Calendar of Saints

22 June	• yesterday • tomorrow
Optional Memorial of Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Optional Memorial of Saint John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr; Optional Memorial of Saint Thomas More, Martyr

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. - Epistle of Saint James

Meditations for Layfolk - The Ascetic Ideal, by Father Bede Jarrett

Meditations for Every Day in a Month - On Mortal Sin, by Father François Nepveu

Saint Thomas More

Also known as

omnium horarum homo (a man for all seasons, referring to his wide scholarship and knowledge)

Additional Memorial

1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University

Profile

Studied at London and Oxford, England. Page for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lawyer. Twice married, and a widower he was the father of one son and three daughters, and a devoted family man. Writer, most famously of the novel which coined the word Utopia. Translated with works of Lucian. Known during his own day for his scholarship and the depth of his knowledge. Friend of King Henry VIII. Lord Chancellor of England from 1529 to 1532, a position of political power second only to the king. Fought any form of heresy, especially the incursion of Protestantism into England. Opposed the king on the matter of royal divorce, and refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy which declared the king the head of the Church in England. Resigned the Chancellorship, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Martyred for his refusal to bend his religious beliefs to the king's political needs.

Born

7 February 1478 at London, England

Died

• beheaded on 6 July 1535 on Tower Hill, London, England
• body taken to Saint Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London, England
• his head was parboiled and then exposed on London Bridge for a month as a warning to other "traitors"; Margaret Roper bribed the man whose was supposed to throw it into the river to give it to her instead
• in 1824 a lead box was found in the Roper vault at Saint Dunstan's Church Canterbury, England; it contained a head presumed to be More's

Beatified

1886 by Pope Leo XIII

Canonized

1935 by Pope Pius XI

Patronage

• adopted children
• civil servants
• court clerks
• difficult marriages
• large families
• lawyers
• politicians (given in 2000 by Pope John Paul II)
• step-parents
• widowers
• diocese of Arlington, Virginia
• diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida
• Ateneo de Manila Law School
• Society of Our Lady of Good Counsel
• University of Malta
• University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters

Representation

• axe
• English Lord Chancellor carrying a book
• English Lord Chancellor carrying an axe

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

What does it avail to know that there is a God, which you not only believe by Faith, but also know by reason: what does it avail that you know Him if you think little of Him? - Saint Thomas More

What men call fame is, after all, but a very windy thing. A man things that many are praising him, and talking of him alone, and yet they spend but a very small part of the day thinking of him, being occupied with things of their own. - Saint Thomas More

Although I know well, Margaret, that because of my past wickedness I deserve to be abandoned by God, I cannot but trust in his merciful goodness. His grace has strengthened me until now and made me content to lose goods, land, and life as well, rather than to swear against my conscience. God's grace has given the king a gracious frame of mind toward me, so that as yet he has taken from me nothing but my liberty. In doing this His Majesty has done me such great good with respect to spiritual profit that I trust that among all the great benefits he has heaped so abundantly upon me I count my imprisonment the very greatest. I cannot, therefore, mistrust the grace of God. By the merits of his bitter passion joined to mine and far surpassing in merit for me all that I can suffer myself, his bounteous goodness shall release me from the pains of purgatory and shall increase my reward in heaven besides. I will not mistrust him, Meg, though I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how Saint Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to him for help. And then I trust he shall place his holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning. And finally, Margaret, I know this well: that without my fault he will not let me be lost. I shall, therefore, with good hope commit myself wholly to him. And if he permits me to perish for my faults, then I shall serve as praise for his justice. But in good faith, Meg, I trust that his tender pity shall keep my poor soul safe and make me commend his mercy. And, therefore, my own good daughter, do not let you mind be troubled over anything that shall happen to me in this world. Nothing can come but what God wills. And I am very sure that whatever that be, however bad it may seem, it shall indeed be the best. - from a letter written by Saint Thomas More from prison to his daughter Margaret

Grant me, O Lord, good digestion, and also something to digest. Grant me a healthy body, and the necessary good humor to maintain it. Grant me a simple soul that knows to treasure all that is good and that doesn't frighten easily at the sight of evil, but rather finds the means to put things back in their place. Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumblings, sighs and laments, nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing called "I". Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor. Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others. Amen. - Saint Thomas More

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-thomas-more/

Saint John Fisher

Also known as

• John of Rochester
• John Fisher of Rochester

Profile

Studied theology at Cambridge University, receiving degrees in 1487 and 1491. Parish priest in Northallerton, England from 1491 to 1494. Gained a reputation for his teaching abilities. Proctor of Cambridge University. Confessor to Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII, in 1497. Bishop of Rochester, England in 1504; he worked to raise the standard of preaching in his see. Chancellor of Cambridge. Tutor of the young King Henry VIII. Excellent speaker and writer. When in 1527 he was asked to study the problem of Henry's marriage, he became the target of Henry's wrath when John defending the validity of the marriage and rejecting Henry's claim to be head of the Church in England. Imprisoned in 1534 for his opposition, he spent 14 months in prison without trial. While in prison he was created cardinal in 1535 by Pope Paul III. Martyr.

Born

1469 at Beverly, Yorkshire, England

Died

• 22 June 1535 on Tower Hill, Tyburn, London, England
• buried in the churchyard of All Hallows, Barking, England without rites or a shroud
• head exhibited on London Bridge for two weeks as an example, then thrown into the River Thames
• relics in Saint Peter's Church in the Tower of London

Beatified

29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII

Canonized

1935 by Pope Pius XI

Patronage

diocese of Rochester, New York

Representation

• cardinal with an axe nearby
• cardinal with his hat at his feet
• cardinal with worn, haggard features

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

Had you but tasted one drop of the sweetness which inebriates the souls of those religious from their worship of this Sacrament, you would never have written as you have, nor have apostatized from the faith that you formerly professed. - Saint John Fisher, writing to the bishop of Winchester, England

I reckon in this realm no one man, in wisdom, learning, and long approved virtue together, meet to be matched and compared with him. - Saint Thomas More

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-fisher/

Pope Blessed Innocent V

Also known as

• Doctor famosissimus
• Petrus a Tarentasia

Profile

Joined the Dominicans at age 16. Studied at the University of Paris, receiving a master in sacred theology in 1250. He was famous in his life as a preacher and theologian. Archbishop of Lyons, France in 1272. Wrote several works on philosophy, theology, and canon law. Played a prominent part in the Council of Lyons, working for the union of the Greeks with Rome. Cardinal-bishop of Ostia in 1273. Part of the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons in 1274. Gave the funeral oration for Saint Bonaventure. His papacy lasted less than a year. Worked for peace between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the Italian cities of Pisa and Lucca, Rudolph of Habsburg and Charles of Anjou.

Born

c.1225 at Tarentaise, Burgundy, France as Petrus a Tarentasia

Papal Ascension

elected 21 January 1276 at Arezzo, Italy

Died

22 June 1276 at Rome, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

1898 by Pope Leo XIII

Prayers

God of truth, you bestowed on Blessed Innocent the gifts of knowledge and prudence and made him a promoter of peace and unity. By the help of his prayers may we cherish what is of heaven and in perfect unity follow what is right. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

https://catholicsaints.info/pope-blessed-innocent-v/

Saint Paulinus of Nola

Also known as

Meropius Pontius Anicius Paulinus

Profile

Friend of Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Nicetas of Remesiana, and mentioned for his holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints.

Distinguished lawyer. Held several public offices in the Empire, then retired from public ministry with his wife, Therasia, first to Bordeaux, France where they were baptized, and then to Therasia's estate in Spain. After the death of their only son at the age of only a few weeks, the couple decided to spend the rest of their lives devoted to God. They gave away most of their estates and dedicated themselves to increasing their holiness.

Paulinus was ordained, then he and Therasia moved to Nola, Italy, gave away the rest of their property, and dedicated themselves to helping the poor. Paulinus was chosen bishop of Nola by popular demand, and he governed the diocese for more than 21 years while living in his own home as a monk and continuing to aid the poor. His writings contain one of the earliest examples of a Christian wedding song.

Born

c.354 at Burdigala, Gaul (modern Bordeaux, France)

Died

22 June 431 of natural causes

Representation

• bishop giving alms to the poor
• bishop holding chains
• bishop holding manacles

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-paulinus-of-nola/

Blessed Marie Lhuilier

Also known as

Sister Saint Monica

Additional Memorial

21 January as one of the Martyrs of Laval

Profile

She had no education or place in the world when she was orphaned as a small girl. She worked briefly as a domestic servant then applied for entry to the Augustinian Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus (French Federation) at the convent of San Giuliano. She worked at the hospital of Chateau Gontier, and made her profession in 1778, taking the name Sister Maria of Santa Monica. Martyred in the French Revolution for refusing to take the civil oath.

Born

18 November 1744 in Arquenay, Mayenne, France

Died

beheaded on 25 June 1794 in Laval, Mayenne, France

Beatified

19 June 1955 by Pope Pius XII at Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-marie-lhuilier/

Saint Eusebius of Samosata

Profile

Bishop of Samosata, Syria. Fought Arianism, and defended Orthodox Christianity in the 4th century. Active in the Synod of Antioch in 361, a site of great debate over Arianism. Emperor Constantius was displeased, and demanded that Eusebius turn over records from the synod, threatening to amputate the bishop's hand if he refused; he refused; Constantius was impressed, and let him go.

Worked with Christians in Syria and Palestine, encouraging their faith during the persecutions of Valens. This work got him exiled to Thrace, but when Valens died in 378, Eusebius returned to Samosata. Killed by an Arian woman when he went to Dolikha, Syria to ordain a Catholic bishop.

Died

hit with a thrown roof tile at Dolikha, Syria in 379

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eusebius-of-samosata/

Saint Alban of Britain

Saint Hespérius of Metz

Also known as

Hesperus, Spera, Spère, Spero, Speros, Sperus, Spire

Additional Memorial

28 October as one of the Holy Bishops of Metz

Profile

Bishop of Metz, France from 525 to 542. Presided at the funeral of Saint Theodoric of Mont d'Or in 533. Attended the Synod of Clermont in 535. Friend of Saint Lupus of Soissons.

Born

late 5th century

Died

c.548 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hesperius-of-metz/

Saint Nicetas of Remesiana

Profile

Friend of Saint Paulinus of Nola. Missionary bishop in Decia (modern Romania and Yugoslavia). Author of several theological works. Credited by many scholars with writing the great hymn, Te Deum.

Died

early 5th century Remesiana (modern Bela Palanka, Serbia)

Patronage

Romania

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-nicetas-of-remesiana/

Saint Consortia

Profile

Born into the nobility. Miraculously healed the dying daughter of King Clotaire. In reward, the king endowed a convent in an area of modern France, and Consotia fled there to escape a series of marriage proposals and life the religious life. Venerated at Cluny, France.

Died

c.570 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-consortia/

Saint Exuperantius of Como

Also known as

Esuperanzio

Profile

Sixth bishop of Como, Italy c.495. Ardent opponent of Arianism.

Born

c.400 in Greece

Died

• c.512 of natural causes
• buried in the church of Sant'Abbondio in Como, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-exuperantius-of-como/

Saint Flavius Clemens

Profile

Brother of the Emperor Vespasian, uncle of Emperor Titus and Emperor Domitian. Married to Domitian's niece, Flavia Domitilla. Imperial consul with Domitian in 95. Martyred within a year for being a Christian.