| 9 June |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Optional Memorial of Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Church |
• Apostle of the Picts
• Apostle to Scotland
• Coim, Colmcille, Colum, Columbkill, Columbkille, Columbus, Columcille, Columkill, Combs
• 6 January as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
• 17 June translation of relics
Born to the Irish royalty, the son of Fedhlimidh and Eithne of the Ui Neill clan. Bard. Miracle worker. Monk at Moville. Spiritual student of Saint Finnian. Priest. Itinerant preacher and teacher throughout Ireland and Scotland. Spiritual teacher of Saint Corbmac, Saint Phelim, Saint Drostan, Saint Colman McRhoi and Saint Fergna the White; uncle of Saint Ernan. Travelled to Scotland in 563. Exiled to Iona on Whitsun Eve, he founded a monastic community there and served as its abbot for twelve years. He and the monks of Iona, including Saint Baithen of Iona and Saint Eochod, then evangelized the Picts, converting many, including King Brude. Attended the Council of Drumceat, 575. Legend says he wrote 300 books.
7 December 521 at Garton, County Donegal, Ireland
• 9 June 597 at Iona, Scotland, and buried there
• relics translated to Dunkeld, Scotland in 849
• against floods
• bookbinders
• poets
• Ireland
• Scotland
• 5 dioceses, 2 cities
My Druid is Christ, the son of God, Christ, Son of Mary, the Great Abbot, The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. - Saint Columba
O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Savior, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from yo so that our darkness will be illuminated and the darkness of the world will be made less. Amen. - Saint Columba
The holy Columba was born of noble parents, having as his father Fedelmith, Fergus' son, and his mother, Ethne by name, whose father may be called in Latin "son of a ship," and in the Irish tongue Mac-naue. In the second year after the battle of Cul-drebene, the forty-second year of his age, Columba sailed away from Ireland to Britain, wishing to be a pilgrim for Christ. Devoted even from boyhood to the Christian novitiate and the study of philosophy, preserving by God's favour integrity of body and purity of soul, he showed himself, though placed on earth, ready for the life of heaven; for he was angelic in aspect, refined in speech, holy in work, excellent in ability, great in counsel. Living as an island soldier for thirty-four years, he could not pass even the space of a single hour without applying himself to prayer, or to reading, or to writing or some kind of work. Also by day and by night, without any intermission, he was so occupied with unwearying labours of fasts and vigils that the burden of each several work seemed beyond the strength of man. And with all this he was loving to everyone, his holy face ever showed gladness, and he was happy in his inmost heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. - Adomnan, from his biography of Columba
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-columba-of-iona/
• Ephrem of Edessa
• Ephrem the Syrian
• Ephraem...
• Ephraim...
• Ephraem Syrus
• Deacon of Edessa
• Harp of the Holy Spirit
• Jefrem Sirin
• Sun of the Syrians
• 28 January (Eastern Orthodox; Eastern Catholic)
• 8 June (Scottish Episcopal)
• 10 June (Wales; Episcopal Church in the USA)
• 18 June (Maronite Church)
• 7th Saturday before Easter (Syriac Orthodox Church)
May have been the son of a pagan priest. Brought to the faith by Saint James of Nisibis, and baptized at age 18. Helped to evangelize Nisibis, Mesopotamia. May have attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. Deacon. Preacher. Had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 363 Nisibis was ceded to Persia; a great persecution of Christians began, and Eprem led an exodus of the faithful to Edessa. Founded a theological school in Edessa. Wrote homilies, hymns and poetry. Helped introduce the use of hymns in public worship. Fought Gnosticism and Arianism by his writings, including poems and hymns. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1920.
c.306 at Nisibis, Mesopotamia (in modern Syria)
• 9 June 373 at Edessa (in modern Iraq) of natural causes
• tomb in Armenian monastery, Der Serkis, west of Edessa
• spiritual directors
• spiritual leaders
• hermit sitting on a column
• deacon's vestments and thurible
• man composing hymns with a lyre
• man in a cave with a book
• man with a cross on his brow, pointing upwards
• man with Saint Basil the Great
• vine and scroll
Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven. - Saint Ephraem
Remember me, you heirs of God, you brethren of Christ; supplicate the Savior earnestly for me, that I may be freed through Christ from him that fights against me day by day. - Saint Ephrem, from The Fear at the End of Life
You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the God and Savior, you who have boldness of speech toward the Lord himself, you saints, intercede for us who are timid and sinful men, full of sloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and enlighten the hearts of all of us that so we may love him. - Saint Ephrem, from Commentary on Mark
Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom so that we may be enlightened and serve you with renewed purity. Sunrise marks the hour for men to begin their toil, but in our souls, Lord, prepare a dwelling for the day that will never end. Through our unremitting zeal for you. Lord, set upon us the sign of your day that is not measured by the sun. In your sacrament we daily embrace you and receive you into our bodies; make us worthy to experience the resurrection for which we hope. Teach us to find our joy in your favor! Savior, your crucifixion marked the end of your mortal life; teach us to crucify ourselves and make way for our life in the Spirit. - from a sermon by Saint Ephrem
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ephrem-of-syria/
• Anna Maria Gesualda Antonia Taigi
• Anna Maria Taigi
• Anne Marie Gianetti
Daughter Luigi Giannetti and Maria Masi. Her father was a pharmacist in Siena, Italy, but his business went bankrupt when Anna Marie was five years old. The family moved to Rome, Italy in search of work, but Luigi could only find a job as a household servant. Anne was married on 7 January 1789 to Dominico Taigi, a butler to the noble family of Chigi. She was married for 48 years, and mother of seven, two of whom died very young.
Anne Marie was always very concerned about her dress and appearance, far more than would be expected of a working class mother. Life at home was not always peaceful, Dominico could be ill-tempered and caustic, and Anne was known to have had an adulterous affair with an older man. But one day while at prayer at Saint Peter's Cathedral, she felt a sudden strong inspiration to ignore the things of this world. She began to live a more austere life, and to listen to the Spirit. Trinitarian tertiary. She found holy spiritual directors, gave all she could to the poor, visited the sick, and counselled many of the patients at the hospital of San Giacomo of the Incurables. She worked hard to evangelize her own family, changing her husband's demeanor, and they all regularly assembled in a small personal chapel to pray together.
As the years went on and Anne Marie devoted herself more and more to prayer, she began to receive mystical gifts, including prophecy and clairvoyance. She sometimes went into ecstacies, and received heavenly and prophetic visions. Her simple presence had a powerful effect on many, and she helped with many conversions. Counsellor to cardinals, royalty and three popes.
Because of her charismatic gifts, and her lack of concern about worldly matters, Anne was often the topic of gossip and sander, but she was the recipient of public veneration soon after her death, and her Cause for beatification began in 1863.
29 May 1769 at Siena, Italy as Anne Marie Gianetti
• 9 June 1837 at Rome, Italy of natural causes
• body incorrupt
• remains transferred several times
• interred at Saint Crisogono church, Trastevere, Rome, Italy
30 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV
victims of verbal spouse abuse
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-anne-marie-taigi/
• Apostle of Brazil
• Giuseppe de Anchieta
• Jose Anchieta
• Joseph Anchieta
Son of a wealthy and prominent family, and possibly related to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Educated in Portugal. Joined the Jesuits in 1551 at age 17. Missionary to Brazil, arriving on 13 July 1553. He is the National Apostle of Brazil, and was co-founder of the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
In youth he dislocated his spine. When he joined the Jesuits, he was sent to Brazil for its mild climate in the hope that his back would improve. It never did, and he was in constant pain for the 44 years he worked in the Americas.
He and the Jesuit Emanuel Nóbrega arrived at Piratininga on the feast of Saint Paul and so named the mission Sao Paulo. In 1553 he first met the Tupi Indians who lived on the outskirts of the settlement. As he was adept at languages, Joseph sooned learned theirs. For two decades Joseph worked on a grammar and dictionary used by Portuguese settlers and missionaries.
Joseph was later held hostage for five months by the Tamoyo tribe during which time he occupied himself by composing a Latin poem in honour of the Blessed Virgin. Since he had no writing supplies, he wrote in wet sand and memorized the verses. When he again reached Sao Vicente he committed all 4,172 lines to paper.
Joseph converted the Maramomis tribe, and composed plays for his students to perform, writing them in Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, and Tupi. Because his dramas were the first written in Brazil, Joseph is known as the Father of Brazilian national literature.
Jesuit provincial in 1577. In letters to his fellow missionaries, he warned that burning desire was not enough: "You must come with a bag-full of virtues."
19 March 1534 at San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
9 June 1597 at Reritigba (Anchieta), Brazil of natural causes
3 April 2014 by Pope Francis (equipollent canonization)
birds
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jose-de-anchieta/
Apostle of Merciful Love
One of ten children. Brother and god-son of Blessed Giovanni Maria Boccardo. Educated by the Barnabites. Entered the seminary in 1875, and was ordained in 1884 in the archdiocese of Turin, Italy. Assistant priest to his brother. Vice-rector and spiritual director at the Consolata College. Professor and spritual director of seminarians. Director of religious schools and religious education in his diocese. Visited prisoners and spent hours in the confessional at the Shrine of the Consolata. On the death of his brother, he was appointed superior of the Poor Daughters of San Gaetano in 1913. Director of an institute for the blind in 1919. Preached retreats. Promoted the building of a shrine to Jesus Christ, King and Priest. Founded the Sisters of Jesus the King, a contemplative branch of the Poor Daughters of San Gaetano in 1932.
9 August 1861 in Moncalieri, Turin, Italy
9 June 1936 at Turin, Italy of natural causes
• 14 April 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins in Chiesa del Santo Volto (Church of the Holy Countenance), Turin, Italy at 3:30pm on Saturday 14 April 2007
His charism as educator and founder was to reveal the merciful love of Jesus, priest and king, to his brothers, especially in the education of the clergy...and in the spiritual direction of so many that approached him in the confessional. - Mother Teresa Ponsi, superior general of the Poor Sisters of San Gaetano
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-luigi-boccardo/
• Baithen Mor
• Baithen the Great
• Baithin, Comin, Cominus
Born to a noble Irish family, the son of Brenaron. Monk. Abbot of Tiree Island, Scotland. Spiritual student of Saint Columba, and part of Columba's mission to Britain in 563; may have been Columba's cousin. When Columba died, Baithen was immediately chosen abbot to replace him and continue his work. He wrote a biography of Columba, which was used by Saint Adamnan, but the work itself is lost.
When Saint Baithen ate, before each bite he recited the prayer "Deus in adjutorium meum intende". When he worked the fields with the monks, he held up one hand to Heaven, beseeching God, while with the other hand he gathered the corn. A wise counsellor, his advice was sought by many Irish saints. Spiritual teacher of Saint Fintan Munni.
536 in Ireland
c.599 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-baithen-of-iona/
Premonstratensian monk. Lector at the Saint Cornelius monastery in Ninove in modern Belgium. Worked as a shoemaker at the monastery. He enjoyed the work as it kept his hands busy while his mind was on the things of heaven. Made trips to all the neighboring parishes on Sundays and feasts to distribute alms to the poor.
12th century in the area of modern Belgium
fractured his skull when he fell off a ladder while putting up a ladder for an Ascension procession in 1221 at the Saint Cornelius monastery in Ninove (in modern Flanders, Belgium)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-arnulf-of-velseca/
Brothers who were tortured and martyred for their faith in the persecutions of Diocletian. The two were the first martyrs whose remains were transferred from a basilica outside the walls of Rome, Italy.
• beheaded in 286 on the Via Nomentana, Rome, Italy
• relics in the church of Saint Stephen on Mount Celio
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-felicianus/
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-primus-9-june/
Jesuit priest. Vicar apostolic of Moulins, France. Imprisoned on a ship during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the French Revolution and left to die. One of the Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort.
c.1720 in Marseilles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
9 June 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-joseph-imbert/
• Der Gute Heinrich
• Heinrich Bucke
• Henry Michael Bucke
• Henry the Good
Shoemaker. Moved to Paris, France in 1645 where, with the help of Baron de Renti, he founded the Confraternity of Saints Crispin and Crispinian (Freres Cordonniers) for the spiritual development of his fellow cobblers. Though he considered a beati, there is no evidence of a public cultus for Henry.
in Luxembourg
1666
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-henry-the-shoemaker/
Disciple of Saint Lucian of Antioch. When soldiers arrived to arrest her for her faith, she believed she would be raped. To escape she invited the soldiers in, claimed she was going to change, then jumped out of an upper floor window; she was killed by the fall.
late 3rd century in Antioch
c.311 by jumping off a roof
against sexual temptation
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pelagia-of-antioch/
Sylvester of Valdisive
At age 40 he joined the Camaldolese monks at the convent of Santa Maria degli in Florence, Italy where he served as a cook. Received a series of visions, and when he got behind in the kitchen, angels would come to help. Much in demand as a spiritual advisor.
Florence, Italy
1348
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-sylvester-ventura/
4 May as one of the Carthusian Martyrs
Carthusian lay brother. Arrested on 29 May 1535 for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy. Martyred with five other Carthusian brothers.
English
starved to death on 9 June 1537 at Newgate Prison, London, England
20 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-robert-salt/
Bishop of Andria, Italy for 40 years. Attended the Third Lateran Council in 1179. Known for his personal sanctity, his work in building the diocese, and as a miracle worker.
England
c.1200 of natural causes
• city of Andria, Italy
• diocese of Andria, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-richard-of-andria/
Monk in Kamenni, Bulgaria. Seeking a more disciplined life, he became a hermit in the forest near Lake Koubensk in Russia. When Tartars attacked the area around his hermitage, he allowed the local peasants to “secretly” steal from his fields and garden to keep them fed.
1439 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-alexander-of-kouchta/
Married layman in the diocese of Almeria, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
26 October 1885 in Almeria Spain
9 June 1938 in Tur´n, Granada Spain
14 June 2016 by Pope Francis (decree of martyrdom)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-luciano-verdejo-acuna/
• Diomedes of Nicaea
• Diomede...
Physician at Constantinople. Lay evangelist. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Tarsus, Cilicia
beheaded c.305 at Nicaea, Bithynia
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-diomedes-of-tarsus/
Monk at the monastery of Saint Andrew, Coelian Hill, Rome, Italy. Brother monk with Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Papal ambassador to Contantinople. Bishop of Syracuse, Sicily.
Sicily
594 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maximian-of-syracuse/
Kidnapped and sold into slavery in 4th century Syria. When free again, he became a monk in Mesopotamia. Spiritual student of Saint Ephrem of Syria.
c.370 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julian-of-mesopotamia/
Vincenzo di Aquitania
Deacon and preacher. Martyred by pagans as a sacrifice to a sun god.
staked out, scourged and beheaded c.292 at Agen, Gascony, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vincent-of-agen/
Cummian, Cummin, Cummianus
Eight-century bishop in Ireland, he left his native land to live most of his life as a monk in Bobbio, Italy.
Ireland
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cumian-of-bobbio/
Alexandros
Bishop of Prusa, Bithynia (in modern Turkey). Martyr.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexander-of-prusa/
Come
6th-century monk and abbot in Scotland.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-comus-of-scotland/
Venerated in Milan, Italy, but no details have survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-valerius-of-milan/
Kyros
No details have survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyrus/
Five nuns who were martyred together in the persecutions of Tamsabur for refusing to renounce Christianity for sun-worship - Amai, Mariamne, Martha, Mary and Tecla.
beheaded on 31 May 347 at Arbil, Assyria (in modern Kurdistan, Iraq)
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-arbil/
• Madonna della Fonte Nuova
• Mary of the Walnut
• Mary, Mother of Grace
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition