Calendar of Saints

6 April	• yesterday • tomorrow

The gift of prayer should be the object of our most ardent desires. Without it there is no progress in God's service, and no obtaining anything from Him. - Saint Francis of Assisi

The Mountains of Myrrh: The Despair of the Traitor

Sanctity Through the Rosary: The Rosary and Heroic Holiness

Martyrs of Hadiab

Article

In the fifth year of our persecution, say the acts, Sapor being at Seleucia, caused to be apprehended in the neighboring places one hundred and twenty Christians, of which nine were virgins, consecrated to God; the others were priests, deacons, or of the inferior clergy. They lay six months in filthy stinking dungeons, till the end of winter: during all which space Jazdundocta, a very rich virtuous lady of Arbela, the capital city of Hadiabena supported them by her charities, not admitting of a partner in that good work. During this interval they were often tortured, but always courageously answered the president that they would never adore the sun, a mere creature for God; and begged he would finish speedily their triumph by death, which would free them from dangers and insults.

Jazdundocta, hearing from the court one day that they were to suffer the next morning, flew to the prison, gave to every one of them a fine white long robe, as to chosen spouses of the heavenly bridegroom; prepared for them a sumptuous supper, served and waited on them herself at table, gave them wholesome exhortations, and read the holy scriptures to them. They were surprised at her behavior, but could not prevail on her to tell them the reason. The next morning she returned to the prison, and told them she had been informed that that was the happy morning in which they were to receive their crown, and be joined to the blessed spirits. She earnestly recommended herself to their prayers for the pardon of her sins, and that she might meet them at the last day, and live eternally with them.

Soon after, the king's order for their immediate execution was brought to the prison. As they went out of it Jazdundocta met them at the door, fell at their feet, took hold of their hands, and kissed them. The guards hastened them on, with great precipitation, to the place of execution; where the judge who presided at their tortures asked them again if any of them would adore the sun, and receive a pardon. They answered that their countenance must show him they met death with joy, and contemned this world and its light, being perfectly assured of receiving an immortal crown in the kingdom of heaven. He then dictated the sentence of death, whereupon their heads were struck off.

Jazdundocta, in the dusk of the evening, brought out of the city two undertakers, or embalmers for each body, caused them to wrap the bodies in fine linen, and carry them in coffins, for fear of the Magians, to a place at a considerable distance from the town where she buried them in deep graves, with monuments, five and five in a grave. They were of the province called Hadiabena, which contained the greatest part of the ancient Assyria, and was in a manner peopled by Christians Helena, queen of the Hadiabenians, seems to have embraced Christianity in the second century. Her son Izates, and his successors, much promoted the faith; so that Sozomen says the country was almost entirely Christian. These one hundred and twenty martyrs suffered at Seleucia, in the year of Christ 345, of king Sapor the thirty-sixth, and the sixth of his great persecution, on the 6th day of the moon of April, which was the 21st of that month. They are mentioned in the Roman Martyrology on the 6th.

- from Lives of the Saints by Father Alben Butler

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-hadiab/

Saint Brychan of Brycheiniog

Also known as

• Brychan of Brecknock
• Brychan of Breknock

Profile

King in Wales. Relative of Saint Clydog and Saint Dubritius of Llandaff. Father of -

• Almedha
• Canog
• Cledwyn
• Cynfran
• Dingad
• Dogfan
• Dwynwen
• Endellion
• Gladys
• Gwen
• Ilud Ferch Brychan
• Keyna
• Nennoc
• Teath
• Tydfil
• Veep

and nine other saintly children.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-brychan-of-brycheiniog/

Saint Eutychius of Constantinople

Also known as

Eutichio

Profile

The son of Alexander, a general in the imperial Byzantine army of Belisarius. Monk at Amasea in Pontus (in modern Turkey) at age 30. Archimandrite of a monastery in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey). Patriarch of Constantinople from 552, nominated by Justinian the Great and confirmed by Pope Vigilius. With Apollinarius of Alexandria and Domnus III of Antioch, he called and led a council from 5 May to 2 June 553 to deal with the Three-Chapter Controversy, and Eutychius composed the decree against the Chapters. He consecrated the re-building of the Hagia Sophia church in 562.

Beginning in 564, Eutychius came into theological conflict with emperor Justinian who began to believe the Aphthartodocetae who taught that Jesus’s body was incorrupt, not subject to pain, and thus that he was not fully human as well as fully God. Bishop Eutychius began to speak and write against this heresy, which led to his arrest, while celebrating Mass, on 22 January 565. Justinian tried to have a show trial, but Eutychius refused to cooperate, which led to him being exiled for over 12 years.

In October 577, with the support of emperor Justin II, Eutychius was recalled and resumed his seat as patriarch of Constantinople. He was welcomed back to the city by Christians who were so happy to see him that there was a festival and banquets; the Communion line at his first Mass lasted six hours. Toward the end of his life, Eutychius got it into his head that the return of Christ would be spiritual, with no physical return, which is heretical, but he later returned to orthodox thinking on the matter. A surviving biography of his life was written by his chaplain, Eustathius of Constantinople.

Born

c.512 in Theion, Phrygia

Died

6 April 582 in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) of natural causes

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

Saint William of Eskilsoe

Also known as

• William of Aebelhold
• William of Aebelholt
• William of Ebelholt
• William of Eskhill
• William of Eskyll
• William of Ise Fjord
• William of Paris
• William of the Paraclete

Profile

Born to the Gallic upper class. Educated at the cathedral school of Saint Germain. Priest. Canon at the church of Saint Genevieve in Paris, France until c.1170. Widespread reputation for holiness and austerity; his life was so austere that his brother priests harassed him into leaving the city. When Pope Eugene III implemented stricter discipline in 1148, William returned and became sub-prior.

When there was a need for some one to help reform the discipline and liturgical devotion of the Danish monasteries, the bishop sent William. While working at Eskilsoe, he became its abbot, and stayed for 30 years. Faced opposition from lax brothers and local nobles, but never flinched. Founded the abbey of Saint Thomas in Aebelholt, Zeeland. His extensive correspondence has survived, and is a valued source for Danish history of the period.

Born

1125 at Paris, France

Died

• Easter Sunday, 6 April 1203 in Denmark of natural causes
• buried at Aebelholt, Denmark

Canonized

21 January 1224 by Pope Honorius III

Representation

• receiving a vision of Saint Genevieve
• a torch lighting itself by touching his grave

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-william-of-eskilsoe/

Blessed Maria Karlowska

Also known as

Maria of Jesus Crucified

Profile

Born into a large family and pious family, Maria was in her teens when she was orphaned and became an apprentice seamstress in Berlin, Germany. She always had a devotion to the Sacred Heart, and developed a ministry to the sick in the city. Nun. Founder of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Divine Providence (Congregation of the Good Shepherd of the Divine Providence; Good Shepherd Sisters) on 8 September 1896.; the Sisters work for the moral and social rehabilitation of prostitutes, and care for those suffering from venereal diseases. Worked mainly in Plock, Pomerania, which is today part of Poland, as well as Lublin, Torun, Bydgoszcz, Topolno, Pniewite, Jablonowo, Zoledowo.

Born

4 September 1865 in Karlowo, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland

Died

24 March 1935 in Pniewite, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland of natural causes

Beatified

6 June 1997 by Pope John Paul II in Zakopane, Poland

Readings

Make Christ more visible than we ourselves. - Blessed Maria

[She] worked as a true Samaritan among women suffering great material and moral deprivation. Her devotion to the Savior's Sacred Heart bore fruit in a great love for people. Thanks to this love she restored to many souls the light of Christ and helped them to retain their lost dignity. - Pope John Paul II during the beatification ceremony

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-maria-karlowska/

Blessed Zefirino Agostini

Also known as

Zephyrinus Agostini

Profile

Oldest son of Antonio Agostini, a physician, and Agela Frattini; his father died when Zefirino was very young. Ordained on 11 March 1837. Curate, youth minister and catechist at Saint Nazarius church for 8 years.

Assigned as priest to a very poor parish in 1845. Established after-school programs for girls, religious instruction for mothers, and education for women. Initiated excited devotion to Saint Angela Merici among his female parishioners, and founded the Pious Union of Sisters Devoted to Saint Angela Merici whose rule was approved by Bishop Ricabona in 1856. On 2 November 1856, he opened his first charitable school for poor girls. After 1860 some of the local women who worked at the school chose community life; Father Agostini prepared the first rule for the community, and on 24 September 1869 the first twelve Ursulines made their profession. On 18 November 1869, they founded the Congregation of Ursulines, Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

Born

24 September 1813 at Verona, Italy

Died

6 April 1896 at Verona, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

25 October 1998 by Pope John Paul II

Readings

Do not be dismayed by toil or suffering, nor by the meager fruit of your labours. Remember that God rewards not according to results, but effort. - Blessed Zefirino, 1874

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-zefirino-agostini/

Blessed Catherine of Pallanza

Also known as

• Catherine Morigi
• Katarina Morigi
• Katarina of Pallanza

Additional Memorial

27 April in the Ambrosian Rite

Profile

Catherine's entire family died of plague when the girl was very young, and she was adopted by a woman in Milan, Italy. At age 14 she felt a call to devote herself to the service of God, and lived 15 years with a group of women hermits in the mountains near Varese, Italy. Noted for her austere lifestyle and personal piety, surviving wholly on irregular gifts of food from spiritual students. She attracted so many would-be students that she agreed to lead a group of five, including Blessed Juliana Puricelli, living under the Augustinian Rule; Pope Sixtus IV approved the community. Known to have the gift of prophecy.

Born

c.1437 in Pallanza, Italy as Catherine Morigi

Died

• 6 April 1478 at Sacra Monte sopra Varese Monastery, Varese, Italy
• relics re-interred in the 1730s in a chapel built in her honour

Beatified

16 September 1769 by Pope Clement XIV (cultus confirmed)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-catherine-of-pallanza/

Saint Galla of Rome

Profile

Born to the Roman nobility, the daughter Symmachus the Younger who served as consul in 485; sister-in-law of Boethius. Lay woman, marrying soon after her father's murder, but widowed after a year of marriage; legend says she grew a beard to avoid further offers of marriage. She became a wealthy and pious recluse on Vatican Hill, joining with a community of women near Saint Peter's Basilica, caring for the poor and sick, she founded a convent and hospital. Reputed to have once healed a young deaf and mute girl by blessing some water, and having the girl drink from it.

A brief biography of her was written by Saint Gregory the Great in his Dialogues. Believed to have been the inspiration for Concerning the State of Widowhood written by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe. An image now above the altar of Santa Maria in Campitelli, Italy and formally housed in a church dedicated to Galla, is thought to have been based on a vision Galla received of Our Lady.

Died

c.550 of breast cancer

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

Saint Philaret of Calabria

Also known as

• Philaret the Gardener
• Philaret of Ortolano
• Philaret of Seminara
• Filarette, Filarete, Filareto

Profile

Born a Calabrian family who had been forced to emigrate due to Saracen invasion. He returned to Calabria, Italy in 1040, he first lived in Reggio Calabria, then became a monk at the monastery of Saint Elias of Aurlia. He worked as a shepherd, using the solitude for contemplation, and a gardener, giving his produce to the poor and brother monks. The monastery of Saint Elias was later renamed Elias and Filaret in 1133 in his honour.

Born

c.1020 in Palermo, Italy

Died

• dawn of 6 April 1070 in Palmi, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the church at monastery of Saint Elias on Monte Aulinas
• some relics enshrined in the sanctuary museum of Our Lady of the Poor in Seminara, Italy in 1451

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-philaret-of-calabria/

Blessed Pierina Morosini

Profile

One of eight children in a poor family in the diocese of Bergamo, Italy. Trained as a seamstress, she began work in a fabric factory at age 15. A pious girl, she had made a private vow of chastity to God, and considered religious life, but continued to live at home to help her mother take care of the remaining children. Catechist. One day as she returned home from work, she was attacked by a would-be rapist, and died a martyr to chastity.

Born

7 January 1931 at Fiobbio di Albino, Italy

Died

on 6 April 1957 of wounds received in a rape attempt at Fiobbio di Albino, Italy

Beatified

4 October 1987 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy

Patronage

rape victims

Readings

How I would love the death of [Saint] Maria Goretti to touch me. I want to look like her...I want to be like her. - Blessed Pierina Morosini

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-pierina-morosini/

Blessed Notkar Balbulus

Also known as

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-phaolo-le-bao-tinh/

Saint Irenaeus of Sirmium

Profile

Bishop of Sirmium, Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). Arrested and tortured in the persecutions of Diocletian, he refused to sacrifice to pagan gods. Ordered drowned for his faith, he objected that as a Christian he should be allowed to bravely face his tormentors and executioners; with God on his side he should be treated as courageous and honourable. Martyred. His Acta has survived to today.

Died

• beheaded in 304 at Sirmium, Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia)
• body thrown into the river

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-irenaeus-of-sirmium/

Blessed Guglielmo of San Romano

Profile

Mercedarian friar. In 1225, he accompanied Saint Peter Nolasco to Algiers where they freed 219 Christians who had been enslaved by Muslims. As part of that mission, Guglielmo stayed as a hostage to guarantee the payment of the remainder of the ransom for those slaves; he lived there the rest of his life, preaching Christianity to whomever would listen.

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-guglielmo-of-san-romano/

Saint Berthanc of Kirkwall

Also known as

Saint Amand of Grisalba

Also known as

Saint Winebald

Also known as

Martyrs of Sirmium

Profile

A group of fourth century martyrs at Sirmium, Pannonia (modern Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). We know little more than seven of their names - Florentius, Geminianus, Moderata, Romana, Rufina, Saturus and Secundus.

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-sirmium-6-april/

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War

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:

• Enric Gispert Domenech
• Josep Gomis Martorell

Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Cronan Beg of Clonmacnoise

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