mang. Martyr.
c.1813 in Phú Trang, Nam Ðanh, Vietnam
strangled to death on 19 December 1839 in Co Me, Bac Ninh, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-stephano-nguyen-van-vinh/
Francis Xavier Mau
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Lay Dominican in the apostolic vicariate of East Tonkin. Catechist. Imprisoned, tortured and executed for his faith in the persecutions of emperor Minh Mang. Martyr.
c.1790 in Ke Rien, Thái Bình, Vietnam
strangled to death on 19 December 1839 in Co Me, Bac Ninh, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-phanxico-xavie-ha-trong-mau/
Augustinô Nguyen Van Moi
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Poor day labourer. Lay Dominican tertiary in the apostolic vicariate of East Tonkin. Catechist. Ordered by government authorities to trample a cross to show his renunciation of the faith; he declined. Martyr.
c.1806 in Phú Trang, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam
strangled in 1839
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-augustine-moi-van-nguyen/
Thomas De
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Layman tailor in the apostolic vicariate of East Tonkin (in modern Vietnam. Dominican tertiary. Arrested for sheltering foreign missionaries. Martyred with four other Vietnamese Catholics.
c.1811 in Bo Trang, Nam Ðinh, Vietnam
strangled to death on 19 December 1839 in Co Me, Bac Ninh, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-toma-nguyen-van-de/
All that is known of his early life is that he was considered pious as a youth, and cared nothing for material things as an adult. Pope. Immediately involved in the turmoil resulting from the heretical writings of Origen. Convened a synod to condemn the works. Fought against the heresy of Donatism. Friend of Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Jerome, and Saint Paulinus of Nola.
4th century in Rome, Italy
27 November 399
402 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-anastasius-i/
Born to the noblity, member of the family of the Count of Liechtenau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. Canon of the cathedral of Konstanz, Germany. Premonstratensian monk. Canon of the Ursberg monastery at Augsburg, Germany. Priest. Abbot of Ursberg in 1226. He renovated the abbey and greatly expanded the library, making it a center to learning; he devoted his free time to historical research. Friend and advisor to emperor Frederick II. Wrote 12 volumes on the Saints.
late 12th century Germany
1240
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-konrad-liechtenau/
Caecilia
Married to a very pious young man, each was devoted to the Church and spiritual growth. After eight years together they each entered religious life, joining the Dominicans, Cecilia at the monastery of Saint Catherine the Martyr in Ferrara, Italy where she was known for her personal piety, ascetic life, and devotion to the Dominican life. Chosen prioress three times.
15th century Italy
• late December 1511
• miracles reported at her grave
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-cecilia-of-ferrara/
Soldier. Knight. Mercedarin, received into the Order by Saint Peter Nolasco. Sent to Algiers in 1240 where he ransomed 87 Christian slaves and brought them back to Barcelona, Spain. He later retired to live as a Mercedarian monk at the convent of Sant Antonio Abate, Tarragona, Spain.
13th century in Tarragona, Spain of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-berengar-de-banares/
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Catechist. Arrested for his faith, he was ordered to repudiate Christianity; he refused. Martyr.
1813 in Vietnam
strangled to death in 1839 in Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-dominic-uy-van-bui/
John of Bellelay
Premonstratensian monk. Canon of the Bellelay monastery in the Jura Bernois area of Bern, Switzerland. Abbot of the house in 1530; he served for 23 years, defending his house and his faith during a period when Calvinists displacing Catholic clergy and institutions.
late 15th century
19 December 1553 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-john-gogniat/
Manire, Monire, Miniar, Niniar
Missionary bishop to the Highlanders of northern Scotland. Had an on-going battle of words and ideas with the local pagans, but there was apparently little violence from either side during his work.
c.700 in Scotland
824 in Scotland of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-manirus-of-scotland/
Born to the nobility. Married, and the mother of Saint Anastasia of Sirmium; her personal piety helped form her own faith. Widow.
late 3rd century in Rome, Italy of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-fausta-of-sirmium/
Virgin who dedicated herself to God. Arrested, tortured and martyred for her faith in the persecutions of Maximinus II.
Gaza, Palestine
tortured to death in 307 in Alexandria, Egypt
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-meuris-of-alexandria/
Virgin who dedicated herself to God. Arrested, tortured and martyred for her faith in the persecutions of Maximinus II.
Gaza, Palestine
tortured to death in 307 in Alexandria, Egypt
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-thea-of-alexandria/
Slave and servant to the imperial Roman noble woman Aglaia at Tarsus, Cilicia. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
c.290 in Tarsus, Cilicia (in modern Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-boniface-of-cilicia/
• Timothy of Africa
• Timoteus
Deacon. Martyred in the persecutions of Decius.
burned alive c.250 in North Africa
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-timothy-the-deacon/
Ribarius
Monk. Abbot of the monastery of Saint Oyend, France.
c.790 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ribert-of-saint-oyend/
Adjutus, Avit, Avy
Abbot of Saint-Mesmin de Micy Abbey near Orleans, France. Had the gift of prophecy.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-avitus-of-micy/
Bishop of Auxerre, France for 13 years.
c.455
c.540 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gregory-of-auxerre/
A group of Mercedarian monks noted for their dedication to the Order's rule, for their continuous prayer life, and their personal piety.
• Blessed Bartolomeo of Podio
• Blessed Giovanni of Verdera
• Blessed Guglielmo de Gallinaris
• Blessed Guglielmo of Prunera
• Blessed Pietro of Benevento
• Blessed Pietro of Gualba
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-mercedarian-fathers-19-december/
A group of Christians martyred together. The only surviving details are four of their names - Darius, Paul, Secundus and Zosimus.
at Nicaea, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-nicaea-19-december/
A group of Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than the names of five - Anastasius, Cyriacus, Paulillus, Secundus and Syndimius.
303 at Nicomedia, Asia Minor
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-nicomedia-19-december/
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 Jaume Boguñá Casanovas
• Blessed Jordi Sampé Tarragó
• Blessed Josep Albareda Ramoneda
• Adelaide of Susa
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition