| 28 April |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr; Optional Memorial of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, Priest; Optional Memorial of Gianna Beretta Molla |
• First Daughter of Wisdom
• Marie-Louise de Jésus
• Marie-Louise of Jesus
The fourth of eight children born to Julien, a court magistrate, and Françoise Lecocq, a notably pious mother; one of Marie-Louise's brothers became a priest, one of her sisters a nun; her eldest sister, Jeanne, was paralyzed at the age of 13, but was cured at 16 during a pilgrimage to Notre Dame des Ardilliers, Saumur, France. Educated from age seven by the Sisters of Sainte Jeanne de Lestonac. From the age of seventeen, Marie-Lousie devoted herself to the care of the poor and the sick, and when she worked at the poor house in Poitiers, France, a place known as a the General Hospital, she met and began to work with Saint Louis de Montfort. On 2 February 1703, at age 18, she dedicated herself to God and moved into the Hospital, officially as an impoverished inmate, but actually to help Father Louis administer the place. With him she co-founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Wisdom, was it's first member, and served as its first leader.
De Montfort left to serve as a travelling missioner, and Sister Marie-Louise worked as nurse and administrator on her own for the next ten years. She expanded the mission of the Hospital to feed beggars and operate the Hospital of Niort in Deux-Sèvres, France. In 1715, she and Catherine Brunet left Poitiers for La Rochelle, France where they opened a free religious school; it soon had 400 students. Upon the death of Saint Louis de Montfort, Marie-Louise assumed full leadership of the Daughters of Wisdom. She returned to Poitiers in 1719, and established the mother-house of the Daughters in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, France in 1720; the house still stands, and is a museum of the Daughters. The Daughters lived and worked in abject poverty, but the Congregation continued to grow. From 1729 to 1759 thirty new houses of Daughters were founded, and they became known for teaching children, caring for the sick, and feeding the poor, all for free. Their houses became homes for orphans, the neglected elderly, and abandoned cripples.
At age 66, Mother Marie-Louise made a journey on horseback to all the Daughter communities to inspire the sisters. Returning home, she had an accidental fall that left in continuing pain, and broke her health. At her death, the Daughters had 174 sisters and 37 houses, and they have continued their good work in France, Spain, Prussia and Belgium for centuries.
7 May 1684 on the Clain River in Poitiers, Vienne, France as Marie-Louise Trichet
• 28 April 1759 in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, Vendée, France of natural causes
• interred in the church at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre next to Saint Louis de Montfort
16 May 1993 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy
Daughters of Divine Wisdom
Your real Superior is Mary; I am but her servant. – Blessed Marie-Louise
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-marie-louise-trichet/
Born poor. Studied in Paris, France, and ordained in 1700. While a seminarian he delighted in researching the writings of Church Fathers, Doctors and Saints as they related to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom he was singularly devoted.
Under Mary's inspiration, he founded the Daughters of Divine Wisdom, a religious institute of women devoted to the care of the desititute, and a brother organization, the Brothers of Saint Gabriel. During this work, he began his apostolate of preaching the Rosary and authentic Marian devotion. He preached so forcefully and effectively against the errors of Jansenism that he was expelled from several dioceses in France. In Rome Pope Clement XI conferred on him the title and authority of Missionary Apostolic, which enabled him to continue his apostolate after returning to France. He preached Mary everywhere and to everyone. A member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, Saint Louis was one of the greatest apostles of the Rosary in his day, and by means his miraculously inspiring book, The Secret of the Rosary, he is still so today; the most common manner of reciting the Rosary is the method that originated with Saint Louis's preaching. In 1715, he founded the missionaries known as the Company of Mary or Montfort Missionaries.
His greatest contribution to the Church and world is Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin. He propagated this in his day by preaching and after his own death by his other famous book True Devotion to Mary. Consecration to Mary is for Saint Louis the perfect manner of renewing one's baptismal promises. His spirituality has been espoused by millions, especially Pope John Paul II, who has consecrated not only himself but every place he has visited as pope. In True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis prophesied that the army of souls consecrated to Mary will be Her instrument in defeating the Devil and his Antichrist. As Satan gains power in the world, so much more shall the new Eve triumph over him and crush his head.
The cause for his declaration as a Doctor of the Church is now being pursued.
31 January 1673 at Montfort-La-Cane, Brittany, France
28 April 1716 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sovre, France of natural causes
20 July 1947 by Pope Pius XII
• preachers
• Brothers of Saint Gabriel
• Company of Mary
• Daughters of Divine Wisdom
• YouTube PlayList
• True Devotion to Mary (audio book)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-louis-marie-grignion-de-montfort/
• Gianna Beretta
• Gianna Molla
Tenth of thirteen children born to Alberto and Maria Beretta, she was a pious girl raised in a pious family; one sister became a nun, and two brothers, including Enrico Beretta became priests. While in college, she worked with the poor and elderly, and joined the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Physician and surgeon, graduating from the University of Pavia in 1949, she started a clinic in Mero, Italy in 1950. She returned to school and studied pediatrics, and after finishing in 1952 she worked especially with mothers, babies, the elderly, and the poor. Active in Catholic Action, and a avid skier. She considered a call to religious life, but was married to Pietro Molla on 24 September 1955 at Magenta. Mother of three, she continued her medical career, treating it as a mission and gift from God. During her pregnancy with her fourth child, she was diagnosed with a large ovarian cyst. Her surgeon recommended an abortion in order to save Gianna's life; she refused and died a week after childbirth, caring more for doing right by her unborn child than for her own life. Today that child is a physician herself, and involved in the pro-life movement.
4 October 1922 in Magenta, Milan, Italy
28 April 1962 in Monza Maternity Hospital, Monza, Italy of complications from an ovarian cyst
16 May 2004 by Pope John Paul II
• against abortion
• mothers
• pregnant women
• unborn children
• World Meeting of Families 2015
If you must choose between me and the baby, no hesitation; choose - and I demand it - the baby. Save the baby! - Saint Gianna
O Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to befall me, make me only know Your Will. My most sweet Jesus, infinitely merciful God, most tender Father of souls, and in a particular way of the most weak, most miserable, most infirm which You carry with special tenderness between Your divine arms, I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart, the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy Will, the grace to confide in You, the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms. - Saint Gianna
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gianna-beretta-molla/
• María Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
• María Guggiari y Echeverría
• Chiquitunga - her father's pet name for her as a child
Eldest of seven children born to Ramón Guggiari and María Arminda Echeverría, she was baptized on 28 February 1929, and made her First Communion on 8 December 1937. Against her parent's wishes, María joined Catholic Action in 1941, serving as a children's catechist and working with the poor; she made a personal vow of chastity in October 1942. While working with Catholic Action, she met and fell in love with medical student and fellow member Saua Angel, but in May 1951, Angel finally answered a call to the priesthood, and went Maria's support, went off to to study. This caused Maria to begin to reconsider her own vocation in the world, and in 1953, against the strong objections of her family, she started the religious exercises that would lead to her becoming a Discalced Carmelite nun on 2 February 1955. She continued to stay in contact with Father Angel, and nearly 50 of her letters to him, along with poetry and other assorted writings, have survived.
12 January 1925 in Villarica del Espiritu Santo, Guairá, Paraguay
early morning of 28 April 1959 in Asunción, Paraguay of infectious hepatitis
• 23 June 2018 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebarated at the Estadio General Pablo Rojas, Barrio Obrero, Asunción, Paraguay
Bridegroom of my soul, You know my desire for apostolic zeal for the salvation of souls, help me to know where you want the complete consecration of all my being. - Blessed María
Father, for Your glory accept the total surrender of my being in union with the perfect sacrifice of Your divine Son. In Him, through Him and with Him I live, love, believe, suffer and die. Choose Your heart as a place of my eternal home. - Blessed María
Jesus I love You! What a sweet encounter! Virgin Mary! - Blessed María's final words
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-maria-felicia-guggiari-echeverria/
• Peter Louis Mary Chanel
• Pierre-Louis-Marie Chanel
Born to a peasant family, he was a shepherd as a boy. An excellent student. Ordained in 1827 at age 24. He was assigned to Crozet, a parish in decline; he turned it around, in part because of his ministry to the sick, and brought a spiritual revival. Joined the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) in 1831. Taught at the Belley seminary for five years. Led a band of missionaries to the New Hebrides in 1836, an area where cannabilism had only recently been outlawed; he was the first Christian missionary on the island of Fortuna. He converted many, often as a result of his work with the sick. He learned the local language, and taught in the local school. Killed by order of Niuliki, a native priest-king who was jealous of Peter's influence; the king's own son and daughter had become Christians. First martyr in Oceania.
12 July 1803 at Cuet, Ain, France as Peter Louis Mary Chanel
• beaten to death with clubs on 28 April 1841 at Poi, Uvea, Fortuna Island, New Hebrides
• body hacked to pieces with hatchets and buried
• remains recovered and taken back to France in 1842
• relics returned to Fortuna Island in 1977
12 June 1954 by Pope Pius XII
Oceania
He loves us. He does what he teaches. He forgives his enemies. His teaching is good. - one of Saint Peter's catechumens, explaining why he believed Peter's teachings
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-peter-chanel/
Kirill of Turov
Born wealthy. Fluent in Greek and Russian, he read heavily in all sacred works, and was later known as a Bible scholar. When he was grown, he renounced his inheritance, and became a monk in the Turov Borisoglebsk monastery. Preached discipline and obedience to his brother monks. Cyril wrote about the monastic life, and some of his works have survived the centuries.
Believing that even the monastic life was too distracting, he became a hermit on a pillar. His simple life, scholarly background, and reputation of sanctity drew many would-be followers. Bishop of Turov. Correspondent with and counselor to prince Andrei Bogoliubsky on spiritual matters and relations between the Church and state. An exponent of Greek tradition on Russian soil. Renowned orator and preacher, usually on the Passion and Resurrection. He spent his later years writing on spiritual matters.
c.1130
28 April 1182 of natural causes
I am not an harvester, but I gather up sheaves of grain; I am not an artist in book matters. If I were to speak of myself, ye would have done well not to have come into the church. But I proclaim to you the Word of God, I read to you the account of Christ. I do distribute forth the words of God, finer than gold or other stones, more sweet, than mead or honeycomb, and ye would be deprived of them, not having come to church. But ye, having come, I do praise and bless. - Saint Cyril, writing about himself
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyril-of-turov/
Lucchese
Layman who spent the first part of his life indifferent to religion. Married to Blessed Buona dei Segni. Worked as a grocer, money changer, and corn merchant. Father. Spent every waking moment in pursuit of wealth and political influence. In his 30's, his children all died of natural causes, bringing to stark reality all he had given up, and what little he had to show for it. He converted, and spent the rest of his life ministering to the poor, sick, and imprisoned. He and his wife may have been the first Franciscan tertiaries. He was given to ecstasies, and had the gifts of leviation and healing.
at Poggibonsi, Umbria, Italy
1260 at Poggibonsi, Umbria, Italy
1273 by Pope Gregory X (cultus confirmed)
• death of children
• lost vocations
• Poggibonsi, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-luchesius/
Panfilo
Seventh century bishop of Sulmona and Corfinium with his see in Abruzzi, Italy. Fed the poor, educated the people, and set an example of piety. Had a custom of celebrating Mass after singing the midnight Office; he followed that by distributing alms, praying through the night, and having breakfast with the poor. Acts like this, and the standard he set, upset some of his clergy: the parishioners expected their priests to behave as well as the bishop. To take the pressure off, some of them brought charges of Arianism against Pamphilus, and the bishop was brought before Pope Sergius I. The Pope vindicated Pamphilus, and sent him home with a large purse of alms for the poor.
c.700 of natural causes
Scerni, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pamphilus-of-sulmona/
Prudencio, Prudentzio
Cave hermit at age 15, and the spiritual student of another hermit near Osma, Old Castille, Spain. At age 22 he began evangelizing, opposing idolators and miraculously healing in the area of Calahorra, Spain. Priest. Canon of the church in Calahorra. Bishop of Tarazona, Aragon (in modern Spain).
in Armentia, Alava province, Spain
• late 7th century in Osma, Old Castille, Spain of natural causes
• buried in a cave
• some relics in the diocese of Calahorra, Spain
• some relics in the co-cathedral of Santa Maria la Redonda, Logroño, Spain
• Tarazona, Spain, diocese of
• Alava, Spain
• Lazkao, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-prudentius-of-tarazona/
Valerie of Milan
Wife of Saint Vitalis of Milan. Mother of Saint Gervase and Saint Protase. Martyred for given decent burial for Christian martyrs, and then refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods. Some modern writers contend that she may have been a character in a work of fiction mistaken for history.
• beaten to death with clubs in the 1st or 2nd century in Milan, Italy
• relics in the British Museum and in Thibodeaux, Louisiana
Thibodeaux, Louisiana
• with Saint Vitalis, Saint Gervase and Saint Protase
• early female martyr being beaten with clubs
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-valeria-of-milan/
Married to Saint Valeria of Milan. Father of Saint Gervase and Saint Protase. Soldier. Convert. When Saint Ursicinus of Ravenna wavered in his faith on his way to martyrdom, Vitalis encouraged him to stand firm. This exposed his faith and led to immediate arrest, torture, and martyrdom. Some modern writers contend that he may have been a character in a work of fiction mistaken for history.
buried alive in the 1st or 2nd century in Milan, Italy
Thibodeaux, Louisiana
• with Saint Valeria, Saint Gervase and Saint Protase
• early martyr being beaten with clubs
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vitalis-of-milan/
Joseph Cebula
Member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Priest. Martyred in the Nazi anti-Catholic persecutions.
23 March 1902 in Malni, Opolskie, Poland
tortured to death on 28 April 1941 at the Nazi prison camp at Mauthausen, Upper Austria, Austria
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jozef-cebula/
Born to the nobility. Uncle of Saint Ulric of Augsburg. Joined the Benedictines at Dillengen, Germany in 850. Abbot of Ellwangen Abbey. Abbot of Lorsch Abbey, which he rebuilt and restored. Bishop of the diocese of Augsburg, Germany c.887. Advisor to Emperor Arnulf. Tutor to Arnulf's son, the young Emperor John.
909 of natural causes
Diocese of Augsburg, Germany
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-adalbero-of-augsburg/
Croman
Spent his youth in Connaught, Ireland but returned to his native district, c.610. Founded several monasteries including in Roscrea where he served as the house's first abbot, and established a famous school.
Munster, Ireland
c.626 of natural causes
Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cronan-of-roscrea/
Physician in Ravenna, Italy. Sentenced to death for being a Christian. He wavered toward the end, but after he spoke to Saint Vitalis, he refused to renounce his faith, and was martyred.
beheaded c.67
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ursicinus-of-ravenna/
Benet
A holy man in Avignon, France who received help from an angel to build a bridge over a dangerous crossing of the Rhone River.
1184
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-benedict-of-the-bridge/
Bishop of Sens, France. Spiritual teacher of Saint Bond of Sens.
Sens, France
609
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-artemius-of-sens/
Ardwine
English pilgrim.
639 at Gallinaro, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-arduin-of-gallinaro/
Cistercian Benedictine monk. Abbot at Cambron, France.
1172
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-gerard-of-bourgogne/
Bishop. Martyred in Cirtha, Nicomedia (in modern Turkey).
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agapio-of-cirtha/
John Baptist Dinh Van Than
Layman catechist in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Worked with the Society of Foreign Missionaries. Imprisoned and tortured for their faith for three years during the persecutions of Emperor Minh Mang; he was repeatedly ordered to denounce Christianity; he refused. Martyr.
c.1796 in Nôn Khê, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
beheaded 28 April 1840 in Ninh Bình, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gioan-baotixta-dinh-van-thanh/
Paul Pham Khac Khoan
Priest in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Imprisoned and tortured for their faith for three years during the persecutions of Emperor Minh Mang; he was repeatedly ordered to denounce Christianity; he refused. Martyr.
c.1771 in Duyên Mau, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
beheaded 28 April 1840 in Ninh Bình, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-phaolo-pham-khac-khoan/
Peter Nguyen Van Hieu
Layman catechist in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Imprisoned and tortured for their faith for three years during the persecutions of Emperor Minh Mang; he was repeatedly ordered to denounce Christianity; he refused. Martyr.
c.1783 in Ðong Chuoi, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
beheaded 28 April 1840 in Ninh Bình, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-phero-nguyen-van-hien/
Martyr. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote about him.
martyred in Languedoc, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agapius-of-languedoc/
Martyr. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote about him.
martyred in Languedoc, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aphrodisius-of-languedoc/
Martyr. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote about him.
martyred in Languedoc, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-caralippus-of-languedoc/
Martyr. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote about him.
martyred in Languedoc, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eusebius-of-languedoc/
Acatius
Martyr.
martyred at Prusa, Bithynia (in the northwest of modern Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-acasius-of-prusa/
Martyr.
Prusa, Bithynia (in the northwest of modern Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-menander-of-prusa/
Patricius, Patrick
Bishop. Martyr.
Prusa, Bithynia (in the northwest of modern Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-patritius-of-prusa/
Martyr.
martyred at Prusa, Bithynia (in the northwest of modern Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-polyenus-of-prusa/
Rescued Saint Theodora of Alexandria by trading clothes with her at the house of prostitution where she'd been sentenced. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
beheaded in 304 in Alexandria, Egypt
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-didymus-of-alexandria/
Christian woman who, during the persecutions of Diocletian, refused to sacrifice to idols and claimed that she remained celibate as she was wed to God. She was ordered by anti-Christian governor Eustratius to be turned over to a house of prostitution. There Saint Didymus changed clothes with her so she could escape. She was later re-captured and executed. Martyr.
beheaded in 304 in Alexandria, Egypt
Dadas
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
beheaded in Durostorum (modern Silistra, Bulgaria)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-dada-of-durostorum/
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Durostorum (modern Silistra, Bulgaria)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maximus-of-durostorum/
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
beheaded in Durostorum (modern Silistra, Bulgaria)
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-quintilian-of-durostorum/
Bernhard
English pilgrim.
639 at Gallinaro, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-bernard-of-gallinaro/
English pilgrim.
639 at Gallinaro, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gerard-of-gallinaro/
English pilgrim.
639 at Gallinaro, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hugh-of-gallinaro/
Martyred at Nicomedia (in modern Turkey).
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-caralampo-of-nicomedia/
Martyred at Nicomedia (in modern Turkey).
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eusebius-of-nicomedia/
• Alexander
• Aphrodisius of Beziers
• Berthold
• Buonadonna
• Carino Peter of Balsamo
• Firmiano
• Germaine
• Guido Spada
• Luchtighern of Ennistymon
• Mark of Galilee
• Peter of Bearn
• Primianus
• Probe
• Tellurium
• Vitalis of Ravena
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition