| 19 May |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
• Advocate of the Poor
• Ivo Helory
• Ivo Herloi
• Ivo of Helory
• Ives, Yves, Yvo
Born to a wealthy Breton noble family. From age 14 he studied civil and canon lawyer, philosophy, and theology in Paris and Orleans. Franciscan tertiary. Lawyer who practised in both civil and ecclesiastical courts, often defending the poor without charge, and ministering to them in prison while they awaited trial. Practised great personal ascetism, with frequent fasts, and wearing a hair shirt under his clothing. Fought the state over taxes and the rights of the Church. Incorruptible diocesan judge, refusing the bribes that were the order of the day, and working to settle claims out of court in order to save the litigants time and money. Ordained in 1284. He resigned his legal position in 1287 to tend to his parishioners at Tredez and Lovannec. Noted preacher and arbitor, he built a hospital from his own funds, tended the poor in it, and gave away the harvests from his land to feed them. Miracle worker, feeding hundreds from a single loaf of bread.
17 October 1253 at Kermartin near Treguier, Brittany
19 May 1303 at Louannec, Brittany of natural causes following a sermon on Ascension Eve
June 1347 by Pope Clement VI
• abandoned people
• advocates, attorneys, barristers, lawyers
• bailiffs
• Brittany
• canon lawyers, canonists
• judges, jurists
• notaries
• orphans
• lawyer enthroned between rich and poor litigants
• lawyer holding a book, with an angel near his head and a lion at his feet
• lawyer surrounded by suppliants, holding a parchment and pointing upwards
• lawyer surrounded by symbols of the Holy Spirit such as doves
Sanctus Ivo erat Brito,
Advocatus, et non latro
Res miranda populo.
Saint Yvo was a Breton and a lawyer,
But not dishonest -
An astonishing thing in people's eyes.
- from a 14th century description of Saint Ivo
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ivo-of-kermartin/
Son of Heorstan, a Wessex nobleman. Nephew of Saint Athelm, and related to Saint Alphege of Winchester. Educated at Glastonbury Abbey by Irish monks. Hermit. Monk. Expert goldsmith, metal-worker, and harpist. Ordained by Saint Alphege. Appointed abbot of Glastonbury in 944 by King Edmund I of England. He rebuilt the abbey, introduced the Benedictine Rule, and established a famous school. Close advisor to King Eadred and King Eadgar. Bishop of Worcester, England, and of London, England. Archbishop of Canterbury, England in 960. The combination of spiritual authority and political influence made him the virtual regent of the kingdom. Spiritual director of Saint Wulsin of Sherborne. Reformed church life in 10th century England. Advisor to King Edwy until he commented on the king's profligate sexual ways - which caused the bishop to be exiled. In 978, with the ascension of King Ethelred the Unready, he retired from political life to Canterbury. Had the gift of prophecy.
909 at Baltonsborough, Glastonbury, England
• 19 May 988 at Canterbury, England of natural causes
• buried in Canterbury
• his burial site was lost for years, but rediscovered by Archbishop Washam
• relics destroyed during the Reformation
1029 by Pope John XIX
• armourers
• blacksmiths
• blind people
• gold workers, goldsmiths
• jewellers
• lighthouse keepers
• locksmiths
• musicians
• silver workers, silversmiths
• swordsmiths
• diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
• gold cup
• horseshoe
• man holding a pair of smith's tongs
• man putting a horseshoe on the devil's cloven foot
• man with a dove hovering near him
• man with a troop of angels before him
• man working with gold or metal, usually in a monastery or cloister, sometimes with an angel speaking to him
• metal working tools
• pincers
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-dunstan-of-canterbury/
• Peter Celestine
• Peter Morrone
• Peter of Moroni
• Pietro del Morrone
• Pietro di Murrone
Eleventh of twelve children. His father died when Peter was quite young. When his mother would ask, "Which one of you is going to become a saint?" Peter would answer "Me, Mama! I'll become a saint!".
At 20 Peter became a hermit, praying, working, and reading the Bible. He followed the Benedictine Rule, and so many other hermits came to him for guidance, that he founded the Holy Spirit Community of Maiella (Celestines).
Following a two year conclave during which the cardinals could not decide on a pope, Peter came to them with the message that God was not pleased with the long delay; the cardinals chose Peter as the 192nd Pope.
The primary objective of Celestine's pontificate was to reform clergy, many of whom were using spiritual power to obtain wordly power. Celestine sought a way to bring the faithful to the original Gospel spirit, and he settled on "Pardon" - he called for a year of forgiveness of sins, and return to evangelical austerity and fidelity.
He reigned a mere five months, and the members of the Vatican Curia took advantage of him. This led to much mismanagement, and great uproar in the Vatican. Knowing he was responsible, Celestine asked forgiveness for his mistakes, and abdicated on 13 December 1294, the only pope to do so. His successor, Boniface VIII, kept Celestine hidden for the last ten months of his life in a small room in a Roman palace. Celestine may have appreciated it - he never lost his love of the hermit's life, and spent his last days in prayer.
1210 at Isneria, Abruzzi, Italy as Pietro del Morrone
5 July 1294
13 December 1294
• 19 May 1296 in Rome, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the church of Saint Agatha, Ferentino, Italy
• re-interred in the Church of Saint Maria di Collemaggio, Aquila, Italy
1313 by Pope Clement V
• Aquila, Italy
• bookbinders
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-celestine-v/
Maria Bernarda of the Holy Heart of Mary
Fourth of eight children born to a family of farmers; baptized on the day she was born and made her First Communion on 16 April 1860. Known as a pious girl who early felt a call to religous life and had a devotion to the Eucharist. She became engaged, but broke it off to follow religious life, and tried to enter the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen in 1866; she soon returned home to pray and discern her true vocation. Joined the Franciscan Capuchin nuns at the convent Mary Help of Sinners in Altstätten, Switzerland on 12 November 1867, taking the name Maria Bernarda of the Holy Heart of Mary, and making her solemn profession on 4 October 1871. Novice mistress. Superior of her house on three occassions. Missionary to Ecuador in 1888, working in an area with no relgious resources. Founded the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians to help with the work, and served as its leader to 30 years. Exiled from Ecuador in 1895 during an anti-Catholic revolution, she and her sisters moved their base of operations to Colombia. Today the Sisters continue their work in schools, colleges, kindergartens, hospitals, nursing homes in Switzerland, Colombia, Brazil, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and some African countries.
28 May 1848 in Auw, Aargau, Switzerland
• 19 May 1924 in Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia of natural causes
• her tomb immediately became a point of pilgrimage
• 29 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
• the beatification miracle involved rebuilding the missing cranial bones of 15-day-old Liliana Sanchez in 1969
• 12 October 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI
• the canonization miracle involved the rapid, complete, and stable healing of a severe respiratory distress and infection of Myrna Jazime Correa on 6 July 2002 in Categena, Columbia
The Holy Spirit taught me to adore, praise, bless and give thanks to Jesus in the tabernacle at all times, even at work and in real life. - Blessed Verena
My guide, my star, is the Gospel. - Blessed Verena
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-verena-butler/
• Crispinus of Viterbo
• Crispinus von Viterbo
• il Santorello
• Peter Fioretti
• Pietro Fioretti
Son of Ubald and Marsha. His father died when Pietro was very young, and his mother consecrated the boy to the Blessed Virgin Mary when he was five years old. Pietro developed an early devotion to Our Lady, calling her his other mother, and displayed such a simple and honest piety that led his neighbors to call him il Santorello (the little saint). He worked as a shoemaker for the uncle who provided for his education.
The sight of a procession of Friars Minor Capuchin woke within Pietro the realization that he was called to religious life. He became a Franciscan lay brother on 22 July 1693, taking the name Crispin because of his craft. Worked as a cook at the Viterbo Capuchin monastery. Transferred to, and worked tirelessly at, Capuchin houses in Tolfa, Rome, and Albano. He developed a devotion to, and modelled himself after Saint Felix of Cantalice.
Crispin's simple, humble holiness brought many local lay people to him for spiritual guidance. As word of his wisdom spread, his visitors became priests, then bishops, then cardinals, and even a pope. Crispin was noted for paying little attention to the rank or status of a visitor, either high or low, but concentrating on talking to them all as equal children of the same God. Reputed to work miracles, heal by touch, and prophesy.
13 November 1668 at Viterbo, Italy as Pietro Fioretti
• 19 May 1750 of pneumonia at the friary of the Immaculate Conception on the Via Veneto in Rome, Italy
• entombed under a side altar in the Capuchin church at Rome
• body found still incorrupt in 1959
• 20 June 1982 by Pope John Paul II
• first Saint canonized by Pope John Paul II
Let us love God who deserves it! - Saint Crispin
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-crispin-of-viterbo/
Albinus, Alrinus, Flaccus
Born to the English nobility. Spiritual student of Saint Colgan. Deacon. Head of the York cathedral school c.770. Minister of education under Blessed Charlemagne in 781. Established schools at cathedrals and monasteries. Established scriptoria dedicated to copying and preserving ancient manuscripts, both pagan and Christian; that we have as much as we do of the writings of classical Roman authors is largely due to Alcuin and his scribes. Credited with the invention of cursive script in which letters are connected for greater writing speed. Revised and organized the Latin liturgy, preserved ancient prayers, and helped develop plain chant. Advocated the doctrine that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son jointly. Unfortunately, the East resented Charlemagne's assumption of the title of Holy Roman Emperor; this hardened their opposition to the doctrine, and contributed to the rift between East and West.
c.730 at York, England
19 May 804 at Tours, France of natural causes
You should not agree to have anything to do with weapons of war. Throw yourself upon Christ's mercy, crying: 'My Love and my Stronghold, my Protector and Liberator, in whom my heart has put its hope" - Blessed Alcuin, writing to the monks in Mayo, Ireland
In the morning, at the height of my powers, I sowed the seed in Britain, now in the evening when my blood is growing cold I am still sowing in France, hoping both will grow, by the grace of God, giving some the honey of the holy scriptures, making others drunk on the old wine of ancient learning. - Blessed Alcuin in a letter written late in life looking back on his career
Almighty God, who in a rude and barbarous age raised up your deacon Alcuin to rekindle the light of learning: Illumine our minds, we pray, that amid the uncertainties and confusions of our own time we may show forth your eternal truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-alcuin/
Hans, John
As a young man, Hanz joined the Carthusians at a lay brother at the Ittingen convent near Frauenfeld, Thurgau, Switzerland in 1475; he made his vows in 1476. The house had been abandoned for several years, and the lay brothers had to work to re-build it. This took so much time away from the contemplative life, which is why Hanz had joined the Carthusians, that he petitioned Pope Innocent VIII for permission to live as a hermit while still following the Carthusian Rule; he received approval on 16 May 1489, dressed in a gray sack, and left to live as a hermit in a cave on Mount Pilate near Lucerne, Switzerland for the next 20 years.
His personal piety brought him much admiration from the local people who built him a hut and a chapel that was consecrated in 1504 by the diocese of Constance. So many pilgrims passed through the area that two altars were added to the chapel to celebrate Mass, and special indulgenceses were granted them by Pope Julius II in 1512. Additional churches were built and pilgrimages continued to the hermitage for centuries.
c.1456 in Riedlinger, Germany
• 19 May 1516 at his hermitage on Mount Pilate near Lucerne, Switzerland of natural causes
• interred in a sepulcher on the right side of the chapel near his hermitage
• re-interred when the chapel was re-built in 1621
• re-interred in the new church built on the site in 1651
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-hanz-wagner/
• Agostino Novello
• Augustine Novellus
• Matthew of Taormina
• Matteo de' Termini
Graduated a Doctor of law in Bologna, Italy and stayed to teach. Held assorted offices in civil government. Chancellor to King Manfred of Sicily. Soldier. Badly injured and left for dead on the battlefield at Benevento, Italy during Manfred's war with Charles of Anjou. When recovered, he became a lay brother with the Augustinian friars, taking the name Augustine Novello. He was content to remain in that position, but when his superiors discovered his education and experience, they ordered him ordained a bishop. He helped draft new constitutions for the Order, and was made prior-general. Papal confessor and papal legate. In 1300 he retired from the world to live as a hermit near Siena, Italy.
at Taormina, Sicily as Matthew of Taormina
1309 at San Leonardo, Italy of natural causes
1759 by Pope Clement XIII (cultus confirmed)
• monk holding an icon of the Holy Face
• bishop holding an icon of the Holy Face
• Augustinian friar with a book listening to the whisperings of an angel
• performing miracles
• cake topped with a paper angel
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-augustine-novello/
Born to a Protestant family, Peter converted to Catholicism. Worked in a country lawyer's office for ten years. He enlisted in the army, was assigned to the Netherlands, but deserted after a month. Studied in at the Jesuit seminary in Ghent, Belgium, and in Rome, Italy. Priest. Joined the Jesuits in 1629 at Watten, Belgium and held posts at Liege, Belgium and Saint-Omer. Chaplain to English soldiers in Flanders, Belgium. He returned to England with Sir Henry Gage in the spring of 1644, and served as chaplain to the Royalist army during the English Civil War. Chaplain to the Marquis of Winchester. Arrested for his faith in London, England on Candlemas Day 1651 during the post-war oppression of Catholicism by Oliver Cromwell; he was lodged at Newgate prison. Martyred before 20,000 spectators.
1603 at Slipton, Northamptonshire, England
• hanged on 19 May (Whit Monday) 1651 at Tyburn, London, England
• sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, he was allowed to hang until death, and was spared the other tortures because the authorities feared reaction of the large crowd
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-peter-wright/
Jacques-Louis of Besançon
Son of Jacques-Louis Loir, director of the mint in Besançon, France and Elizabeth Juliot, the sixth of their eight children; he was baptized on the day of his birth. Studied in Lyon, France. Joined the Franciscan Capuchin friars in May 1740, making his profession on 9 May 1741 in Lyon. Priest. Superior of the convent of Saint Andrew from 1761 to 1764; superior of the convent of Saint Francis from 1764 to 1767. Sentenced to be exiled to Guyana, he was 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.
11 March 1720 in Besançon, Doubs, France
• 19 May 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France
• from the position of his corpse, he apparently died while in prayer
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jean-baptiste-xavier-loir/
Primitivo of Villamizar
Lucinio joined the Franciscan Capuchins in 1914 at the age of 30, taking the name Primitivo di Villamizar; he made his religious profession as a lay brother in 1915. He was serving in El Pardo, Madrid, Spain in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War; on 21 July the convent came under siege by hundreds of militiamen. Brother Primitivo was arrested, but soon after released, and he managed to hide out with a nephew in Madrid. On 19 May 1937 he was recognized as having been a Capuchin, seized, and executed for his faith a few hours later. Martyr.
12 February 1884 in Villamizar, León, Spain
19 May 1937 in Madrid, Spain
• 13 October 2013 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at the Complex Educatiu, Tarragona, Spain, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lucinio-fontanil-medina/
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Parish priest in Chorzow-Batory, archdiocese of Katowice, Poland. Known for his piety, ministry to the poor, and encouragement of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Arrested on 13 April 1940 by Nazis for the crime of being a Catholic priest. Martyr.
21 September 1883 in Józefka, Sláskie, Poland
gassed on 19 May 1942 in the concentration camp at Dachau, Oberbayern, Germany
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II
Stay with God. Greet my parishioners. I am going to die, if it is God's will. – Blessed Jozef to a friend when he was arrested by the Gestapo
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jozef-czempiel/
Adolfo, Hadulph
31 August (translation of relics and elevation to the altar)
His father, Ragnulfo, died a martyr. When he was of age, Hadulfus became a monk in the Abbey of St Vaast in Arras; he served as abbot of the house from 710 to 717. Bishop of Cambrai in the Neustria region (part of modern France) from 717 until his death 11 years later.
Arras, Pas-de-Calais, Neustria (in modern France)
• 728 of natural causes
• buried in the church of San Pietro di Arras
• healing miracles reported at his tomb
• re-interred in the cathedral of Cambrai, France in 1030
Bishop Engranno elevated him to the altars in Cambrai c.960
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hadulfus-of-cambrai/
Calogero, Caio, Calocero
Brother of Saint Parthenius. Eunuch in the palace of Tryphonia, wife of emperor Decius, in charge of Anatolia, daughter of Roman consul Aemilian. Charged by Decius with embezzlement of Anatolia's money, and with the capital crime of Christianity. Ignoring the financial accusations, the brothers defended the Faith. The court took their defense as an admission of their Christianity, and sentenced them to death. Martyr.
c.250 Armenia
• thrown into a bonfire, he was unburned
• guards then beat him to death with flaming brands from the fire
• buried in the catacombs of Saint Callixtus
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-calocerus-of-rome/
• Biagio Arrighi
• Teofilo
Joined the Franciscans in 1693, taking the name Theophilus (friend of God). Ordained in Naples, Italy. Taught at Civitella, Italy. Evangelist throughout Corsica and Italy. Worked for reforms and renewed zeal within the Franciscans.
at Corte, Corsica, France as Biagio Arrighi
1740 of natural causes
1930 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theophilus-of-corte/
Partenio
Brother of Saint Calocerus. Eunuch in the palace of Tryphonia, wife of emperor Decius, in charge of Anatolia, daughter of Roman consul Aemilian. Charged by Decius with embezzlement of Anatolia's money, and with the capital crime of Christianity. Ignoring the financial accusations, the brothers defended the Faith. The court took their defense as an admission of their Christianity, and sentenced them to death. Martyr.
c.250 Armenia
• thrown into a bonfire, he was unburned
• guards then beat him to death with flaming brands from the fire
• buried in the catacombs of Saint Callixtus
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-parthenius-of-rome/
Elisabetta
From her youth, Bartolomea had no interest in the world or the lavish life available to her, and preferred a life in fasting and prayer. She became a tertiary in the Servites of Mary, taking the name Elisabetta. Spiritual student of Blessed Francis Patrizzi; Bartolomea once saw a globe of fire over the head of Francis while he preached. Bartolomea, and her grave site, were known for healing miracles and delivering people from demonic possession.
late 13th century
• 19 May 1348 of natural causes
• buried in the Servite church in Siena, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-bartolomea-of-siena/
Potentiana
Daughter of Saint Claudia of Rome and Senator Pudens; sister of Saint Praxedes. Gave away all her property to the poor, and was persecuted for giving Christian burial to early martyrs who were left to rot. Virgin martyr. The church of Saint Pudentiana, probably the oldest in Rome, Italy is supposed to be built on the site of her home.
• c.160
• relics in the churches of Saints Pudentiana and Praxedes, Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pudentiana-of-rome/
• Brother Raphaël
• Raffaele Luigi Rafiringa
Religious brother of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Brothers).
3 November 1856 in Antananarivo, Madagascar
19 May 1919 in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar of natural causes
• 7 June 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated by Archbishop Angelo Amato at Antananarivo, Madagascar
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-louis-rafiringa/
Pudencio
First century Roman senator. Adult convert, baptised by the Apostles. May have been the Pudens mentioned by Saint Paul the Apostle in 2nd Timothy.
Try to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers send greetings. - 2nd Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to Saint Timothy, 4:21
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pudens-of-rome/
Juan Martinez y Cid
10 September as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan
Dominican priest. Martyr
Manzanal de los Infantes, Zamora, Spain
19 March 1618 in prison in Suzúta, Omura, Nagasaki, Japan
7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-juan-of-san-domenico/
Umiliana de' Cerchi
Married at age 16. Widowed young. First cloistered Franciscan tertiary at Florence, Italy.
1220 at Florence, Italy
19 May 1246 in Florence, Italy of natural causes
24 July 1694 by Pope Innocent XII (cultus confirmed)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-humiliana-de-cerchi/
Son of Pontianus. Pope during a time of relative peace and growth in the Church. Continued the orthodox papal opposition to Hippolytus of Rome and his schismatics.
Rome, Italy
222
23 May 230
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-urban-i/
Mercedarian friar. Assigned to Granada, Spain, in 1428 he ransomed more than 300 Christians who had been enslaved by Muslim Moors. While there, he preached Christianity. Known for receiving holy visions.
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lupo-of-sagra/
Christian maiden tortured and marytred with five others whose names have not come down to us during the persecutions of Maximinian Galerius.
burned to death in 307 at Nicomedia
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyriaca-of-nicomedia/
Franciscan. In 1396 he and Blessed John de Cetina began preaching to the Moors in Granada, Spain. Martyr.
1378 in Valencia, Spain
beheaded in Granada, Spain in 1397
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-peter-de-duenas/
Franciscan. Missionary with Blessed Peter de Dueñas to the Moors in Granada, Spain. Martyr.
Spain
beheaded in 1397 in Granada, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-juan-of-cetina/
Born to the nobility, the son of imperial Roman proconsul Pacian. Marytred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Nicomedia (in modern Turkey)
303
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-philoterus/
Enonio, Igonio, Ivonio
Though his name appears on saint lists as early as 950, no information about him has survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-evonio-of-auvergne/
Fifth century bishop of Trier, Germany.
relics enshrined in the church of Saint Matthias, Trier, Germany
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyril-of-trier/
• Ciarán, Son of Colga
• Pina Suriano
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