Calendar of Saints

3 May	• yesterday • tomorrow
Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

The May-Book of the Breviary: The Immaculate Conception

Saint James the Lesser

Also known as

• Jacobus Minor
• James the Just
• James the Less
• James the Younger
• James, son of Alphaeus
• James, the brother of the Lord

• 1 May (under the title James, son of Alpheus; Anglican)
• 9 October (Orthodox as James, son of Alpheus)
• 23 October (Luther Church in America as James the Just; Orthodox as James the Righeous)
• 26 December (Eastern Orthodox)

Profile

Cousin of Jesus. Brother of Saint Jude Thaddeus. Raised is a Jewish home of the time with all the training in Scripture and Law that was part of that life. Convert. One of the Twelve Apostles. One of the first to have visions of the risen Christ. First Bishop of Jerusalem. Met with Saint Paul the Apostle to work out Paul's plans for evangelization. Supported the position that Gentile converts did not have to obey all Jewish religious law, though he continued to observe it himself as part of his heritage, may have been a vegetarian. A just and apostolic man known for his prayer life and devotion to the poor. Martyr.

Having been beaten to death, a club almost immediately became his symbol. This led to his patronage of fullers and pharmacists, both of whom use clubs in their professions. He is reported to have spent so much time in prayer that his knees thickened, and looked like a camel's. Soon after the Crucifixion, James said he would fast until Christ returned; the resurrected Jesus appeared to him, and fixed a meal for James Himself.

Died

c.62 at Jerusalem by being thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple, then stoned and beaten with clubs, including fuller's mallets, while praying for his attackers

Patronage

• dying people
• apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists
• fullers
• hatmakers, hatters, milliners
• Uruguay
• 8 cities in Italy

Representation

• fuller's club
• man holding a book
• square rule

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-james-the-lesser/

Saint Philip the Apostle

Additional Memorials

• 3 May (Roman calendar; Evangelical Church in Germany)
• 1 May (Anglican; Evangelical Lutheran; Lutheran Church Missouri Synod; pre-1955 Roman calendar)
• 11 October (Lutheran; Episcopal Church USA)
• 14 November (Greek calendar; Orthodox; Russia)
• 17 November (Armenian Church)
• 18 November (Coptic Church)
• 31 July (translation of relics of Cyprus)

Profile

Disciple of Saint John the Baptist. Convert. One of the Twelve Apostle. Brought Saint Nathanael to Christ. Confidant of Jesus. Little is known about him, but scriptural episodes give the impression of a shy, naive, but practical individual. Preached in Greece and Asia Minor. Martyr.

Born

at Bethsaida, Palestine

Died

stoned to death while tied to a cross c.80 at Hierapolis, Phrygia (near modern Pamukkale, Turkey)

Patronage

• hat makers, hatters, milliners
• pastry chefs
• Luxembourg
• Uruguay
• 37 cities

Representation

• elderly bearded man holding a basket of loaves and a cross which is often t-shaped
• elderly man casting a devil from the idol of Mars
• elderly man crucified on a tall cross
• elderly man holding loaves and fishes
• elderly man with a dragon nearby
• elderly man with a loaf and book
• elderly man with a snake nearby
• loaves of bread
• man baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch
• man holding a book or scroll reading descendit ad inferna
• tall cross
• with Saint Andrew the Apostle

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-philip-the-apostle/

Saint Ansfrid of Utrecht

Also known as

Ansfridus, Ansfried, Ansfrido

Profile

Count of Brabant. Married to Hilsondis; father of one daughter; after the girl's birth, Ansfrid and Hilsondis, lived as brother and sister. Courtier and knight in the service of Holy Roman Emperor Otto III and Saint Henry II. After many years of this life he realized a call to religious life, and in 974 he gave up his life as a soldier. In 992 he founded a convent at Thorn, Netherlands, which his wife and daughter entered; his daughter eventually became abbess. He founded a Benedictine monastery at Heiligenberg, Germany, and planned to enter it as a monk, but in 994, in the face of local opposition, he was named bishop of Utrecht, Netherlands by Otto. Late in life his eyesight began to fail, and by 1006 he was blind; though he kept the title of bishop, he was finally able to retire to the Heiligenberg abbey where he spent his remaining days as a prayerful monk. There is a single church dedicated to Saint Ansfrid; it is located in Amersfoort, Netherlands.

Born

c.940 in the Brabant region

Died

3 May 1010 in Amersfoort, Netherlands of natural causes

Readings

Until today I have combated for temporal glory in the defense of the poor, widows and orphans. Henceforth I place myself under the protection of the Virgin Mary and I will fight unceasingly for the conquest of souls, the glory of God and my own salvation. - Saint Ansfrid as he gave up his arms for the religious life

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ansfrid-of-utrecht/

Blessed Emilia Bicchieri

Profile

Four of seven daughters born to the wealthy Ghibelline patrician family of Pietro Bicchieri. Emilia was well educated, and early on showed a she was drawn to religious life, withdrawing to her room for hours of prayer. Her mother died when Emilia was still a girl, and her father became even more protective, and initially objected to Emilia becoming a nun. He eventually realized her true calling, and funded the construction of the Dominican monastery of Santa Margherita in Vercelli, Italy. Emilia entered the abbey as a Dominican nun at age 18. She was repeatedly chosen to serve as prioress of the house, but repeatedly refused and concentrated on menial domestic service to her sisters. She finally became prioress in 1273. She always had, and always promoted, devotion to the Eurcharist, the Passion, and Blessed Virgin Mary.

Born

1238 in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy

Died

• 3 May 1314 in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy
• interred at the Santa Marghertia abbey in Vercelli
• relics enshrined in the cathedral of Vercelli

Beatified

19 July 1769 by Pope Clement XIV (cultus confirmation)

Readings

Do everything for God alone. – Blessed Emilia’s service motto as a Dominican

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-emilia-bicchieri/

Saint Stanislas Kazimierczyk

Also known as

• Louis Scholtis
• Louis Soltys
• Stanislas Kazimierz
• Stanislaw Kazimierczyk

Profile

Raised in a pious family, the son of Maciej and Jadwiga Soltys, he received a good education in the faith. Received doctorates in theology and philosophy from Jagiello University, Kraków, Poland. Entered the Canons Regular of the Lateran in 1456, devoting his life to the Eucharist and to the care of the sick and the poor, and taking the name Stanislas Kazimierczyk. Priest, noted as a great preacher and popular confessor. Prior and novice master at his monastery. Professor of philosophy and theology. Friend of Saint John of Kanty. Like many holy people, the people who knew him considered him a living saint while Father Stanislas saw his own life as a constant struggle for holiness.

Born

27 September 1433 in Kazimierz, Lubelskie, Poland as Louis Soltys

Died

• 3 May 1489 in Kazimierz, Lubelskie, Poland of natural causes
• interred in the church of Corpus Domini, Kazimierz

Canonized

17 October 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-stanislas-kazimierczyk/

Blessed Tommaso Acerbis

Also known as

• Tommaso of Olera
• Thomas of...

Profile

Born to a poor family, the boy worked as a shepherd in his youth and received no schooling at all. Joined the Capuchin Friars Minor on 12 September 1580 at Verona, Italy where at age 17 he finally learned to read and write. Tommaso made his final profession on 5 July 1584 and served as a clerk in convents in Verona, Vicenza, and Rovereto until 1617. Outside the convent he visited the sick, helped the poor, and encouraged a love of the faith to anyone who would listen. When Lutheranism began to make inroads in the area, Tommaso spoke and wrote in defense of the Church; he didn't confront, he didn't preach blood and thunder, he simply spoke on his love 'the impassioned Christ' and the Church he founded - and it was persuasive.

Born

1563 in Olera, Bergamo, Italy

Died

• 3 May 1631 in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria of natural causes
• buried in the crypt of the chapel of Our Lady at the local Capuchin church in Innsbruck

Beatified

21 September 2013 by Pope Francis

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-tommaso-acerbis/

Saint Gabriel Gowdel

Additional Memorial

22 September (translation of relics)

Profile

Son of Peter and Anastasia Gowdel who were pious Orthodox Christians. Gabriel was noted for his piety and prayer from a very early age. He was a murder victim, and was considered a martyr. His attacker buried the body in a wooded area near the village where stray dogs guarded it until it was discovered by the villagers nine days after the crime; the body was incorrupt.

During an epidemic in 1720, children were buried near him, their families considering the ground around a martyr to be especially hallowed. His body was accidentally exhumed, and found to be incorrupt. There were many miraculous cures after the incident, and the end of the epidemic followed soon after.

Born

22 March 1684 at Zwierki, Poland

Died

• murdered on 11 April 1690
• body transferred to the church at Zwierki, Poland
• the church burned in 1746 - Gabriel's hand was burned, but healed
• relics translated to Saint Nicola's Cathedral, Bialystok in 1922

Patronage

children

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gabriel-gowdel/

Saint Conleth of Kildare

Also known as

Concletus, Conlaed, Conlaeth, Conlaid, Conlaith, Conlath, Conleat, Conleath, Conlethus, Conlian, Conleto

Profile

Skilled worker in gold and silver, and manuscript illuminator. Hermit in a cell in Old Connell, Ireland near the Liffey river. His reputation for holiness attracted would-be disciples. Friend of and co-worker with Saint Brigid; they ran first double monastery together. First bishop of Kildare, Ireland c.490. Baptised Saint Tigernach of Clogher. Died while on pilgrimage to Rome, Italy.

Born

c.450 in Ireland

Died

• attacked by wolves on 3 May 519 in the forests of Leinster, Ireland
• buried nearby
• relics translated to the Kildare cathedral in 799
• relics taken to Connell in 835 to protect them from Danish invaders

Patronage

Kildare, Ireland, diocese of

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-conleth-of-kildare/

Pope Saint Alexander I

Also known as

Alessandro I

Profile

Roman citizen. Pope in the reign of Emperor Trajan. Baptized Saint Balbina of Rome. He inserted in the Canon of the Mass the words commemorative of the institution of the Eucharist beginning "Qui pridie". Introduced the use of blessing water mixed with salt for the purification of Christian homes from evil influences. Martyr. While in prison awaiting execution, he converted the criminals who became the Martyrs of Ostia.

Born

probably Rome, Italy

Papal Ascension

between 106 and 109 (sources vary)

Died

• burned and beheaded 3 May between 113 and 119 (sources vary on the year) on the Via Nomentana in Rome, Italy
• relics transferred to Freising in Bavaria in 834

Representation

• man with his chest pierced with nails or spikes

https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-alexander-i/

Blessed Arnaldo de Rossinol

Profile

Orphaned young, Arnaldo was raised by his uncle, the archbishop of Tarragona, Spain. As a young man, Arnaldo served briefly in the court of King Peter III but felt a call to religious life, and became a lay knight in the Mercedarians. His dedication and personal piety were so obvious to his superiors that they sent him to rescue Christians enslaved by Muslims in Andalusia, Spain, and then in Tunis, North Africa where he served as a captive in exchange for some slaves. Commander of the Mercedarian convent in Lérida, Spain. Chosen Master General of the Mercedarians on 12 November 1308, a position in which he served the rest of his life.

Born

latter 13th century Spain

Died

3 May 1317 at the convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli in El Puig, Valencia, Spain of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-arnaldo-de-rossinol/

Blessed Guglielmo of Florence

Also known as

• Guglielmo da Firenze
• Guglielmo Novelli
• Guglielmo Fiorentino
• William...

Profile

Born to the nobility, the family of the counts of Gueda. Mercedarian friar. Served as the Master General of the Mercedarians. He helped broker peace between forces loyal to the Guelphs and Ghibellines, and was so successful that Pope Alexander IV granted privileges to the Order in gratitude. Guglielmo was the friar who found Blessed Peter Armengol hanged in a tree and being saved by the Blessed Virgin Mary. Assigned to redeem Christians enslaved by Muslims in north Africa, he was imprisoned and, when he refused to renounce his faith, murdered. Martyr.

Born

Florence, Italy

Died

crucified in 1330 in Algiers, Algeria

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-guglielmo-of-florence/

Blessed Marie Leonie Paradis

Also known as

Alodie-Virginie Paradis

Profile

Born to a poor but pious family. Educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Joined the Marianite Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Cross on 21 February 1854, taking her final vows in 1857. Taught in Montreal, in New York, and in Indiana. With 14 of her sisters, she founded the Poor Sisters of the Holy Family, devoted to assisting priests and seminarians, at Memramcook, New Brunswick in 1877.

Born

12 May 1840 in L'Acadie, Quebec, Canada as Alodie-Virginie Paradis

Died

3 May 1912 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Beatified

11 September 1984 by Pope John Paul II at Montreal, Canada

Patronage

archdiocese of Sherbrooke, Canada

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-marie-leonie-paradis/

Saint Juvenal of Narni

Also known as

Giovenale, Juvenalis

Profile

Ordained by Pope Saint Damasus I. First bishop of Narni, Italy in 368. Legend says that he saved Narni from invasion by Ligurians and Sarmatians praying for a great thunderstorm so great that the invaders fled in fear. Another story says that there was an attempt on his life by trying to strike him in the head with a sword; Juvenal caught the blade in his teeth and the would-be killer gave up.

Died

• c.373
• may have been a martyr, but records are unclear

Patronage

• city of Narni, Italy
• diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Italy

Representation

• bishop holding a chalice
• bishop with a sword in his mouth

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-juvenal-of-narni/

Saint Maura of Antinoe

Also known as

Moura

Profile

Lay woman. Married to Saint Timothy of Antinoe. About twenty days into the marriage, and in the middle of the persecution of Diocletian, Timothy was arrested. As he was being tortured to learn the location of sacred texts, Maura was dragged to the prison; the authorities thought that if they threatened to torture her, Timothy would break. Timothy refused to talk, and Maura made a profession of her faith. Enraged at their defiance, Arrianos, governor of Thebias, ordered her tortured. Witnesses begged that the tormentors release the innocent woman, but she told them that God was all the protection she needed. Martyred with Saint Timothy.

Died

• c.286
• nailed to a wall in mock crucifixion, it took her nine days to die of shock, blood loss, and dehydration

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maura-of-antinoe/

Saint Timothy of Antinoe

Profile

Layman son of a priest named Pikolpossos. Lector and copyist, he was responsible for the security of the liturgical texts used in services. Married to Saint Maura of Antinoe. About twenty days into the marriage, and in the middle of the persecution of Diocletian, Timothy was arrested. Dragged before Arrianos, governor of Thebias, he was ordered to surrender any Scripture writings he had hidden; he refused. Horribly tortured, including being burned, hung upside down, and having his eyelids cut off; he still refused. Martyred with Maura.

Born

Perapa (Egyptian Thebaid)

Died

nailed to a wall in mock crucifixion c.286 in Thebais, Egypt; it took him nine days to die of shock, blood loss, and dehydration

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-timothy-of-antinoe/

Blessed Ramon Oromí Sullà

Profile

Priest. Member of the Sons of the Holy Family; worked as secretary for his Institute. Publisher of their magazine. Wrote the first biography of Saint Josep Manyanet-y-Vives. Catechist and spiritual director for young people, working closely with those with a call to religious life. Promoted devotion to the Holy Family as a way for families to stay together. Arrested on 19 April 1937 by anti-Church forces. One of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War.

Born

16 September 1875 in Salàs de Pallars, Lleida, Spain

Died

• 3 May 1937 in Montcada, Barcelona, Spain
• body thrown into a common grave

Beatified

13 October 2013 by Pope Francis

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ramon-oromi-sulla/

Blessed Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz

Also known as

• Edward Joseph Rosaz
• Edvard Josef Rosaz

Profile

Ordained in 1854 at Nice, France. Worked in prison ministry. Wrote a catechism. Founded a home for abused and abandoned children in 1856. Founded the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Susa. Bishop of Susa, Italy on 24 February 1878.

Born

15 February 1830 in Susa, Piedmont, Italy

Died

3 May 1903 in Susa, Piedmont, Italy

Beatified

14 July 1991 by Pope John Paul II in Susa, Piedmont, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-edoardo-giuseppe-rosaz/

Saint Ahmed the Calligrapher

Profile

Raised as a Muslim in 17th-century Constantinople. Calligrapher and copyist in the royal chancery. He lived as an unmarried layman, but had a concubine, a Christian slave woman from Russia. Little by little, she brought him to a desire for the faith, and he began his catechumenate. However, before he could be baptized he was betrayed by another calligrapher who spotted him with Christian. Ahmed was arrested, imprisoned without food for a week, and then murdered for his desire to convert. Martyr.

Died

beheaded in 1682

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ahmed-the-calligrapher/

Saint Aldwine of Peartney

Also known as

• Aldwyn of Peartney
• Ealdwine of Peartney
• AElwinus of Peartney

Profile

Raised in a pious family; his brother Ethelwine was the second bishop of Lindsey, England, and his sister Ethelhild was abbess in Lincolnshire, England. Founded the monastery Athelney in Somerset, England. Monk. Abbot of Peartney in Lincolnshire, England.

Born

7th century England

Died

early 8th-century at Peartney Abbey, Lincolnshire, England of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aldwine-of-peartney/

Blessed Adam of Cantalupo in Sabina

Also known as

Adamo

Profile

11th century monk and hermit who rebuilt churches in Cantalupo in Sabina, Italy that had been destroyed by invading Saracens. Miracle worker.

Beatified

1634 by Pope Urban VIII

Representation

elderly bald man with a thick white beard, dressed as a monk, carrying a hammer in his right hand, a farming tool in his left, draped with strings of hearts representing graces received

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adam-of-cantalupo-in-sabina/

Blessed Zechariah

Also known as

Zaccaria

Profile

Franciscan, accepted into the Order in Rome, Italy by Saint Francis of Assisi. Sent to Spain by Saint Francis to preach Christianity to the Moors. Used miracles to prove the Real Presence.

Died

• c.1249
• buried in the floor of the main chapel of the monastery of Saint Catherine of Alemquer, Portugal
• relics enshrined in a grated wall creche of the chapel c.1562

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-zechariah/

Saint Alexander of Constantinople

Profile

Soldier in the imperial Roman army. In the persecutions of Maximian, he changed clothes and places with Saint Antonina of Constantinople after she had been condemned to live as a prostitute. They were discovered, tortured, their hands cut off, and killed. Martyr.

Died

burned alive in 313 in Constantinople

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexander-of-constantinople/

Saint Antonina of Constantinople

Profile

Consecrated virgin. In the persecutions of Maximian, she changed clothes and places with Saint Alexander of Constantinople after she had been condemned to live as a prostitute. They were discovered, tortured, their hands cut off, and killed. Martyr.

Died

burned alive in 313 in Constantinople

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-antonina-of-constantinople/

Saint Ethelwin of Lindsey

Profile

Eighth century monk at Ripon Abbey. Hermit on Farne Island for 12 years. Friend of Saint Egbert. Bishop of Lindsey, England. Late in life he retired to religious life in Ireland.

Died

• 8th century Ireland of natural causes
• buried at Lindisfarne, England

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ethelwin-of-lindsey/

Saint Alexander of Rome

Profile

Priest in Rome, Italy. Imprisoned, tortured and martyred with Saint Theodulus of Rome and Saint Eventius of Rome.

Died

• burned and beheaded c.113 on the Via Nomentana in Rome, Italy
• relics interred in the Dominican church of Santa Sabina, Rome

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexander-of-rome/

Saint Theodulus of Rome

Profile

Priest in Rome, Italy. Imprisoned, tortured and martyred with Saint Alexander of Rome and Saint Eventius of Rome.

Died

• burned and beheaded c.113 on the Via Nomentana in Rome, Italy
• relics interred in the Dominican church of Santa Sabina, Rome

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theodulus-of-rome/

Saint Eventius of Rome

Profile

Priest in Rome, Italy. Imprisoned, tortured and martyred with Saint Theodulus of Rome and Saint Alexander of Rome.

Died

• burned and beheaded c.113 on the Via Nomentana in Rome, Italy
• relics interred in the Dominican church of Santa Sabina, Rome

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eventius-of-rome/

Saint Philip of Zell

Profile

Anglo-Saxon pilgrim. Hermit near Worms, Germany. Friend of and advisor to King Pepin the Short. Founded the monastery of Zell, Germany around which grew the town of the same name.