| 3 December |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest |
• Apostle to the Far East
• Francisco de Jaso y Azpilicueta
• Franciscus de Xabier
Born to the nobility of the Basque reqion. Studied and taught philosophy at the University of Paris, and planned a career as a professor. Friend of Saint Ignatius of Loyola who convinced him to use his talents to spread the Gospel. One of the founding Jesuits, and the first Jesuit missionary. Priest.
In Goa, India, while waiting to take ship, he preached in the street, worked with the sick, and taught children their catechism. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. Said to have converted the entire city.
He scolded his patron, King John of Portugal, over the slave trade: "You have no right to spread the Catholic faith while you take away all the country's riches. It upsets me to know that at the hour of your death you may be ordered out of paradise."
Tremendously successful missionary for ten years in India, the East Indies, and Japan, baptizing more than 40,000 converts. His epic finds him dining with head hunters, washing the sores of lepers in Venice, teaching catechism to Indian children, baptizing 10,000 in a single month. He tolerated the most appalling conditions on long sea voyages, enduring extremes of heat and cold. Wherever he went he would seek out and help the poor and forgotten. He traveled thousands of miles, most on his bare feet, and he saw the greater part of the Far East. Had the gift of tongues. Miracle worker. Raised people from the dead. Calmed storms. Prophet. Healer.
7 April 1506 at Javier, Spanish Navarre as Francisco de Jaso y Azpilicueta
2 December 1552 at Sancian, China of a fever contracted on a mission journey
12 March 1622 by Pope Gregory XV
• African missions
• black missions
• foreign missions (proclaimed on 25 March 1904 by Pope Pius X)
• missionaries
• navigators
• parish missions
• plague epidemics
• World Youth Day 2011
• Australia
• Borneo
• Brunei
• China
• East Indies
• India
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Apostleship of Prayer
• Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
• Fathers of the Precious Blood
• Missioners of the Precious Blood
• 6 cities
• 16 dioceses
• crucifix
• preacher carrying a flaming heart
• bell
• globe
• vessel
• young bearded Jesuit in the company of Saint Ignatius Loyola
• young bearded Jesuit with a torch, flame, cross and lily
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a man's progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. - Saint Francis Xavier
The best way to acquire true dignity is to wash one's own clothes and boil one's own pot. - Saint Francis Xavier
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-francis-xavier/
• Vladislav Bukovinskij
• Wladyslaw Bukowinski
One of three children born to Jozef Tsypriyan Bukowinski and Vladislav Jadwiga Schipo del Campo, he was baptized at the age of four days. Naturalized Polish citizen. Studied law and theology at Jagiellonian University. Ordained a priest in the diocese of Krakow, Poland on 28 June 1931.
Vicar and catechist in Rabka from 1931 to 1935. Assistant pastor and catechist in Sucha-Beskidzka from 1935 to 1936. Assigned to Luck, Volhynia in 1936 where he worked with Polish immigrants and prisoners, both criminal and political; taught sociology and catechism at the major seminary; director of the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences; deputy editor of The Catholic Life. General Secretary of Catholic Action in the diocese in 1938. Appointed parish priest at the cathedral of Luck at the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. He was known as an intelligent, educated and pious man who remained calm and spiritual even in the face of the war.
Arrested by the NKVD (Communist secret police) on 22 August 1940, and sentenced to eight years of hard labour for the crime of being a priest in a Communist-controlled area, and for his out-spoken defense of religious freedom. He was sentenced to die when the NKVD started killing prisoners. He was released when the German army over-ran the area. He resumed his pastoral work which now included hiding Jewish children with Catholic families. He was arrested again by the NKVD on the night of 3 January 1945, languished in prison for over a year, then was sentenced to more hard labour in the mines of modern Karaganda, Kazakhstan. He spent his time in prison ministering to other prisoners.
He was released from the gulag in 1955 and ordered to remain in exile in Kazakhstan. He became a Soviet citizen in June 1955. Arrested in 1957 and sentenced to three more years in a labour camp for the crime of priesthood. Released in December 1961, he immediately resumed his work as parish priest and missionary in a Muslim land.
22 December 1904 in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr, Ukraine
• 3 December 1974 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan of natural causes
• relics enshrined in the cathedral of Karaganda in 2008
• 11 September 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ladislao-bukowinski/
• Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim
• John Nepomuk von Tschiderer
Son of Joseph Joachim and Caterina de Giovanelli. Received his secondary education from the Franciscans. Moved with his family to Innsbruck, Austria in 1792 where he studied philosophy and theology at the university. Ordained on 27 July 1800.
Though he was not a Benedictine, Johann spent a life exemplifying their motto of "Prayer and Work." He was priest to several Tirolean mountain parishes, a professor at the theological seminary of Trent, Italy and school dean in Sarentino and Merano. Recalled in 1827 to Trent as a member of the Chapter of Saint Vigilius' Cathedral. Pro-Vicar General of the diocese. Auxiliary Bishop of Bressanone for Vorarlberg in 1832. Bishop in Innsbruck, Austria on 20 May 1832.
Johann never let his administrative duties overshadow his pastoral ones, and he spent much of his time preaching, writing, teaching as a catechist, reviving home missions, helping the poor and sick, conducting Mass, hearing confessions, and administering the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders, sometimes to candidates from other dioceses whose bishops were not available. He supervised building and restoration of over 60 churches, maintained good relations with priests, providing for their ongoing formation, promoted Christian education of boys and girls by those in religious life, supported seminarians, insured seminary teachings were strictly orthodox, helped found an institute for the hearing and speech impaired, and managed to pray the Rosary each day.
He worked with, and provided funding for the care of victims of the cholera epidemics of 1836 and 1855, and in the war of 1859. He intervened to prevent the 20 March 1848 Uprising from becoming a blood-bath. He worked to overcome the obstacles between Church and State that were created by contemporary legislation. Late in life he planned a pilgrimage to Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, but illness and then death prevented it.
15 April 1777 at Bolzano, diocese of Trent, Italy
3 December 1860 at Trent, Italy of natural causes
• 29 April 1995 by Pope John Paul II
• beatification miracles include the healing of blindness of a 4-year-old in 1867, and the 1871 cure of a young priest who was on his death-bed with tuberculosis
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-johann-nepomuk-von-tschiderer/
• Emma of Lesum
• Emma of Stiepel
• Hemma, Imma
Born to the Saxon nobility; the sister of Bishop Meinwerk of Paderborn, Germany. Lay woman, married to Luidger, the son of a Saxon duke. In 1008 she built a church on land given to her by the pope. Mother of one, who would become Bishop Imad of Paderborn. Widowed in 1011. She devoted herself and her fortune to charity to the poor of Bremen, Germany, support of the cathedral, and the construction of churches.
c.977
• 3 December 1038 of natural causes
• buried in the cathedral in Bremen, Germany church yard
• when her grave was opened in the 16th century, the body had turned to dust except for the right hand - which was the hand she used to dispense charity
• hand enshrined at the abbey of Saint Ludger in Werden, Germany
• never formally canonized
• a popular devotion developed immediately upon her death
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-emma-of-bremen/
Second century king or chieftain in the British Isles. Wrote to Pope Saint Eleuterus c.180 to ask for missionaries. Bede says that evangelists were sent, and had great success in the south and west of Britain and Wales. Helped found the dioceses of London, England, and Llandaff, Wales. Lucius later became a missionary himself, taking the message to the Grissons in what is modern Switzerland.
Many modern scholars regard Lucius as inadvertent pious fiction. We know that King Lucius of Edessa wrote to Pope Eleuterus to ask for missionaries to the Britium region near Mesopotamia. Combined with the lack of popular devotion to Lucius in Britain, and no mention in writings before the 6th century leads to the belief that some old hand-written documents were misread, and were seen as an explanation for some early missionary efforts in England and Wales.
c.200 of natural events
• Chur, Switzerland, city of
• Chur, Switzerland, diocese of
• Liechtenstein
• in armor with orb, with crown and scepter at the feet
• in armor with a pilgrim's staff
• plowing with a bear and cattle
• destroying idols
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lucius/
One of four children born to Pawel Macha and Anna Cofalka. Jan felt a call to a priestly vocation, but was turned down by the seminary on first application in 1933. He studied law for a few months, but was accepted to seminary in 1934. Ordained a priest of the archdiocese of Katowice, Poland on 25 June 1939, just a few months before the Nazi invasion. During the war he worked to provide material and spiritual support to families and children who had lost parents in the fighting. Imprisoned on 5 September 1941, he was moved from prison to prison, repeatedly interrogated by the SS, and finally executed. Martyr.
18 January 1914 in Chrozów, Poland
• guillotined at 12.15am on 3 December 1942 in Katowice, Poland
• remains unrecovered, and probably cremated
• 20 November 2021 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated in Katowice, Poland, presided by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jan-franciszek-macha/
• Birinus of Genoa
• Apostle of Wessex
• Berin, Birin, Birch
Ordained in Rome, Italy. Bishop in Genoa, Italy. Sent by Pope Honorius I as a missionary to Britain in 634. Preached with the pagan West Saxons where he had great success, converting King Cynegils and many of his subjects. Bishop of Dorchester, England. Founded many churches in the region, and known for a great devotion to the Eucharist.
• c.600
• Frankish
• 3 December 650 at Dorchester, England of natural causes
• buried in Dorchester, Oxfordshire, England
• relics at Winchester Cathedral in 686
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-birinus-of-dorchester/
Court stenographer at the trial of Saint Marcellus the Centurion at Tangiers. When Marcellus was condemned to death, Cassian announced his own faith, and denounced the penalty. He was immediately arrested and killed. Martyr. Mentioned in a hymn by Saint Prudentius.
298 in Tangiers (in modern Morocco)
stenographers
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cassian-of-tangiers/
Prefect in the court of Theodosius the Great in Constantinople. Married. When his wife died, Theodulus felt drawn to the life of a hermit, claiming that all the world's glories meant nothing to him. He sold his estate, gave his fortune to the poor, and lived as a hermit on top of a pillar near Edessa, Syria. Legend says he had the gift of inedia, living solely from Communion for 38 years.
440 near Edessa, Syria of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theodulus-of-edessa/
Husband of Saint Hilaria. Father of Saint Jason and Saint Maurus. Roman military tribune. Converted to Christianity after hearing the testimony of Saint Chrysanthus. Martyred in the persecution of Numerian along with his family and 70 soldier converts whose names have not come down to us.
• drowned in 283 at Rome, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-claudius-the-martyr/
Wife of Saint Claudius. Mother of Saint Jason and Saint Maurus. Convert. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
• died in prison in 283 in Rome, Italy from general harsh conditions and poor treatment while waiting her sentence as a martyr
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hilaria-the-martyr/
Educated at Cambridge. Convert to Catholicism. Secretary to the duchess of York. Falsely condemned as being part of the Titus Oates Plot. Martyr.
Suffolk, England
hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, London, England on 3 December 1678
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-edward-coleman/
Sofonia
Hebrew prophet and author of the canonical Old Testament book that bears his name.
7th century BC Jerusalem
late 7th century BC
scroll
https://catholicsaints.info/zephaniah-the-prophet/
Son of Saint Claudius and Saint Hilaria; brother of Saint Jason. Convert. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
• drowned in 283 at Rome, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maurus-the-martyr/
Son of Saint Claudius and Saint Hilaria; brother of Saint Maurus. Convert. Martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
• drowned in 283 at Rome, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of Santa Prassède in Rome in the early 9th century
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jason-the-martyr/
Brother of Saint Gibrian, Saint Helan, Saint Tressan, Saint Abran, Saint Petran, Saint Germain, Saint Promptia, Saint Franca, and Saint Possena. Spiritual student of Saint Remigus and Saint Gibrian. Hermit on the River Marne.
8th century Ireland
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-veranus/
Attala
Niece of Saint Odilia of Alsace. Benedictine nun. Abbess of Saint Stephen's Convent, Strasbourg, France.
c.697
741 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-attalia/
Eighth century bishop of Poitiers, France. Evangelized the Saintonge region. Accompanied Charlemagne to Spain where he was martyred.
martyred by Spanish Saracens
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anthemius/
Monk and abbot at Saint Germain monastery at Auxerre, France. Bishop of Auxerre in 857. Resigned the see in 859 to return to the life of a monk.
c.860 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-abbo/
Eloquius
Benedictine monk in Lagny, France. Spiritual student of Saint Fursey of Peronne. Abbot of the Lagny monastery.
666 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eloque/
Dominican friar. Opposed Albigensianism. Martyr.
tortured and sawn in half in 1320 by Albigensians
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-bernard-of-toulouse/
Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt. Martyr.
beheaded c.609 in Alexandria, Egypt
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theodore-of-alexandria/
Dominican tertiary. Spiritual student of Saint Vincent Ferrer.
French
1420 in Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lucy-the-chaste/
Consecrated in Ireland as a bishop, he returned home to evangelize Scotland.
Scotland
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ethernan/
Crispinus
Martyred in North Africa.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-crispin-of-africa/
Martyr.
in Pannonia (in modern Hungary), date unknown
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agricola/
Martyred in North Africa.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-claudius-of-africa/
Lived as a hermit beside the river Marne in France.
Irish
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-abran/
Martyred in North Africa.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-stephen-of-africa/
Martyred in North Africa.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-magina-of-africa/
Martyred in North Africa.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-of-africa/
Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-seleucus-3-december/
Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agapius-3-december/
Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-mamas-3-december/
Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian - Ambicus, Julius and Victor.
c.303 in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey)
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-nicomedia-3-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 Alvaro González López
• Blessed Francisco Delgado González
• Blessed Francisco Fernández Escosura
• Blessed Juan Bautista Ferris Llopis
• Blessed Julián Heredia Zubia
• Blessed Manuel Santiago y Santiago
• Blessed Marcos García Rodríguez
• Blessed Valeriano Rodríguez García
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition