| 4 October |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi |
• Francis Bernardone
• il Poverello
Son of Pietro Bernadone, a rich cloth merchant. Though he had a good education and became part of his father's business, he also had a somewhat misspent youth. Street brawler and some-time soldier. Captured during a conflict between Assisi and Perugia, Italy, he spent over a year as a prisoner of war. During this time he had a conversion experience, including a reported message from Christ calling him to leave this worldly life. Upon release, Francis began taking his faith seriously.
He took the Gospels as the rule of his life, Jesus Christ as his literal example. He dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and preached purity and peace. His family disapproved, and his father disinherited him; Francis formally renounced his wealth and inheritance. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to attract followers in 1209, and with papal blessing, founded the Franciscans based on a simple statment by Jesus: "Leave all and follow me." In 1212 Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, which led to the founding of the Poor Clares. Visited and preached to the Saracens. Composed songs and hymns to God and nature. Lived with animals, worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food to thieves. In 1221 he resigned direction of the Franciscans.
While in meditation on Mount Alvernia in the Apennines in September 1224, Francis received the stigmata, which periodically bled during the remaining two years of his life. This miracle has a separate memorial on 17 September.
In the Middle Ages people who believed to be possessed by Beelzebub especially called upon the intercession of Saint Francis, the theory being that he was the demon's opposite number in heaven.
1181 at Assisi, Umbria, Italy as Francis Bernardone
• 4 October 1226 at Portiuncula, Italy of natural causes
• relics in Assisi, Italy
16 July 1228 by Pope Gregory IX
• against dying alone
• against fire
• animal welfare societies
• animals
• birds
• ecologists, ecology
• environment, environmentalism, environmentalists
• families
• lace makers, lace workers
• merchants
• needle workers
• peace
• tapestry workers
• zoos
• Italy
• Colorado
• Catholic Action
• Franciscan Order
• 10 dioceses
• 10 cities
• apparition of Jesus
• Christ child
• birds
• deer
• fish
• lamb
• skull
• stigmata
• wolf
Alms are an inheritance and a justice which is due to the poor and which Jesus has levied upon us. - Saint Francis of Assisi
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society. - Saint Francis of Assisi
O God, Who, through the merits of blessed Francis, magnifies Your church, enriching it anew with spiritual offspring: make us, like him, to disdain the goods of earth, nor at any time to lack the comforting gifts of heaven. - Roman Missal
It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb the real flesh of our human frailty. Though he was wealthy beyond reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother. And shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me." Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps. And he desires all of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and chaste body. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. - from a letter written to all the faithful by Saint Francis of Assisi
Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread. - Saint Francis of Assisi
Praised be my Lord and God, with all His creatures, and especially our brother the sun, who brings us the day and brings us the light; fair is he, and he shines with great splendor. O Lord, he is a sign to us of you! Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for this stars, set clear and lovely in the heaven. - Saint Francis
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-francis-of-assisi/
22 September as one of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
Born to a deeply religious family, Enrique attended a Catholic high school in Gandia, Spain, began studying architecture in Madrid, Spain, but finally gave in to a call to the priesthood. Ordained in the archdiocese of Valencia, Spain in 1933. Parish priest in Barig where he revitalized parish life, started a library and choir, and concentrated on youth ministry. Brought Catholic Action to the area. When the anti–Christian persecutions of the Spanish Civil War began in 1936, he had to give up parish life, and worked in administration in Valencia. When the persecutions began in earnest there, he withdrew to live with his family. At 11am on 3 October 1936, he was arrested for the crime of priesthood, given a “trial”, admitted his vocation, and later in the evening executed. Martyr.
13 October 1908 in Bellreguard, Valencia, Spain
shot in the evening of 3 October 1936 in Xeraco, Valencia, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-enrique-morant-pellicer/
22 September as one of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
Born to a poor family. Studied at the seminary in Valencia, Spain. Ordained a priest in the archdiocese of Valencia, Spain in 1930. Parish priest in Catamarruch and Margarida; in both places he revitalized parish life, and developed a ministry to the poor and prisoners. Helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Father José withdrew to live with his parents, but was located, arrested by anti–Catholic militia, and executed. Martyr.
24 August 1903 in Bellreguard, Valencia, Spain
shot on 4 October 1936 in La Pedrera de Gandía, Valencia, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jose-canet-ginet/
• Amon the Anchorite
• Ammonius, Amun
Wealthy, married layman. He and his wife lived as brother and sister for 18 years, then each entered religious life. Ammon was one of the earliest and greatest desert monks, living in a cell on Mount Nitria. His reputation for holiness spread, and he attracted over 4,000 spiritual students. Known for his extraordinary fasts, he ate only once every three or four days.
c.286 in Mariotis, Egypt
• c.348 in Scetis, Egypt of natural causes
• a brother monk named Anthony saw Ammon's soul ascend to heaven from his own cell, 13 miles away
a man saying the rosary in bed with his wife
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ammon-the-great/
• Petronius Vescovo
• Petronius the Bishops
• Petronio....
Son of a Praetorian Prefect in Gaul, and may have been a Roman official himself. Pilgrim to the Holy Lands and the ascetics in Palestine in his youth. Bishop of Bologna, Italy. Built the monastery of Saint Stephen in Bologna; it was modeled on the holy places of Jerusalem. A fictional version of his life was popular in the Middle Ages.
c.445 of natural causes
• Bologna, Italy, archdiocese of
• Bologna, Italy, city of
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-petronius-of-bologna/
Quentin, Quintino
Worked in the court of the king of the Franks. When the queen tried to seduce him, Quintius refused, explaining that his faith prohibited adultery; angered at the rejection, she had Quintius murdered.
Tours, France
c.570 at L'Indrois near Montresor, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-quintius-of-tours/
One of the people who heard Saint Paul the Apostle speak at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece (Acts 17:34). Convert. Married to Saint Dionysius the Areopagite.
Athens, Greece
Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. - Acts 17:42
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-damaris-of-athens/
Immigrated from Syria to France. Nun. Served as abbess of Saint Martial in Paris, France for 33 years. Died with 160 of her sisters during a plague epidemic.
Syria
• 666 of plague
• buried in the church of Saint Paul outside the city walls of Paris, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aurea/
A group of Christians, men and women, young and old, murdered together for their faith. The only names that have come down to us are the brothers Mark and Marcian.
Alexandria, Egypt
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-alexandria/
Mercedarian friar. Freed 50 children in Algiers who had been enslaved by Muslims.
Portugal
1550 in Lisbon, Portugal
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-alfonso-tabela/
Daughter of Saint Adauctus. Following his martyrdom, she devoted her life to charity. Surrounded by the death of the faithful, she somehow lived through the persecutions of Emperor Maximinus.
4th century of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-callisthene/
• Crispus of Aegina
• Crispo....
Convert, baptized by Saint Paul the Apostle. Leader of the synagogue in Corinth, Greece. First bishop of the island of Aegina. Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-crispus-of-corinth/
Bishop of Damascus, Syria when the region was conquered by Muslims. He continued to preach Christianity. Imprisoned, tortured, blinded, crucified and executed. Martyr.
beheaded in 750 in Syria
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-peter-of-damascus/
• Caius of Thessalonica
• Gaius....
Convert from Corinth, Greece, baptized by Saint Paul the Apostle. First bishop of Thessalonica. Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-caius-of-corinth/
Benedictine monk at San Martino delle Scale monastery in Sicily. Abbot. Hermit in 1464. Highly regarded by kings and popes.
1470
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-julian-majali/
Layman. Father of Saint Callisthene. Martyred in the persecutions of Emperor Maximinus.
at Ephesus
martyred c.312
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-adauctus/
Martyred in the persecutions of Valerian.
in 257 at Alexandria, Egypt
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lucius-of-alexandria/
Daughter of Saint Domnina; sister of Saint Prosdoce. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
c.303 in Syria
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-berenice/
Daughter of Saint Domnina; sister of Saint Berenice. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
c.303 in Syria
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-prosdoce/
Theotecnus
Martyr.
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-diogenes-of-milan/
Mother of Saint Berenice. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
c.303 in Syria
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-domnina/
Friend and teacher of Saint Dionysius the Aeropagite.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hierotheus/
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 Alfredo Pellicer Muñoz
• Blessed Avelí Martínez de Arenzana Candela
• Blessed Dionisio Ibáñez López
• Blessed Francisco Martínez Granero
• Blessed Fulgencio Martínez García
• Blessed José Aloy Doménech
• Blessed José Gafo Muñiz
• Blessed José Miguel Peñarroya Dolz
• Blessed Juan de Francisco Pío
• Blessed Juan José Orayen Aizcorbe
• Blessed Martina Vázquez Gordo
• Blessed Publio Fernández González
• Blessed Tomás Barrios Pérez
• Dionysius Exiguus
• Finan of Teach Oirthir
• Robert Picavet
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition