Calendar of Saints

5 March	• yesterday • tomorrow

Saint Piran

Also known as

Peran, Perran, Pyran, Piranus

Profile

Piran's family origins are obscure; tradition says he came from Ireland. Spent his youth in south Wales where he founded a church in Cardiff. Received religious schooling at the monastery of Saint Cadog at Llancarfon, where he met Saint Finnian of Clonard. The two returned together to Ireland where Finnian founded six monasteries, including his most famous one at Clonard. Piran lived there before Saint Enda on Aran Island, and then Saint Senan on Scattery Island. He founded his own community at Clonmacnoise, "Ireland's University".

Cornish legend says Piran was captured in his old age by pagan Irish, jealous of his miraculous powers, especially his ability to heal. They tied a millstone around his neck, and threw him off a cliff into the sea during a storm. As Piran hit the water the storm abated and the millstone bobbed to the surface like a cork. On his stone raft, Piran sailed for Cornwall, landed at Perran Beach, built a small chapel on Penhale Sands, and made his first converts - a badger, a fox, and a bear. He lived there for years as a hermit, working miracles for the locals.

Piran founded churches at Perran-Uthno and Perran-Arworthal, a chapel at Tintagel, and a holy-well called the "Venton-Barren" at Probus. He made trips to Brittany where he worked with Saint Cai. Arthurian tradition from Geoffrey of Monmouth says he was chaplain to King Arthur, and Archbishop of York after Saint Samson was exiled by Saxon invasions, though it is doubtful he ever took up his See.

Piran's patronage of Cornwall derives from his popularity with the Cornish tin-miners. Legend says that Piran discovered tin in Cornwall when he used a large black rock to build a fireplace, and found that the heat made a trickle of pure white metal ooze from the stone. He shared this discovery with the locals, providing the Cornish with a lucrative living. The people were so delighted that they held a sumptuous feast where the wine flowed like water. Piran was fond of the odd tipple, resulting in the Cornish phrase "As drunk as a Perraner". The trickled of white metal upon a black background remains as the White Cross of Saint Piran on the Cornish National flag.

Piran died at his little hermitage near the beach. His relics were a great draw to pilgrims but, due to inundation by the sands, they were moved inland to the parish church of Perran-Zabulo, built to house them

Died

5 March 480 of natural causes

Patronage

• Cornwall, England
• miners
• Piran, Slovenia
• tin miners
• tinners

Video

YouTube PlayList

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

Saint John Joseph of the Cross

Also known as

• Carolo Gaetano Calosinto
• Giovan Giuseppe della Croce
• Giovanni Giuseppe Calosinto of the Cross
• John Joseph Calosinto

Profile

Joined Franciscans at age 16. Ascetic. First Italian to follow the reform movement of Saint Peter Alcantara who sought to make the Order more devoted to penance and austerity. John had such a reputation for holiness that his superiors put him in charge of establishing a new friary before he was ordained. He joined the work crew, serving as a hod carrier, then a mason. Novice master, guardian, and provincial of the Order. When his term as provincial expired, he dedicated himself to hearing confessions and practising mortification, two concerns contrary to the spirit of the dawning Age of Enlightenment. Had the gifts of prophecy and healing, and would swoon into ecstasies; known to levitate and bilocate.

Born

15 August 1654 at Ischia, Naples, Italy as Carolo Gaetano Calosirto

Died

5 March 1734 of natural causes

Canonized

26 May 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI

Patronage

Ischia, Italy

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

How do you think that with a bone only three fingers high we should understand the meanings of the designs of God? - Saint John Joseph, tapping his forehead

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-joseph-of-the-cross/

Blessed Orante of Ortucchio

Profile

A monk who made pilgrimages to holy sites and lived on alms; we don’t know his real name. When passing through Ortucchio, Italy, he became ill, and stopped at the local church, Santa Maria. It was closed up for the day, so our monk knelt on a pile of dry vines by the door, and planned to spend some time in prayer at the church if not in it. However, it was early March, the winter was harsh, his health was failing, and he did not survive the night outdoors. The next morning the church bells began ringing; the parishioners went to the church and found that the pilgrim monk had died while in prayer, that the dry vines had produced bunches of grapes, and the bells had been ringing on their own. As no one knew the brother’s name, the nicknamed him for the prayer position (Orante) in which they had found him, and made him their own.

Born

c.1400 in Calabria, Italy

Died

• 5 March 1431 outside the church of Santa Maria in Ortucchio, Italy of exposure
• buried in a lead coffin in the church, which was later renamed in his honour
• relics enshrined in a glass case in the altar in the Blessed Orante church in Ortucchio
• a wooden cup that Orante had with him was preserved as a relic, and there was a tradition that to drink wine from that cup would cure stomach ailments

Patronage

Ortucchio, Italy (popular devotion began immediately upon the residents seeing the miracles where he died)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-orante-of-ortucchio/

Saint Mark the Ascetic

Also known as

• Mark the Wrestler
• Mark the Hermit

Profile

Fifth century monk. May have been a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom, and friend of Saint Nilus the Ascetic, but it's questionable. Wrote over 200 texts on spiritual law, baptism, repentance, grace and holy works, and other topics. May have been the abbot at Ancyra, but later became a desert hermit. Opposed the Messalian heresy; it taught that each person has a personal demon that even baptism cannot conquer. Mark wrote against the Nestorians. Said to have known the Scriptures by heart. Legend says he once cured a hyena that had been born blind; not sure why.

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

Every good work which we perform through our own natural power causes us to refrain from the corresponding sin; but without grace it cannot contribute to our sanctification. - Saint Mark

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-mark-the-ascetic/

Saint Kieran

Also known as

• Kieran of Saighir
• Kieran of Seirkeiran
• Kieran the Elder
• Kieran Saighir
• Kieran mac Luaigne
• First-born of the Saints of Ireland
• Ceran, Chierano, Ciarán, Ciarano, Ciaranus, Kenerin, Kerrier, Kevin, Kieren, Kiernan, Kieron, Kyran, Queran, Queranus

Additional Memorial

6 January as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland

Profile

Convert to Christianity. Pilgrim to Rome, Italy. Ordained by Saint Patrick. First Bishop of Ossory, Ireland. Founder of Saighir monastery. Sometimes confused with Saint Piran of Cornwall. Several healing wells were named for Kieran.

Born

Corca-Laighde (modern Cape Clear), Ireland

Died

c.530 of natural causes

Name Means

• Little Dark One
• Dark Prince
• Dark Haired One

Patronage

Diocese of Ossory, Ireland

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

Pope Saint Lucius I

Also known as

Loukis

Profile

Chosen 22nd pope. Noted for his ascetic lifestyle, even while on the throne. Forbade men and women not related by blood to live together. Decreed that clergy should not live with deaconesses even if given lodging for reasons of charity. Exiled briefly during the persecution of Emperor Gallus. Condemned the Novatian heresy.

Born

Rome, Italy

Papal Ascension

25 June 253

Died

• 5 March 254 at Rome, Italy of natural causes
• buried at Saint Callistus catacomb
• relics transferred to the church of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome in 821
• some relics transferred to Roskilde, Denmark c.1100
• his head placed in a reliquary bust in the Saint Ansgar cathedral at Roskilde in 1910

Patronage

Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Blessed Dietmar von Minden

Also known as

Thietmar, Thiemo, Theodemarus

Profile

Priest. Bishop of Minden, Germany from c.1185 until his death 20 years later. WIth royal approval, Dietmar had the diocese open silver mines near Dehem and Cruckeberge, both of which are in modern Germany. In 1200, he founded the Marienwerder monastery.

Theitmar lived an extremely ascetic life, often fasting on bread and water only. Legend says that one Friday in Lent, when he was making this fast, he was damaging his health; when his servant went to fetch water from the well for the bishop, it would turn to wine in the bucket.

Born

Bavaria (in modern Germany)

Died

5 March 1206

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-dietmar-von-minden/

Saint Gerasimus of Palestine

Also known as

• Gerasimus of Jordan
• Gerasimus of Lycia
• Gerasimus of the Jordan
• Gerasimos of...

Profile

Monk at Lycia, Asia Minor. Hermit. He moved to Palestine where c.451 he founded a house near the Dead Sea, and then c.475 another one on the River Jordan near Jericho that later grew to great importance and spread monasticism throughout the region.

Born

Lycia

Died

c.475 of natural causes

Patronage

Cephalonia, Greece

Representation

monk healing a lion (early writers may have confused Gerasimus and Saint Hieronymus)

Video

YouTube PlayList

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

Saint Gerasimus of San Lorenzo

Also known as

• Gerasimus the Abbot
• Gerasimos, Gerasimo

Profile

Severely ascetic hermit who lived in pious solitude in the Basilian tradition; surviving artwork indicates a devotion to Mary and the Child Jesus. His reputation for piety and wisdom attracted so many would-be spiritual students that he founded a monastery (Sant’Angelo di Valletuccio), in the hamlet of San Lorenzo, Italy for them, and served as its first abbot.

Born

• c.1100 in San Lorenzo, Calabria, Italy
• the street where his family home stood is now named San Gerasimo in his honour

Died

• 25 April 1180 in San Lorenzo, Italy
• relics enshrined in the church of the monastery of Sant'Angelo in Valle Tuccio, outside San Lorenzo

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gerasimus-of-san-lorenzo/

Blessed Lazër Shantoja

Profile

Studied at the Pontifical French Seminary, and then theology in Innsbruck, Austria. Ordained on 29 May 1915 as a priest of the archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult, Albania. Noted preacher. Secretary to Archbishop Lazare Mjeda. Imprisoned, tortured and executed in the anti–Christian persecutions of the Albanian Communist government. Martyr.

Born

2 September 1892 in Shkodrë, Albania

Died

shot on 5 March 1945 in Tiranë, Albania

Beatified

• 5 November 2016 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lazer-shantoja/

Blessed Christopher Macassoli of Vigevano

Also known as

• Kristoffer Macassoli av Vigevano
• Cristoforo Macassoli

Profile

Born to the Italian nobility. Entered the Franciscans at age 20. Priest. Founded the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie at Vigevano, Italy c.1475, which became a point of pilgrimage for those seeking spiritual advice. Worked with Blessed Pacificus Ramoth of Carano.

Born

c.1415 in Milan, Italy

Died

• 5 March 1485 at Vigevano, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the abbey church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
• relics translated to the cathedral of Vigevano in 1810

Beatified

23 July 1890 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmed)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-christopher-macassoli-of-vigevano/

Blessed Ion Costist

Also known as

• Ion Kostist
• John Kostistk
• Geremia of Wallachia
• Ieremia of Wallachia
• Jeremiah of Valachia

Profile

A pious boy raised in Romania, he emigrated to Italy at age 19 because he thought the greatest Christians could be found there. Franciscan lay brother, taking the name Jeremiah. He developed a ministry of caring for the poor, sick and crippled, begging alms that always went to the poor.

Born

29 June 1556 in Zaxo, Suceava, Romania

Died

5 March 1625 in Naples, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

30 October 1983 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ion-costist/

Saint Framboldus of Bayeux

Also known as

Framboldo, Frambold, Franbolt, Frambaud, Franbourd

Profile

Monk and abbot of the abbey of Le Mans, France. Bishop of Bayeux, France from 691 to 720. While there is evidence of dedication to him, and belief in his heroic virtues, all information about him has been lost.

Died

buried in the church of Saint-Exupère in Bayeux

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation
• 13 June 1861 by Pope Pius IX (devotion allowed to resume in the diocese of Bayeux, France)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-framboldus-of-bayeux/

Saint Elouan of Brittany

Also known as

Elouen, Elowan, Eluen, Elven, Llywan, Loan, Louan, Louen, Louenn, Luan, Youen, Youenn

Profile

Fifth century monk and evangelist in Armorique, an area of modern Brittany, France.

Born

Ireland

Died

a chapel and fountain are located at the site of his tomb

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-elouan-of-brittany/

Blessed Giovanna Irrizaldi

Profile

Mercedarian nun in the monastery of Saint Joseph in Nalan, Asturia, Spain. Known as a miracle worker, she could travel across the sea by streteching a white veil over the water and riding it.

Died

buried at the Mercedarian monastery of Saint Joseph in Nalan, Asturia, Spain

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-giovanna-irrizaldi/

Blessed Romeo of Limoges

Also known as

Romaeus

Profile

Carmelite lay brother of Limoges, France. Pilgrim companion of Saint Avertanus of Limoges to Rome, Italy and the Holy Lands, but died en route. The tale of their travels, lavishly and piously expanded, was very popular in the years after their deaths.