| 20 April |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
Born wealthy. A pious child, at age six she began nagging her parents to join a convent. She was admitted to the convent at Montepulciano, Italy at age nine. When her spiritual director was appointed abbess at Procena, she took Agnes with her. Agnes's reputation for holiness attracted other sisters. Abbess at age fifteen after receiving special permission from Pope Nicholas IV. Agnes insisted on greater austerities in the abbey; she lived off bread and water, slept on the ground, used a stone for a pillow. In 1298 she returned to Montepulciano to work in a new Dominican convent. Prioress of the house the last seventeen years of her life. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy.
Many stories grew up around Agnes, including
• Her birth was announced by flying lights surrounding her family's house.
• As a child, while walking through a field, she was attacked by a large murder of crows; she announced that they were devils, trying to keep her away from the land; years later, it was the site of her convent.
• She was known to levitate up to two feet in the air while praying.
• She received Communion from an angel, and had visions of the Virgin Mary.
• She held the infant Jesus in one of these visions; when she woke from her trance she found she was holding the small gold crucifix the Christ child had worn.
• On the day she was chosen abbess as a teenager, small white crosses showered softly onto her and the congregation.
• She could feed the convent with a handful of bread, once she'd prayed over it.
• Where she knelt to pray, violets, lilies and roses would suddenly bloom.
• While being treated for her terminal illness, she brought a drowned child back from the dead.
• At the site of her treatment, a spring welled up that did not help her health, but healed many other people.
1268 at Gracchiano-Vecchio, Tuscany, Italy
• 20 April 1317 at the convent of Montepulciano, Italy of natural causes following a lengthy illness
• legend says that at the moment of her death, all the babies in the region, no matter how young, began to speak of Agnes, her piety, and her passing
• miracles reported at her tomb
• body incorrupt
• relics translated to the Dominican church at Orvieto, Italy in 1435
1534
1726 by Pope Benedict XIII
• Dominican nun gazing at the Cross with a lily at her feet
• Dominican nun holding a model of Montepulciano, Italy
• Dominican nun holding the Christ child
• Dominican nun with Saint Catherine of Siena
• Dominican nun with the Virgin and Child appearing to her
• Dominican abbess with a lamb, lily, and book
• Dominican with the sick who were healed at her tomb
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agnes-of-montepulciano/
Marianus, Marsus, Marien
Monk at the monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Auxerre, France. Had charge of the abbey‘s cattle. Miracle worker who was known to have the complete trust of the wild animals that lived nearby. There is an annual pilgrimage and blessing of animals at the church dedicated to him in Mezilles, France.
Bourges, France
• on an Easter Sunday c.470 of natural causes
• buried at the monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Auxerre, France
• the abbey was later re-dedicated in the name of Saint Marianus in his honour
• relics moved to the abbey of Saint-Germain in Auxerre in the 9th century to protect them from invading Normans
With the remembrance of Saint Mamertinus, one associates that of Saint Marsus, his disciple. Marsus had quitted the country of the Bituriges on account of the persecution inflicted on Catholics by the Arian Goths, who were then in possession of it. Received into the Monastery of Auxerre by Mamertinus, he fulfilled the humble duties of shepherd and cowherd in the stables and farms of the monks, and sanctified himself in the performance of them. His story is full of miracles. He used to call the little birds to him and feed them, and, by his word of command, he sent away the bears and other animals which are hostile to man and his flocks. – from "The Little Bollandists" by Monsignor Paul Guérin, 1882
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marcian-of-auxerre/
Yoeman farmer. Raised in a family with Catholic and Protestant members, he was able to closely observe each side; John became a strong and faithful Catholic. Married layman. His home became a center for covert missionary work, and he hid and harboured priests. Parish clerk and catechist.
On Christmas 1581 he and Father George Ostliffe were ambushed and arrested. Finch was kept prisoner in the house of the Earl of Derby, alternately tortured and offered bribes to get information about covert Catholics; the authorities spread the story that he had turned in Father George himself, was taking refuge with Derby, and was voluntarily giving up the name of every Catholic he knew. John spent time in the Fleet prison, Manchester, and in the House of Correction, spending months in dungeons, being dragged by his heels to Protestant churches. He and three priests were brought to trial for their faith in Lancaster on 18 April 1584. While waiting execution, he ministered to condemned felons in his cell. Martyred with James Bell.
c.1548 at Eccleston, Lancashire, England
hanged on 20 April 1584 at Lancaster, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-john-finch/
• Richard Lee
• Richard Long
• Richard Lea
• Richard Longe
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Son of Thomas and Katherine Sergeant. Graduated Oxford University c.1570. Seminarian at the English College in Rheims, France on 25 July 1581. Deacon at Soissons, France on 9 June 1582. Ordained at Laon, France on 7 April 1583. Returned to England on 10 September 1583 to minister to covert Catholics, hiding as a layman, using the names Richard Lee or Lea, and Richard Long or Longe. Arrested and martyred for the crime of being a priest. One of the Martyrs of England, Scotland and Wales.
c.1558 in Gloucestershire, England
hanged, drawn and quartered on 2 April 1586 at Tyburn, London, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-richard-sergeant/
• Caedwalla of Wales
• Cadwallader, Cadwallador, Cadwalla, Cadwallon, Ceadwalla, Cedualla, Peter
Son of Coenberht; descendent of King Ceawlin of Wessex in England. Exiled, but later returned to reclaim the throne by right, and by warfare. King of Wessex, which he expanded by conquest, annihilating the pagan residents of the Isle of Wight in the process in order to colonize it with his own people.
Converted to Christianity in 688 by Saint Wilfrid after being wounded in combat on the Isle of Wight. He abdicated, and went to Rome, Italy for baptism on 10 April 689 by Pope Saint Sergius I, taking the name Peter. He died ten days later, still wearing his white baptism robe. Venerable Bede wrote of him in his History of the English Church.
c.658 in Wessex, England
• 20 April 689 at Rome, Italy
• interred in a crypt at Saint Peter's Basilica
• converts
• reformed murderers
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-caedwalla-of-wessex/
Clare, Dina
Daughter of Alexander Bosatta and Rosa Mazzocchi. Her father was a silk manufacturer, and died when the girl was still young. She studied with the Daughters of Charity at age 13. Began a novitiate in the Canossians but felt that their charism was not what she was called to do. She returned home, and with her sister joined the Daughters of Mary and worked at a charity hospice, serving neglected elderly people and children. Teacher to the children at the hospice. Co-founded the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence with her sister and Saint Luigi Guanella; she took the name Chiara. Worked at the spiritual formation of the sisters.
27 May 1858 in Pianello del Lario, Como, Italy as Dina Bosatta
20 April 1887 in Pianello del Lario, Como, Italy of natural causes
21 April 1991 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-chiara-bosatta/
Son of John. Little is known of his life before his election as 11th Pope. Met with Saint Polycarp of Smyrna and allowed Eastern Christians to celebrate Easter on the 14th day of Nisan, regardless of whether it fell on Sunday. Anicetus took a firm stand against Gnosticism. Decreed that Church men should not have long hair; this was in keeping with 1st Corinthians 11:14 and helped mark the clergy as different from the laity.
in Syria
155
• 166 of natural causes
• listed as a martyr for centuries, possibly under the assumption that all the early popes were martyred, but there is no evidence of it
• interred in Vatican City, Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-anicetus/
• Brother Joseph
• Hildegun of Neuss
• Hildegunda, Hildegunde, Hildegund, Joseph
Dressed as a boy for her own safety, she accompanied her father on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On her return home, she kept the male disguise, joined the Cistercian monks at Schönau, Germany, and lived the rest of her life as a brother. Legend describes her as a miracle worker, and her sex was discovered only on her death. Of all the old stories with this theme, Hildegun's has the best and most convincing documentation by her own order.
in the Rhineland, Germany
1188 in Schönau, Germany of natural causes
• no formal beatification or canonization
• widespread popular devotion has existed for centuries
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-hildegun-of-schonau/
• Gerald of Salas
• Geraldo, Géraud, Giraud
Canon regular in the diocese of Périgueux, France. Reforming monk at the Saint-Avit Abbey. Hermit in the Cadonh Forest. His reputation attracted many would-be students. Founded the Benedictine houses of Andorel Abbey, Belleperche Abbey, Valmagne Abbey, Bournet Abbey in 1113, Dalon Abbey and Grandselve Abbey in 1114, Cadouin Abbey c.1115, Fontdouce Abbey in 1117, Châtelliers Abbey in 1119, and Absie Abbey in 1120. Founded the Order of Cadonh and the Order of Dalon, both of which later merged into the Cistercians.
Salles, France
• 1120 of natural causes
• re-interred in a marble tomb on the south-side of the altar at Châtelliers Abbey
1249 by Pope Innocent IV
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-gerald-of-salles/
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Joined the Franciscans in 1900, making his solemn profession on 24 February 1904. Ordained in 1906. Built the seminary in Lotz, Poland. Founded the Antonian Sisters of Christ the King. Arrested on 10 October 1941 in the Nazi persecutions of the Church. One of the 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II.
9 July 1882 in Nagórzany, Podkarpackie, Poland
• 20 May 1942 on the road from the Dachau concentration camp, Oberbayern, Germany
• body burned and ashes scattered
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II at Warsaw, Poland
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-anastazy-jakub-pankiewicz/
• Marcellinus of Ambrun
• Marcelino...
• Marcellí d'Ambrun
Priest. Missionary to the Dauphiné area of France and Switzerland in the early 4th century. First Bishop of Embrun, France, consecrated by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli. When the Arian heresy arrived in his area, Marcellinus was forced to flee into the mountains and care for his diocese from exile.
North Africa
• c.374 of natural causes
• relics transferred to Digne-les-Bains, France in the 10th century
• relics destroyed in the anti-Christian excesses of the French Revolution
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marcellinus-of-embrun/
• Simon Rinalducci of Todi
• Simon of Todi
Augustinian friar in 1280. Noted for his theological studies. Lector. Prior of several houses. Famous preacher. Augustinian provincial prior in Umbria, Italy. During a general chapter conference in 1318 he was unjustly accused of some serious charges; he kept silence rather than cause scandal among his brothers, and was eventually acquitted. Known as a miracle worker.
latter 13th century at Todi, Italy
20 April 1322 at the monastery of Saint James the Great in Bologna, Italy of natural causes
19 March 1833 by Pope Gregory XVI (cultus confirmed)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-simon-rinalducci/
• William Thompson
• William Blackburn
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
Studied at the English College in Rheims, France. Ordained, he returned to minister to covert Catholics in England during a period of persecution. Executed for the crime of being a priest. Martyr.
c.1560 at Blackburn, Lancastershire, England
hanged, drawn and quartered on 20 April 1586 at Tyburn, London, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-william-thomson/
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Raised in a Protestant family from Harrow-on-the-Hill, England. Convert to Catholicism. Studied at Douai, France where he was ordained in 1600. Worked in England to minister to covert Catholics who faced government persecution. Arrested and sentenced to death for the crime of being a priest. While he prison he became a Jesuit. Martyr.
c.1575 in Antwerp, Belgium
20 April 1602 at Tyburn, London, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francis-page/
Anthony, Antonio
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Studied at Douai, France. Ordained in 1591. Returned to England to minister to covert Catholics in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I. Arrested and martyred for the crime of priesthood.
1571 in Harrow, Middlesex, London, England
hanged, drawn, and quartered in late April 1593 York, North Yorkshire, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-antony-page/
• Oda of Anderlues
• Oda of Brabant
• Ode, Odette
Born to the nobility in the Brabant region. To avoid an arranged marriage to a young nobleman, Oda disfigured her face. Her family then allowed her to follow the religious vocation she desired. Premonstratensian nun at Rivroelles. Prioress at Rivroelles. Her cult has never been formally confirmed, but popular devotion continues.
Brabant, Belgium
1158 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-oda-of-rivreulle/
Sarah
Born to a wealthy Imperial Roman family. Married to a Roman army officer. Publicly exposed as a Christian when she baptized her children against the wishes of her non-Christian husband when the ship they was travelling on was in danger of wrecking in a storm. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Antioch (modern Antakya, Turkey)
burned at the stake c.305 in Antioch (modern Antakya, Turkey)
palm of martyrdom
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sara-of-antioch/
Muiris mac Ionrachtaigh
20 June as one of the Irish Martyrs
Parish priest in the diocese of Limerick, Ireland. Spent two years in prison and then executed for refusing to accept Queen Elizabeth I as head of the Church. Martyr.
c.1500 in Kilmallock, Limerick, Ireland
20 April 1585 in Clonmel, Ireland
27 September 1992 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-maurice-mackenraghty/
1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Educated at Oxford University. Priest. Conformed to the rules of the state church under Queen Elizabeth, but eventually returned to his Catholic faith, and was martyred with Blessed John Finch.
c.1520 at Warrington, Lancashire, England
hanged in 20 April 1584 at Lancaster, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-james-bell/
Educated at the Benedictine abbey at Saint-Savin, Poitou, France, where he became a Benedictine monk. As an adult, he travelled to several houses to revive the monastic observance. Helped Blessed Berno establish Cluny Abbey. Prior of Anzy-le-Duc in Burgundy, France.
at Poitiers, France
• c.930 at the abbey of Anzy-le-Duc, Brittany, France of natural causes
• relics enshrined in 1001
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hugh-of-anzy-le-duc/
Priest in the apostolic vicariate of England. Only a month after his ordination, he was imprisoned and executed in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I for the crime of being a priest. Martyr.
in Hemingbrough, North Yorkshire, England
hanged on 20 April 1602 in Tyburn, London, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-robert-watkinson/
Member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Priest. Martyr.
18 August 1931 in Wignehies, Nord, France
20 April 1961 in Sop Xieng, Xieng Khouang, Laos
• 11 December 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated in Vientiane, Laos, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-michel-coquelet/
Vincentius
Missionary to the Dauphiné area of France. Bishop of Digne, France.
North Africa
• c.374
• relics at Digne-les-Bains, France
Digne, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vincent-of-digne/
13 February (Digne-les-Bains, France)
Missionary bishop to the Dauphiné area of France.
North Africa
• c.374 of natural causes
• relics at Digne-les-Bains, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-domninus-of-digne/
Bishop of Scytha or Tomi on the Black Sea. His sanctity won the admiration even of the barbarians. Defended Origen against Saint Epiphanius of Salamis. Evangelized the tribes of the Lower Danube.
407 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theotimus-of-tomi/
Catuuallon
Son of Duke Conan I of Brittany (in modern France). Monk. Abbot of Redon from 1019 to 1040. Helped the founders of monasteries throughout Brittany.
Brittany, France
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-catwallon/
Fourth century hermit.
Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theodore-trichinas/
Benedictine Cistercian monk at Saint Denis monastery. Abbot of Igny. Abbot of Clairvaux in 1257. Abbot of Grace-Dieu c.1262.
1280 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-john-of-grace-dieu/
Margarita, Margherita, Marguerite
Benedictine abbess at Saint Catherine of Amelia abbey. Mystic.
1666 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-margaret-of-amelia/
Converted by the prayers of Saint Flavia Domitilla. Martyred in the persecutions of Trajan.
beheaded c.117 at the 2nd mile marker on the Via Latina outside Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-servilian/
Viho, Vihone, Vione, Wicho, Wilho
First bishop of Osnabrück, Saxony (in modern Germany) c.800.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-wiho-of-osnabruck/
Converted by the prayers of Saint Flavia Domitilla. Martyr.
beheaded c.117 at the 2nd mile marker on the Via Latina outside Rome, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sulpicius/
Martyr.
Córdoba, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-secundinus-of-cordoba-20-april/
Irish bishop mentioned the martyrologies of Tallaght, Gorman and Donegal, but no information about him has survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sobarthann/
• Alfonso Oria
• Anastasius of Antioch
• Dominic Vernagalli
• Helen of Laurino
• Sinach of Inis Clothrainn
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