Calendar of Saints

5 June	• yesterday • tomorrow
Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Saint Boniface

Also known as

• Apostle of Germany
• Boniface of Crediton
• Boniface of Mainz
• Winfrid, Winfried, Wynfrith

Profile

Educated at the Benedictine monastery at Exeter, England. Benedictine monk at Exeter. Missionary to Germany from 719, assisted by Saint Albinus, Saint Abel, and Saint Agatha. They destroyed idols and pagan temples, and then built churches on the sites. Bishop. Archbishop of Mainz. Reformed the churches in his see, and built religious houses in Germany. Ordained Saint Sola. Founded or restored the dioceses of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Franconia. Evangelized in Holland, but was set upon by a troop of pagans, and he and 52 of his new flock, including Saint Adaler and Saint Eoban were martyred.

Once in Saxony, Boniface encountered a tribe worshiping a Norse deity in the form of a huge oak tree. Boniface walked up to the tree, removed his shirt, took up an axe, and without a word he hacked down the six foot wide wooden god. Boniface stood on the trunk, and asked, "How stands your mighty god? My God is stronger than he." The crowd's reaction was mixed, but some conversions were begun.

One tradition about Saint Boniface says that he used the customs of the locals to help convert them. There was a game in which they threw sticks called kegels at smaller sticks called heides. Boniface bought religion to the game, having the heides represent demons, and knocking them down showing purity of spirit.

Born

c.673-680 at Crediton, Devonshire, England

Died

• martyred 5 June 754 at Dokkum, Freisland (modern Nederlands)
• interred at monastery at Fulda, Germany

Patronage

• brewers
• file cutters
• tailors
• Germany
• archdiocese of Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, Canada
• diocese of Fulda, Germany

Representation

• ax
• book
• fountain
• fox
• oak tree
• raven
• scourge
• spring of water
• sword
• with axe in hand at the foot of an oak tree
• book stabbed with a sword
• cutting down a tree

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon this ship but to keep her on her course. Let us stand fast in what is right, and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God's strengthening aid and say to him: "O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations." Let us trust in him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For he is all-powerful, and he tells us: "My yoke is easy, and my burden light." Let us continue the fight on the day of the Lord. The days of anguish and of tribulation have overtaken us; if God so wills, "let us die for the holy laws of our fathers," so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal inheritance with them. - from a letter by Saint Boniface

Let us pray the gracious defender of our life, the only sure refuge of those in trouble, that His right hand may keep us safe amidst these dens of wolves, and that He may guard us from harm, so that the footsteps of apostates walking in darkness may not be found, where should be the beautiful feet of those who carry the peaceful light of the gospel, but that the most gracious Father and God may help us to gird up our loins, with bright candles in our hands, and that he may enlighten the hearts of the heathen to gaze at the glorious gospel of Christ. Amen. - Saint Boniface; text from Prayers of the Saints

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

Blessed Malgorzata Szewczyk

Also known as

• Sister Lucja
• Margherita Lucia Szewczyk
• Mother of the Poor and Orphans

Profile

Born to a deeply religious family, she was orphaned young (her father died when Malgorzata was seven, her mother when she was nine) and leaned on her faith; the Eucharist became the center of her faith the rest of her life. At age 20 Malgorzata became a Franciscan tertiary, making her initial vows on 24 August 1878. Spiritual student of Blessed Honorat Kozminski beginning c.1880. She began a personal ministry of caring for sick and neglected elderly women, letting the homeless ones move in with her. This work attracted other women, and with Blessed Honorat, she organized them into the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God, also known as the Seraphic Sisters, founded formally on 18 April 1881. In 1891 she moved to the Galicia region of eastern Europe and built a monastery in Oswiecim, Poland, which became the motherhouse of the Daughters and a hub of care for abandoned and sick people, orphans, and for religious education. She worked for two years in the Holy Land where she cared for sick pilgrims. The Daughters full pontifical approval from Pope Pius XII on 3 March 1953, and continue their good work today with hundreds of Sisters in dozens of houses.

Born

c.1828 in Szepetówka, Khmelnytskyi, Russian empire (in modern Ukraine)

Died

5 June 1905 in the convent of the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God in Nieszawa, Aleksandrów, Poland of natural causes

Beatified

• 9 June 2013 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Amato at the Sanktuarium Bozego Milosierdzia, Kraków-Lagiewniki, Poland
• the beatification miracle involved the 1975 cure of severe pneumonia in a nun

Patronage

Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God

Readings

Triune God, You called Your Handmaid Margaret Lucia to care for the poor and abandoned members of the Mystical Body of Christ the Lord, let us follow the voice of Your holy will, and through the intercession of Your Handmaid Margaret Lucia grant us the grace (mention it here) for which I humbly plea. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-malgorzata-szewczyk/

Blessed Meinwerk of Paderborn

Also known as

• Meginwerk
• Builder Bishop (nickname referring to the number of construction projects)

Profile

Son of Imad, Count of Tesiterbant and Radichen, he was born to the Immedinger nobility; related to the Saxon royal family. Studied in the German cities of Halberstadt and Hildesheim; schoolmate of Saint Bernward of Hildesheim. Priest. Canon at Halberstadt. Chaplain at the court of Otto III. Bishop of Paderborn, Germany, consecrated on 13 March 1009; he served for 27 years during which he was known for founding monasteries and other construction works. He divided the diocese into parishes, helped build many of the parish churches, and travelled throughout the region, insisting on adherence to discipline by priests and monks. He brought in teachers in agriculture, mathematics and the sciences to teach the laity in the cathedral school. Travelled to Rome, Italy for the coronation of Henry II.

Died

• 1036 of natural causes
• buried in the crypt of the church at Abdinghof Abbey
• relics enshrined in Abdinghof on 25 April 1376
• relics transferred to Busdorf, Germany in 1803 when Abdinghof was secularized

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-meinwerk-of-paderborn/

Blessed Ferdinand of Portugal

Also known as

Ferdinand the Prince

Profile

A prince, the son of King John I of Portugal. He grew up in the royal court, but spent his free time in prayer and helping the poor. Though a layman, he was offered a cardinalate by Pope Eugene IV; he declined. In 1437, with his brother Henry, he commanded an expedition to Morocco against the Moors. The Portuguese were defeated at Tangiers; Ferdinand offered himself as a hostage to secure the cession of Ceuta to the Moors. Ferdinand was thrown into a dungeon at Fez, Morroco where he survived five years of abuse and torture. The writer Calderon made him the hero of the drama, El Principe Constante.

Born

1402 at Santarem, Portugal

Died

• 1443 in prison in Fez, Morocco of maltreatment
• interred in the royal crypt at Batalha

Beatified

1470 by Pope Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ferdinand-of-portugal/

Saint Franco of Assergi

Profile

Benedictine monk at the monastery of San Giovannia Battista at Lucoli, Italy for 20 years. Lived for several years as a hermit near the monastery. Hermit in the mountains of Assergi, Italy.

In addition to his reknown for being pious and prayerful, there is a healing spring in the mountains that emerged when Franco prayed for a water supply. He is reported to have rescued a baby in swaddling clothes from a wolf. When he found that he was drawing too much attention (and company) from the locals, he moved into a cave with a mother bear and three cubs, and was left alone.

Born

at Castel Regni, Abruzzi, Italy

Died

c.1275 of natural causes

Canonized

1757 by Pope Benedict XIV (cultus confirmation)

Patronage

Assergi, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-franco-of-assergi/

Saint Ðaminh Huyen

Also known as

Dominic

Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam

Profile

Married layman in the apostolic vicariage of Central Tonkin (in modern Vietnam). Fisherman by trade. Father. Imprisoned, tortured and executed in the persecutions of emperor Tu Duc. He spent his time in prison encouraging other prisoners to keep their faith. Martyr.

Born

c.1817 in Ðong Thành, Thái Bình, Vietnam

Died

burned alive on 5 June 1862 in Nam Ðinh, Vietnam

Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-daminh-huyen/

Saint Ðaminh Toai

Also known as

Dominic

Additional Memorial

24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam

Profile

Born

c.1811 in Ðong Thành, Thái Bình, Vietnam

Died

burned alive on 5 June 1862 in Nam Ðinh, Vietnam

Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-daminh-toai/

Saint Illidius of Clermont

Also known as

Allyre, Alyre, Allirol, Allirand, Allirot, Illide, Illidio, Ilidius

Profile

Fourth Bishop of Clermont (formerly Averna), Auvergne, France. He worked to establish Clermont as a center of religious teaching and devotion in the region. Cured the daughter of the Emperor Maximus at Trier (in modern Germany). Highly venerated by Saint Gregory of Tours. The petrified mineral springs and Benedictine abbey in Clermont are named for him.

Died

• 5 June 385 of natural causes
• relics at the ancient Benedictine abbey of Saint Allyre in the suburb of Clermont, France

Patronage

Clermont, France

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

Saint Eutichius of Como

Also known as

Eutichio

Profile

Hermit. Priest. Bishop of Como, Italy in 525. He had such a dedication to the contemplative prayer life that he led his diocese from a hermitage outside the city.

Born

482

Died

• 5 June 539 in Como, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the basilica of San Abbondio
• relics transferred to a raised sarcophagus behind the high altar at the church of Saint George in Como
• relics later moved to a side chapel of the church

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

Saint Dorotheus of Tyre

Also known as

Doroteo

Profile

Priest, scholar, and author at Tyre, Lebanon. Driven into exile during the persecutions of Diocletian, but later returned. Bishop of Tyre. Attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. Driven into exile at Odyssopolis, Thrace by Julian the Apostate. There the 107 year old priest was arrested, beaten, and murdered for his faith. Martyr.

Born

c.255

Died

martyred c.362

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-dorotheus-of-tyre/

Blessed Adalbert Radiouski

Also known as

Albert

Profile

Premonstratensian monk. Canon and then prior of the Premonstratensian monastery of Saint Vincent in Wroclaw, Poland where he insisted on proper monastic discipline. He took to the streets to defend his house against attacks by Protestants.

Born

15th century in Poland

Died

• 1527 in Wroclaw, Poland
• relics enshrined in the Premonstratensian monastery of Saint Vincent in Wroclaw

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adalbert-radiouski/

Saint Genesius, Count of Clermont

Profile

Born to the nobility, the son of Audastrius and Tranquilla. Miracle worker in his youth, restoring sight to the blind, healing the lame. Built and richly endowed several churches and religious houses. Friend of Saint Bonitus, Bishop of Clermont, and of Saint Meneleus, Abbot of Menat.

Died

• 725 of natural causes
• buried at Combronde

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-genesius-count-of-clermont/

Saint Luke Loan

Also known as

Luca Vu Bá Loan

Profile

Priest in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin (modern Vietnam). Arrested and martyred in one of the waves of anti-Christianity.

Born

c.1756 at Phú Ða, Vietnam

Died

beheaded on 5 June 1840 in Hanoi, Vietnam

Beatified

5 June 1986 by Pope John Paul II (decree de signis)

Canonized

19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-luke-loan/

Saint Sanctius of Córdoba

Also known as

Sancho, Sancius, Sancio

Profile

Lifelong layman and Christian. Captured by the Moors as a prisoner of war, he was taken to Córdoba, Spain, educated at the Moorish court, and enrolled in the guards of the Emir. Martyred when he refused to convert to Islam.

Born

in Albi, France

Died

impaled in 851 at Córdoba, Spain

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sanctius-of-cordoba/

Blessed Adam Arakawa

Profile

Married layman catechist martyr in the diocese of Funai, Japan.

Born

c.1551 in Arima, Hyogo, Japan

Died

5 June 1614 in Shiki, Amakusa, Nagasaki, Japan

Beatified

24 November 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adam-arakawa/

Saint Eobán of Utrecht

Also known as

Eobáno, Eobánus

Profile

Benedictine monk. Priest. Evangelized Freisland with Saint Boniface and Saint Willibrord of Echternach. Appointed bishop of Utrecht, Netherlands by Saint Boniface. Martyr.

Born

Ireland

Died

martyred 5 June 754 at Dokkum, Freisland (modern Netherlands)

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

Saint Adaler of Erfurt

Also known as

Adelario, Adolar

Profile

Saint Hadulph

Also known as

Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Beata Vergine dell'Aiuto
• Bartolomeo Placido of Recanati
• Clemente
• Dorotheus of Gaza
• Giusto
• Igor
• Peter Spano
• Rodolfo Sanz
• Theodor of Novgorod

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