August. 22. St. Symphorian, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 22.--ST. SYMPHORIAN, MARTYR. ABOUT the year 180 there was a great procession of the heathen goddess Ceres, at Autun, in France. Amongst the crowd was one who refused to pay the ordinary marks of worship. He was therefore...
October. 7. St. Mark, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 7.--ST. MARK, POPE. ST. MARK was by birth a Roman, and served God with such fervor among the clergy of that Church, that, advancing continually in sincere humility and the knowledge and sense of his own weakness...
July. 2. The Visitation Of The Blessed Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 2.--THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. THE angel Gabriel, in the mystery of the Annunciation, informed the Mother of God that her cousin Elizabeth had miraculously conceived, and was then pregnant with a son who was to be...
December. 14. St. Nicasius, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 14.--ST. NICASIUS, ARCHBISHOP, AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS. IN the fifth century an army of barbarians from Germany ravaging part of Gaul, plundered the city of Rheims. Nicasius, the holy bishop, had foretold this...
August. 26. St. Zephyrinus, Pope And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 26.--ST. ZEPHYRINUS, POPE AND MARTYR. ZEPHYRINUS, a native of Rome, succeeded Victor in the pontificate, in the year 202, in which Severus raised the fifth most bloody persecution against the Church, which continued not...
November. 15. St. Gertrude, Abbess : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 359 NOVEMBER 15.--ST. GERTRUDE, ABBESS. GERTRUDE was born in the year 1263, of a noble Saxon family, and placed at the age of five for education in the Benedictine abbey of Rodelsdorf. Her strong mind was carefully cultivated...
January. 29. St. Francis Of Sales : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 52 JANUARY 29.--ST. FRANCIS OF SALES. FRANCIS was born of noble and pious parents, near Annecy, 1566, and studied with brilliant success at Paris and Padua. On his return from Italy he gave up the grand career which his father...
October. 24. St. Magloire, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 343 OCTOBER 24.--ST. MAGLOIRE, BISHOP. ST. MAGLOIRE was born in Brittany towards the end of the fifth century. When he and his cousin St. Sampson came of an age to choose their way in life, Sampson retired into a monastery...
October. 8. St. Bridget Of Sweden : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 8.--ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN. ST. BRIDGET was born of the Swedish royal family, in 1304. In obedience to her father, she was married to Prince Ulpho of Sweden, and became the mother of eight children, one of whom, Catherine...
November. 3. St. Hubert, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 3.--ST. HUBERT, BISHOP. ST. HUBERT'S early life is so obscured by popular traditions that we have no authentic account of his actions. He is said to have been passionately addicted to hunting, and was entirely taken up...
December. 15. St. Mesmin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 15.--ST. MESMIN. ST. MESMIN was a native of Verdun. The inhabitants of that place having proved disloyal to King Clovis, an uncle of our Saint's, a priest named Euspice, brought about a reconciliation between the monarch...
June. 22. St. Paulinus Of Nola : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 22.--ST. PAULINUS OF NOLA. PAULINUS was of a family which boasted of a long line of senators, prefects, and consuls. He was educated with great care, and his genius and eloquence, in prose and verse, were the admirati...
March. 5. Sts. Adrian And Eubulus, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 5.--STS. ADRIAN AND EUBULUS, MARTYRS. IN the seventh year of Diocletian's persecution, continued by Galerius Maximianus, when Firmilian, the most bloody governor of Palestine, had stained Csarea with the blood of many...
August. 27. St. Joseph Calasanctius : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 27.--ST. JOSEPH CALASANCTIUS. ST. JOSEPH CALASANCTIUS was born in Arragon, in 1556. When only five years old, he led a troop of children through the streets to find the devil and kill him. He became a priest, and w...
December. 4. St. Barbara, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 372 DECEMBER 4.--ST. BARBARA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. BARBARA was brought up a heathen. A tyrannical father, Dioscorus, had kept her jealously secluded in a lonely tower which he had built for the purpose. Here in her forced...
November. 14. St. Didacus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 14.--ST. DIDACUS. ST. DIDACUS was born in Spain, in the middle of the fifteenth century. He was remarkable from childhood for his love of solitude, and when a youth retired and led a hermit life, occupying himself with...
April. 15. St. Paternus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 15.--ST. PATERNUS, BISHOP. ST. PATERNUS was born at Poitiers, about the year 482. His father, Patranus, with the consent of his wife, went into Ireland, where he ended his days in holy solitude. Paternus, fired by his...
July. 23. St. Apollinaris, Bishop And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 23.--ST. APOLLINARIS, BISHOP AND MARTYR. ST. APOLLINARIS was the first Bishop of Ravenna; he sat twenty years, and was crowned with martyrdom in the reign of Vespasian. He was a disciple of St. Peter, and made by him Bishop...
November. 4. St. Charles Borromeo : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 4.--ST. CHARLES BORROMEO. ABOUT fifty years after the Protestant heresy had broken out, Our Lord raised up a mere youth to renew the face of His Church. In 1560 Charles Borromeo, then twenty-two years of age, was created...
October. 3. St. Gerard, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 3.--ST. GERARD, ABBOT. ST. GERARD was of a noble family of the county of Namur, France. An engaging sweetness of temper, and a strong inclination to piety and devotion, gained him from the cradle the esteem and affecti...
November. 20. St. Felix Of Valois : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 20.--ST. FELIX OF VALOIS. ST. FELIX was son of the Count of Valois. His mother throughout his youth did all she could to cultivate in him a spirit of charity. The unjust divorce between his parents matured a long-formed...
July. 29. St. Martha, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 29.--ST. MARTHA, VIRGIN. ST. JOHN tells us that "Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus," and yet but few glimpses are vouchsafed us of them. First, the sisters are set before us with a word. Martha received Jesus into her...
March. 1. St. Albinus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. ALBINUS, BISHOP. ST. ALBINUS was of an ancient and noble family in Brittany, and from his childhood was fervent in every exercise of piety. He ardently sighed after the happiness which a devout soul finds in being perfectly...
April. 3. St. Richard Of Chichester : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 3.--ST. RICHARD OF CHICHESTER. RICHARD was born, 1197, in the little town of Wyche, eight miles from Worcester, England. He and his elder brother were left orphans when young, and Richard gave up the studies which he loved...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Turribius, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. TURRIBIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF LIMA. TURRIBIUS ALPHONSUS MOGROBEJO, whose feast the Church honors on April 27th, was born on the 6th of November, 1538, at Mayorga in the kingdom of Leon in Spain. Brought up in a pious family where...
April. 18. St. Apollonius, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 18.--ST. APOLLONIUS, MARTYR. MARCUS AURELIUS had persecuted the Christians, but his son Commodus, who in 180 succeeded him, showed himself favorable to them out of regard to his Empress Marcia, who was an admirer...
November. 29. St. Saturninus, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 29.--ST. SATURNINUS, MARTYR. SATURNINUS went from Rome, by direction of Pope Fabian, about the year 245, to preach the faith in Gaul. He fixed his episcopal see at Toulouse, and thus became the first Christian bishop...
August. 17. St. Liberatus, Abbot, And Six : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 17.--ST. LIBERATUS, ABBOT, AND SIX MONKS, MARTYRS. HUNERIC, the Arian Vandal king in Africa, in the seventh year of his reign, published fresh edicts against the Catholics, and ordered their monasteries to be everywhere...
February. 6. St. Dorothy, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 6.--ST. DOROTHY, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. DOROTHY was a young virgin, celebrated at Csarea, where she lived, for her angelic virtue. Her parents seem to have been martyred before her in the Diocletian persecution, and when...
Title Page : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 6 LIVES OF THE SAINTS With Reflections For Every Day In The Year COMPILED FROM THE "LIVES OF THE SAINTS" BY REV. ALBAN BUTLER NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO BENZIGER BROTHERS PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE [1894] Scanned...
February. 17. St. Flavian, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 17.--ST. FLAVIAN, BISHOP, MARTYR. FLAVIAN was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in 447. His short episcopate of two years was a time of conflict and persecution from the first. Chrysaphius, the emperor's favorite...
August. 12. St. Clare, Abbess : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 12.--ST. CLARE, ABBESS. ON Palm Sunday, March 17, 1212, the Bishop of Assisi left the altar to present a palm to a noble maiden, eighteen years of age, whom bashfulness had detained in her place. This maiden was St. Clare...
July. 5. St. Peter Of Luxemburg : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 5.--ST. PETER OF LUXEMBURG. PETER OF LUXEMBURG, descended both by his father and mother from the noblest families in Europe, was born in Lorraine, in the year 1369. When but a schoolboy, twelve years of age, he went...
December. 20. St. Philogonius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 20.--ST. PHILOGONIUS, BISHOP. ST. PHILOGONIUS was educated for the law, and appeared at the bar with great success. He was admired for his eloquence, but still more for his integrity and the sanctity of his life. This...
July. 18. St. Camillus Of Lellis : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 18.--ST. CAMILLUS OF LELLIS. THE early years of Camillus gave no sign of sanctity. At the age of nineteen he took service with his father, an Italian noble, against the Turks, and after four years' hard campaigning found...
August. 13. St. Radegundes, Queen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 13.--ST. RADEGUNDES, QUEEN. ST. RADEGUNDES was the daughter of a king of Thuringia who was assassinated by his brother; a war ensuing, our Saint, at the age of twelve, was made prisoner and carried captive by Clotaire...
September. 24. The Blessed Virgin Mary Of Mercy : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 24.--THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY. ST. PETER, of the noble family of Nolasco, was born in Languedoc, about 1189. At the age of twenty-five he took a vow of chastity, and made over his vast estates to the Church...
July. 31. St. Ignatius Of Loyola : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 31.--ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA. ST. IGNATIUS was born at Loyola in Spain, in the year 1491. He served his king as a courtier and a soldier till his thirtieth year. At that age, being laid low by a wound, he received the call...
September. 4. St. Rosalia, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 4.--ST. ROSALIA, VIRGIN. ST. ROSALIA was daughter of a noble family descended from Charlemagne. She was born at Palermo in Sicily, and despising in her youth worldly vanities, made herself an abode in a cave on Mount...
June. 16. St. John Francis Regis : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 16.--ST. JOHN FRANCIS REGIS. ST. JOHN FRANCIS REGIS was born in Languedoc, in 1597. From his tenderest years he showed evidences of uncommon sanctity by his innocence of life, modesty, and love of prayer. At the age...
June. 7. St. Claude, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. CLAUDE, ARCHBISHOP. THE province of Eastern Burgundy received great lustre from this glorious Saint. He was born at Salins, about the year 603, and was both the model and the oracle of the clergy of Besanon, when, up...
March. 11. St. Eulogius, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 11.--ST. EULOGIUS, MARTYR. ST. EULOGIUS was of a senatorian family of Cordova, at that time the capital of the Moors in Spain. Our Saint was educated among the clergy of the Church of St. Zoilus, a martyr who suffered with...
December. 29. St. Thomas Of Canterbury : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 389 DECEMBER 29.--ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY. ST. THOMAS, son of Gilbert Becket, was born in Southwark, England, in 1117. When a youth he was attached to the household of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, who sent him to Paris...
January. 6. The Epiphany Of Our Lord : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 6.--THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD. THE word Epiphany means "manifestation," and it has passed into general acceptance throughout the universal Church, from the fact that Jesus Christ "manifested" to the eyes of men His divine...
May. 22. St. Yvo, Confessor : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 22.--ST. YVO, CONFESSOR. ST. YVO HELORI, descended from a noble and virtuous family near Treguier, in Brittany, was born in 1253. At fourteen years of age he went to Paris, and afterwards to Orleans, to pursue his studies...
September. 28. St. Wenceslas, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 325 SEPTEMBER 28.--ST. WENCESLAS, MARTYR. WENCESLAS was the son of a Christian Duke of Bohemia, but his mother was a hard and cruel pagan. Through the care of his holy grandmother, Ludmilla, herself a martyr, Wenceslas w...
April. 5. St. Vincent Ferrer : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 5.--ST. VINCENT FERRER. CH's wonderful apostle, the "Angel of the Judgment," was born at Valencia in Spain, in 1350, and at the age of eighteen professed in the Order of St. Dominic. After a brilliant course of study he...
May. 9. St. Gregory Nazianzen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 9.--ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN. GREGORY was born of saintly parents, and was the chosen friend of St. Basil. They studied together at Athens, turned at the same time from the fairest worldly prospects, and for some years lived...
February. 23. St. Serenus, A Gardener, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. SERENUS, A GARDENER, MARTYR. SERENUS was by birth a Grecian. He quitted estate, friends, and country to serve God its celibacy, penance, and prayer. With this design he bought a garden in Sirmium in Pannonia, which he...
December. 31. St. Sylvester, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 31.--ST. SYLVESTER, POPE. SYLVESTER was born in Rome toward the close of the third century. He was a young priest when the persecution of the Christians broke out under the tyrant Diocletian. Idols were erected...
July. 13. St. Eugenius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 13.--ST. EUGENIUS, BISHOP. THE episcopal see of Carthage had remained vacant twenty-four years, when, in 481, Huneric permitted the Catholics on certain conditions to choose one who should fill it. The people, impatient...
October. 29. St. Narcissus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 29.--ST. NARCISSUS, BISHOP. ST. NARCISSUS was consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem about the year 180. He was already an old man, and God attested his merits by many miracles, which were long held in memory by the Christians...
June. 7. St. Robert Of Newminster : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 7.--ST. ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER. IN 1132 Robert was a monk at Whitby, England, when news arrived that thirteen religious had been violently expelled from the Abbey of St. Mary, in York, for having proposed to restore the strict...
November. 13. St. Stanislas Kostka : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 13.--ST. STANISLAS KOSTKA. ST. STANISLAS was of a noble Polish family. At the age of fourteen he went with his elder brother Paul to the Jesuits' College at Vienna; and though Stanislas was ever bright and sweet-tempered...
April. 2. St. Francis Of Paula : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 2.--ST. FRANCIS OF PAULA. AT the age of fifteen Francis left his poor home at Paula in Calabria, to live as a hermit in a cave by the sea-coast. In time disciples gathered round him, and with them, in 1436, he founded...
March. 31. St. Benjamin, Deacon, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 31.--ST. BENJAMIN, DEACON, MARTYR. ISDEGERDES, Son of Sapor III., put a stop to the cruel persecutions against the Christians in Persia, which had been begun by Sapor II., and the Church had enjoyed twelve years' peace...
October. 16. St. Gall, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 16.--ST. GALL, ABBOT. ST. GALL was born in Ireland soon after the middle of the sixth century, of pious, noble, and rich parents. When St. Columban left Ireland, St. Gall accompanied him into England, and afterward...
May. 13. St. John The Silent : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 13.--ST. JOHN THE SILENT. JOHN was born of a noble family at Nicopolis, in Armenia, in the year 454; but he derived from the virtue of his parents a much more illustrious nobility than that of their pedigree. After their...
May. 20. St. Bernardine Of Siena : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 186 MAY 20.--ST. BERNARDINE OF SIENA. IN 1408 St. Vincent Ferrer once suddenly interrupted his sermon to declare that there was among his hearers a young Franciscan who would be one day a greater preacher than himself...
July. 8. St. Elizabeth Of Portugal : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 242 JULY 8.--ST. ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL. ELIZABETH was born in 1271. She was daughter of Pedro III. of Arragon, being named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At twelve years of age she was given in marriage to Denis...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Rita Of Cascia, Widow : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 20 ST. RITA OF CASCIA, WIDOW. ST. RITA OF CASCIA, whose feast is celebrated on May 22, was born at Rocca Porena, Italy, about the year 1386, and died at Cascia in the year 1456. Her parents opposed her desire to become a nun...
October. 12. St. Wilfrid, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 335 OCTOBER 12.--ST. WILFRID, BISHOP. "A QUICK walker, expert at all good works, with never a sour face"--such was the great St. Wilfrid, whose glory it was to secure the happy links which bound England to Rome. He was born...
January. 28. St. Cyril Of Alexandria : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 51 JANUARY 28.--ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. ST. CYRIL became Patriarch of Alexandria in 412. Having at first thrown himself with ardor into the party politics of the place, God called him to a nobler conflict. In 428, Nestorius...
April. 27. St. Zita, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 159 APRIL 27.--ST. ZITA, VIRGIN. ZITA lived for forty-eight years in the service of Fatinelli, a citizen of Lucca. During this time she rose each morning, while the household were asleep, to hear Mass, and then toiled...
April. 28. St. Vitalis, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 161 ST. VITALIS, MARTYR. ST. VITALIS was a citizen of Milan, and is said to have been the father of Sts. Gervasius and Protasius. The divine providence conducted him to Ravenna, where he saw a Christian named Ursicinus, who...
August. 24. St. Bartholomew, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 24.--ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE. ST. BARTHOLOMEW was one of the twelve who were called to the apostolate by our blessed Lord Himself. Several learned interpreters of the Holy Scripture take this apostle to have been the same...
July. 20. St. Jerome Emiliani : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. JEROME EMILIANI. ST. JEROME EMILIANI was a member of one of the patrician families of Venice, and, like many other Saints, in early life a soldier. He was appointed governor of a fortress among the mountains of Treviso...
January. 2. St. Fulgentius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 2.--ST. FULGENTIUS, BISHOP. IN spite of family troubles and delicate health, Fulgentius was appointed at an early age procurator of his province at Carthage. This success, however, did not satisfy his heart. Levying...
September. 11. St. Paphnutius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 11.--ST. PAPHNUTIUS, BISHOP. THE holy confessor Paphnutius was an Egyptian, and after having spent several years in the desert, under the direction of the great St. Antony, was made bishop in Upper Thebais. He was one...
May. 7. St. Stanislas, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 7.--ST. STANISLAS, BISHOP, MARTYR. STANISLAS was born in answer to prayer when his parents were advanced in age. Out of gratitude they educated him for the Church, and from a holy priest he became in time Bishop of Cracow...
June. 2. Sts. Pothinus, Bishop, Sanctus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 2.--STS. POTHINUS, BISHOP, SANCTUS, ATTALUS, BLANDINA, AND THE OTHER MARTYRS OF LYONS. AFTER the miraculous victory obtained by the prayer; of the Christians under Marcus Aurelius, in 174, the Church enjoyed a kind of peace...
September. 19. St. Januarius, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 318 SEPTEMBER 19.--ST. JANUARIUS, MARTYR. MANY centuries ago, St. Januarius died for the Faith in the persecution of Diocletian, and to this day God confirms the faith of His Church, and works a continual miracle, through...
August. 3. The Finding Of St. Stephen's Relics : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 270 AUGUST 3.--THE FINDING OF ST. STEPHEN'S RELICS. THE second festival in honor of the holy protomartyr St. Stephen was instituted by the Church on the occasion of the discovery of his precious remains. His body lay long...
February. 18. St. Simeon, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 18.--ST. SIMEON, BISHOP, MARTYR. ST. SIMEON was the son of Cleophas, otherwise called Alpheus, brother to St. Joseph, and of Mary, sister to the Blessed Virgin. He was therefore nephew both to St. Joseph ...
April. 22. St. Leonides, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 154 ST. LEONIDES, MARTYR. THE Emperor Severus, in the year 202, which was the tenth of his reign, raised a bloody persecution, which filled the whole empire with martyrs, but especially Egypt. The most illustrious of those who...
September. 25. St. Firmin, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 25.--ST. FIRMIN, BISHOP, MARTYR.--ST. FINBARR, BISHOP. ST. FIRMIN was a native of Pampelone in Navarre, initiated in the Christian faith by Honestus, a disciple of St. Saturninus of Toulouse, and consecrated bishop by...
October. 18. St. Luke : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 18.--ST. LUKE. ST. LUKE, a physician at Antioch, and a painter, became a convert of St. Paul, and afterwards his fellow-laborer. He is best known to us as the historian of the New Testament. Though not an eye-witness...
April. 4. St. Isidore, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 4.--ST. ISIDORE, ARCHBISHOP. ISIDORE was born of a ducal family, at Carthagena in Spain. His two brothers, Leander, Archbishop of Seville, Fulgentius, Bishop of Ecija, and his sister Florentina, are Saints. As a boy he...
December. 17. St. Olympias, Widow : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 17.--ST. OLYMPIAS, WIDOW. ST. OLYMPIAS, the glory of the widows in the Eastern Church, was of a noble and wealthy family. Left an orphan at a tender age, she was brought up by Theodosia, sister of St. Amphilochius...
November. 6. St. Leonard : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 6.--ST. LEONARD. LEONARD, one of the chief personages of the court of Clovis, and for whom this monarch had stood as sponsor in baptism, was so moved by the discourse and example of St. Remigius that he relinquished...
February. 10. St. Scholastica, Abbess : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 10.--ST. SCHOLASTICA, ABBESS. OF this Saint but little is known on earth, save that she was the sister of the great patriarch St. Benedict, and that, under his direction, she founded and governed a numerous community...
January. 9. Ss. Julian And Basilissa, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 9.--SS. JULIAN AND BASILISSA, MARTYRS. ST. JULIAN and St. Basilissa, though married, lived, by mutual consent, in perpetual chastity; they sanctified themselves by the most perfect exercises of an ascetic life...
May. 25. St. Gregory Vii : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 25.--ST. GREGORY VII. GREGORY VII., by name Hildebrand, was born in Tuscany, about the year 1013. He was educated in Rome. From thence he went to France, and became a monk at Cluny. Afterwards he returned to Rome...
November. 21. The Presentation Of The Blessed : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 21.--THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. RELIGIOUS parents never fail by devout prayer to consecrate their children to the divine service and love, both before and after their birth. Some amongst the Jews, not...
October. 22. St. Mello, Bishop. St. Hilari : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 22.--ST. MELLO, BISHOP.--ST. HILARION, ABBOT. ST. MELLO is said to have been a native of Great Britain; his mal for the Faith engaged him in the sacred ministry, and God having blessed his labors with wonderful success...
September. 8. The Festival, On The Sunday : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], THE FESTIVAL, ON THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF HER NATIVITY, OF THE HOLY NAME OF MARY. THIS festival was appointed by Pope Innocent XI., that on it the faithful may be called upon in a particular manner to recommend to God...
May. 8. The Apparition Of St. Michael : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 8.--THE APPARITION OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. IT is manifest, from the Holy Scriptures, that God is pleased to make frequent use of the ministry of the heavenly spirits in the dispensations of His providence in this world...
May. 26. St. Philip Neri : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 26.--ST. PHILIP NERI. PHILIP was one of the noble line of Saints raised up by God in the sixteenth century to console and bless His Church. After a childhood of angelic beauty the Holy Spirit drew him away from Florence...
February. 27. St. Leander, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 27.--ST. LEANDER, BISHOP. ST. LEANDER was born of an illustrious family at Carthagena in Spain. He was the eldest of five brothers, several of whom are numbered among the Saints. He entered into a monastery very young...
September. 13. St. Eulogius, Patriarch : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 13.--ST. EULOGIUS, PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA. ST. EULOGIUS was a Syrian by birth, and while young embraced the monastic state in that country. The Eutychian heresy had thrown the Churches of Syria and Egypt into much...
May. 21. St. Hospitius, Recluse : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 21.--ST. HOSPITIUS, RECLUSE. ST. HOSPITIUS shut himself up in the ruins of an old tower near Villafranca, one league from Nice in Provence. He girded himself with a heavy iron chain and lived on bread and dates only. During...
October. 20. St. John Cantius : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 20.--ST. JOHN CANTIUS. ST. JOHN was born at Kenty in Poland in 1403, and studied at Cracow with great ability, industry, and success, while his modesty and virtue drew all hearts to him. He was for a short time in charge...
July. 6. St. Goar, Priest : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 6.--ST. GOAR, PRIEST. ST. GOAR was born of an illustrious family, at Aquitaine. From his youth he was noted for his earnest piety, and, having been raised to sacred orders, he converted many sinners by the fervor of his...
February. 11. St. Severinus, Abbot Of Agaunum : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 11.--ST. SEVERINUS, ABBOT OF AGAUNUM. ST. SEVERINUS, of a noble family in Burgundy, was educated in the Catholic faith, at a time when the Arian heresy reigned in that country. He forsook the world in his youth...
July. 1. St. Gal, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 1.--ST. GAL, BISHOP. ST. GAL was born at Clermont in Auvergne, about the year 489. His father was of the first houses of that province, and his mother was descended from the family of Vettius Apagatus, the celebrated Rom...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Gabriel : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. GABRIEL OF THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. GABRIEL POSSENTI, born March 1, 1838, the eleventh of thirteen children, was reared in a home that was none the less pious because cultured. Inordinately vain and passionately devoted...
February. 2. The Purification, Commonly Called : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 2.--THE PURIFICATION, COMMONLY CALLED CANDLEMAS-DAY. THE law of God, given by Moses to the Jews, ordained that a woman, after childbirth, should continue for a certain time in a state which that law calls unclean, during...
August. 19. St. Louis, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 19.--ST. LOUIS, BISHOP. THIS Saint was little nephew to St. Louis, King of France, and nephew, by his mother, to St. Elizabeth of Hungary. He was born at Brignoles, in Provence, in. 1274. He was a Saint from the cradle...
January. 25. The Conversion Of St. Paul : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 25.--THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. THE great apostle Paul, named Saul at his circumcision, was born at Tarsus, the capital of Silicia, and was by privilege a Roman citizen, to which quality a great distinction and several...
April. 22. St. Soter, Pope, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 22.--ST. SOTER, POPE, MARTYR. ST. SOTER was raised to the papacy upon the death of St. Anicetus, in 173. By the sweetness of his discourses he comforted all persons with the tenderness of a father, and assisted the indigent...
November. 2. All Souls : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 2.--ALL-SOULS. THE Church teaches us that the souls of the just who have left this world soiled with the stain of venial sin remain for a time in a place of expiation, where they suffer such punishment as may be due...
November. 5. St. Bertille, Abbess : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 5.--ST. BERTILLE, ABBESS. ST. BERTILLE was born of one of the most illustrious families in the territory of Soissons, in the reign of Dagobert I. As she grew up she learned perfectly to despise the world, and earnestly...
May. 10. St. Antoninus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 10.--ST. ANTONINUS, BISHOP. ANTONINUS, or Little Antony, as he was called from his small stature, was born at Florence in 1389. After a childhood of singular holiness, he begged to be admitted into the Dominican house...
November. 19. St. Elizabeth Of Hungary : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 19.--ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. ELIZABETH was daughter of a king of Hungary, and niece of St. Hedwige. She was betrothed in infancy to Louis, Landgrave of Thuringia, and brought up in his father's court. Not content with...
October. 28. Sts. Simon And Jude : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 28.--STS. SIMON AND JUDE. SIMON was a simple Galilean, called by Our Lord to be one of the pillars of His Church. Zelotes, "the zealot," was the surname which he bore among the disciples. Armed with this zeal he went...
June. 28. St. Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 28.--ST. IRENUS, BISHOP, MARTYR. THIS Saint was born about the year 120. He was a Grecian, probably a native of Lesser Asia. His parents, who were Christians, placed him under the care of the great St. Polycarp, Bishop...
January. 13. St. Veronica Of Milan : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 13.--ST. VERONICA OF MILAN. VERONICA'S parents were peasants of a village near Milan. From her childhood she toiled hard in the house and the field, and accomplished cheerfully every menial task. Gradually the desire...
March. 27. St. John Of Egypt : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 27.--ST. JOHN OF EGYPT. TILL he was twenty-five, John worked as a carpenter with his father. Then feeling a call from God, he left the world and committed himself to a holy solitary in the desert. His master tried his...
September. 12. St. Guy Of Anderlecht : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 12.--ST. GUY OF ANDERLECHT. AS a child Guy had two loves, the Church and the poor. The love of prayer growing more and more, he left his poor home at Brussels to seek greater poverty and closer union with God. He...
May. 31. St. Petronilla, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 31.--ST. PETRONILLA, VIRGIN. AMONG the disciples of the apostles in the primitive age of saints this holy virgin shone as a bright star in the Church. She lived when Christians were more solicitous to live well than to write...
July. 19. St. Vincent Of Paul : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 19.--ST. VINCENT OF PAUL. ST. VINCENT was born in 1576. In after-years, when adviser of the queen and oracle of the Church in France, he loved to recount how, in his youth, he had guarded his father's pigs. Soon after his...
December. 23. St. Servulus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], December 23.--ST. SERVULUS. SERVULUS was a beggar, and had been so afflicted with palsy from his infancy that he was never able to stand, sit upright, lift his hand to his mouth, or turn himself from one side to another. His...
December. 25. The Nativity Of Christ : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 25.--THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST, OR CHRISTMAS DAY. THE world had subsisted about four thousand years when Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, having taken human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and being made man, w...
June. 26. Sts. John And Paul, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 230 JUNE 26.--STS. JOHN AND PAUL, MARTYRS. THESE two Saints were both officers in the army under Julian the Apostate, and received the crown of martyrdom, probably in 362. They glorified God by a double victory; they despised...
December. 12. St. Valery, Abbot. St. Fini : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 12.--ST. VALERY, ABBOT.--ST. FINIAN, BISHOP. THIS Saint was born at Auvergne, in the sixth century, O and in his childhood kept his father's sheep. He was yet young when he took the monastic habit in the neighboring...
June. 5. St. Boniface, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 206 JUNE 5.--ST. BONIFACE, BISHOP, MARTYR. ST. BONIFACE was born at Crediton in Devonshire, England, in the year 680. Some missionaries staying at his father's house spoke to him of heavenly things, and inspired him with...
May. 3. The Discovery Of The Holy Cross : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 3.--THE DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY CROSS. GOD having restored peace to His Church, by exalting Constantine the Great to the imperial throne, that pious prince, who had triumphed over his enemies by the miraculous power...
January. 22. St. Vincent, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 22.--ST. VINCENT, MARTYR. VINCENT was archdeacon of the church at Saragossa. Valerian, the bishop, had an impediment in his speech; thus Vincent preached in his stead, and answered in his name when both were brought...
February. 19. St. Barbatus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 19.--ST. BARBATUS, BISHOP. ST. BARBATUS was born in the territory of Benevento in Italy, toward the end of the pontificate of St. Gregory the Great, in the beginning of the seventh century. His parents gave him...
January. 23. St. Raymund Of Pennafort : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 23.--ST. RAYMUND OF PENNAFORT. BORN A. D. 1175, of a noble Spanish family, Raymund, at the age of twenty, taught philosophy at Barcelona with marvellous success. Ten years later his rare abilities won for him the degree...
May. 27. Venerable Bede : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], VENERABLE BEDE. VENERABLE BEDE, the illustrious ornament of the Anglo-Saxon Church and the first English historian, was consecrated -to God at the age of seven, and intrusted to the care of St. Benedict Biscop at Wearmouth. He...
March. 29. Sts. Jonas, Barachisius, And Their : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 29.--STS. JONAS, BARACHISIUS, AND THEIR COMPANIONS, MARTYRS. KING SAPOR, of Persia, in the eighteenth year of his reign, raised a bloody persecution against the Christians, and laid waste their churches and monasteries...
July. 17. St. Alexius : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 17.--ST. ALEXIUS. ST. ALEXIUS was the only son of parents pre-eminent among the Roman nobles for virtue, birth, and wealth. On his wedding-night, by God's special inspiration, he secretly quitted Rome, and journeying...
August. 28. St. Augustine Of Hippo : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 296 AUGUST 28.--ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO. ST. AUGUSTINE was born in 354, at Tagaste in Africa. He was brought up in the Christian faith, but without receiving baptism. An ambitious school-boy of brilliant talents and violent...
December. 27. St. John, Evangelist : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 27.--ST. JOHN, EVANGELIST. ST. JOHN, the youngest of the apostles in age, was called to follow Christ on the banks of the Jordan during the first days of Our Lord's ministry. He was one of the privileged few present...
July. 24. St. Christina, Virgin And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 24.--ST. CHRISTINA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. ST. CHRISTINA was the daughter of a rich and powerful magistrate named Urbain. Her father, who was deep in the practices of heathenism, had a number of golden idols, which our Saint...
May. 26. St. Augustine, Apostle Of England : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. AUGUSTINE, APOSTLE OF ENGLAND. AUGUSTINE was prior of the monastery of St. Andrew on the Clian, and was appointed by St. Gregory the great chief of the missionaries whom he sent to England. St. Augustine and his companions...
June. 19. St. Juliana Falconieri : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 222 JUNE 19.--ST. JULIANA FALCONIERI. JULIANA FALCONIERI was born in answer to prayer, in 1270. Her father built the splendid church of the Annunziata in Florence, while her uncle, Blessed Alexius, became one of the founders...
April. 19. St. Elphege, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 19.--ST. ELPHEGE, ARCHBISHOP. ST. ELPHEGE was born in the year 954, of a noble Saxon family. He first became a monk in the monastery of Deerhurst, near Tewkesbury, England, and afterwards lived as a hermit near Bath, where...
September. 26. Sts. Cyprian And Justina, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 26.--STS. CYPRIAN AND JUSTINA, MARTYRS. THE detestable superstition of St. Cyprian's idolatrous parents devoted him from his infancy to the devil, and he was brought up in all the impious mysteries of idolatry...
July. 26. St. Anne : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 26.--ST. ANNE. ST. ANNE was the spouse of St. Joachim, and was chosen by God to be the mother of Mary, His own blessed Mother on earth. They were both of the royal house of David, and their lives were wholly occupied...
September. 16. St. Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 16.--ST. CYPRIAN, BISHOP, MARTYR. CYPRIAN was an African of noble birth, but of evil life, a pagan, and a teacher of rhetoric. In middle life he was converted to Christianity, and shortly after his baptism was ordained...
December. 10. St. Eulalia, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 376 DECEMBER 10.--ST. EULALIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. EULALIA was a native of Merida, in Spain. She was but twelve years old when the bloody edicts of Diocletian were issued. Eulalia presented herself before the cruel judge...
July. 22. St. Mary Magdalen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 22.--ST. MARY MAGDALEN. Or the earlier life of Mary Magdalen we know only that she was "a woman who was a sinner." From the depth of her degradation she raised her eyes to Jesus with sorrow, hope, and love. All covered with...
February. 16. St. Onesimus, Disciple Of St. Paul : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. ONESIMUS, DISCIPLE OF ST. PAUL. HE was a Phrygian by birth, slave to Philemon, a person of note of the city of Coloss, converted to the faith by St. Paul. Having robbed his master and being obliged to fly, he providentially...
February. 16. Blessed John De Britto, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 16.--BLESSED JOHN DE BRITTO, MARTYR. DON PEDRO II. of Portugal, when a child, had among his little pages a modest boy of rich and princely parents. Much had John de Britto--for so was he called--to bear from his...
September. 27. Sts. Cosmas And Damian, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 27.--STS. COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MARTYRS. STS. COSMAS and DAMIAN were brothers, and born in Arabia, but studied the sciences in Syria, and became eminent for their skill in physic. Being Christians, and full of that holy...
January. 27. St. John Chrysostom : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 50 JANUARY 27.--ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM. ST. JOHN was born at Antioch in 344. In order to break with a world which admired and courted him, he in 374 retired for six years to a neighboring mountain. Having thus acquired the art...
July. 14. St. Bonaventure : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 14.--ST. BONAVENTURE. SANCTITY and learning raised Bonaventure to the Church's highest honors, and from a child he was the companion of Saints. Yet at heart he was ever the poor Franciscan friar, and practised and taught...
October. 31. St. Quintin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 31.--ST. QUINTIN, MARTYR. ST. QUINTIN was a Roman, descended from a senatorial family. Full of zeal for the kingdom of Jesus Christ, he left his country, and, attended by St. Lucian of Beauvais, made his way to Gaul. They...
March. 20. St. Wulfran, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 20.--ST. WULFRAN, ARCHBISHOP. His father was an officer in the armies of King Dagobert, and the Saint spent some years in the court of King Clotaire III. and of his mother, St. Bathildes, but occupied his heart only, on God...
February. 23. St. Peter Damian : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 23.--ST. PETER DAMIAN. ST. PETER DAMIAN was born in 988, and lost both parents at an early age. His eldest brother, in whose hands he was left, treated him so cruelly that a younger brother, a priest, moved by his...
March. 17. St. Patrick, Bishop, Apostle Of Ireland : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 17.--ST. PATRICK, BISHOP, APOSTLE OF IRELAND. IF the virtue of children reflects an honor on their parents, much more justly is the name of St. Patrick rendered illustrious by the innumerable lights of sanctity with which...
November. 26. St. Peter Of Alexandria, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 26.--ST. PETER OF ALEXANDRIA, BISHOP, MARTYR. ST. PETER governed the Church of Alexandria during the persecution of Diocletian. The sentence of excommunication that he was the first to pronounce against the schismatics...
March. 15. St. Zachary, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 15.--ST. ZACHARY, POPE. ST. ZACHARY succeeded Gregory III., in 741, and was a man of singular meekness and goodness. He loved the clergy and people of Rome to that degree that he hazarded his life for them on occasi...
November. 8. The Feast Of The Holy Relics : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 8.--THE FEAST OF THE HOLY RELICS. PROTESTANTISM pretends to regard the veneration which the Church pays to the relics of the Saints as a sin, and contends that this pious practice is a remnant of paganism. The Council...
January. 1. The Circumcision Of Our Lord : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 21 LIVES OF THE SAINTS. JANUARY 1.--THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD. CIRCUMCISION was a sacrament of the Old Law, and the first legal observance required by Almighty God of the descendants of Abraham. It was a sacrament...
October. 19. St. Peter Of Alcantara : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 340 OCTOBER 19.--ST. PETER OF ALCANTARA. PETER, while still a youth, left his home at Alcantara in Spain, and entered a convent of Discalced Franciscans. He rose quickly to high posts in the Order, but his thirst for penance...
February. 21. St. Severianus, Martyr, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 21.--ST. SEVERIANUS, MARTYR, BISHOP. IN the reign of Marcian and St. Pulcheria, the Council of Chalcedon, which condemned the Eutychian heresy, was received by St. Euthymius and by a great part of the monks of Palestine...
January. 5. St. Simeon Stylites : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 27 JANUARY 5.--ST. SIMEON STYLITES. ONE winter's day, about the year 401, the snow lay thick around Sisan, a little town in Cilicia. A shepherd boy, who could not lead his sheep to the fields on account of the cold, went...
October. 4. St. Francis Of Assisi : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 4.--ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI. ST. FRANCIS, the son of a merchant of Assisi, was born in that city in 1182. Chosen by God to be a living manifestation to the world of Christ's poor and suffering life on earth, he was early...
June. 6. St. Norbert, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE. 6.--ST. NORBERT, BISHOP. OF noble rank and rare talents, Norbert passed a most pious youth, and entered the ecclesiastical state. By a strange contradiction, his conduct now became a scandal to his sacred calling...
June. 30. St. Paul : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 30.--ST. PAUL. ST. PAUL was born at Tarsus, of Jewish parents, and studied at Jerusalem, at the feet of Gamaliel. While still a young man, he held the clothes of those who stoned the proto-martyr Stephen; and in his restless...
July. 21. St. Victor, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 21.--ST. VICTOR, MARTYR. THE Emperor Maximian, reeking with the blood of the Theban legion and many other martyrs, arrived at Marseilles, where the Church then flourished. The tyrant breathed here nothing but slaughter...
January. 15. St. Paul, The First Hermit : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 37 JANUARY 15.--ST. PAUL, THE FIRST HERMIT. ST. PAUL was born in Upper Egypt, about the year 230, and became an orphan at the age of fifteen. He was very rich and highly educated. Fearing lest the tortures of a terrible...
September. 8. The Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 308 SEPTEMBER 8.--THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. THE birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary announced joy and the near approach of salvation to the lost world. Mary was brought forth in the world not like other children of Adam...
December. 28. The Holy Innocents : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 28.--THE HOLY INNOCENTS. HEROD, who was reigning in Judea at the time of the birth of Our Saviour, having heard that the Wise Men had come from the East to Jerusalem in search of the King of the Jews, was troubled. He...
May. 24. Sts. Donatian And Rogatian, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 24.--STS. DONATIAN AND ROGATIAN, MARTYRS. HERE lived at Nantes an illustrious young nobleman named Donatian, who, having received the holy Sacrament of Regeneration, led a most edifying life, and strove with much zeal...
August. 18. St. Helena, Empress. St. Agapetus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 18.--ST. HELENA, EMPRESS; ST. AGAPETUS, MARTYR. IT was the pious boast of the city of Colchester, England, for many ages, that St. Helena was born within its walls; and though this honor has been disputed, it is cert...
May. 15. Sts. Peter And Dionysia : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 15.--STS. PETER AND DIONYSIA. IN the Decian persecution the blood of the Christians flowed at Lampsacus, a city of Asia Minor. St. Peter was the first who was led before the proconsul and condemned to die for the name...
February. 3. St. Blase, Bishop And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 3.--ST. BLASE, BISHOP AND MARTYR. ST. BLASE devoted the earlier years of his life to the study of philosophy, and afterwards became a physician. In the practice of his profession he saw so much of the miseries of life...
April. 16. Eighteen Martyrs Of Saragoss : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 16.--EIGHTEEN MARTYRS OF SARAGOSSA, AND ST. ENCRATIS, OR ENGRATIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. OPTATUS and seventeen other holy men received the crown of martyrdom on the same day, at Saragossa, under the cruel Governor Daci...
April. 14. St. Benezet, Or Little Bennet : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 14.--ST. BENEZET, OR LITTLE BENNET. ST. BENEZET kept his mother's sheep in the country, and as a mere child was devoted to practices of piety. As many persons were drowned in crossing the Rhone, Benezet was inspired by God...
July. 7. St. Pantaenus, Father Of The Church : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 241 JULY 7.--ST. PANTNUS, FATHER OF THE CHURCH. THIS learned father and apostolic man flourished in the second century. He was by birth a Sicilian, by profession a Stoic philosopher. His esteem for virtue led him ...
February. 1. St. Ignatius, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. IGNATIUS, BISHOP, MARTYR. ST. IGNATIUS, Bishop of Antioch, was the disciple of St. John. When Domitian persecuted the Church, St. Ignatius obtained peace for his own flock by fasting and prayer. But for his part he desired...
October. 27. St. Frumentius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 345 OCTOBER 27.--ST. FRUMENTIUS, BISHOP. ST. FRUMENTIUS was yet a child when his uncle, Meropins of Tyre, took him and his brother Edesius on a voyage to Ethiopia. In the course of their voyage the vessel touched at a cert...
June. 8. St. Medard, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 8.--ST. MEDARD, BISHOP. ST. MEDARD, one of the most illustrious prelates of the Church of France in the sixth century, was born of a pious and noble family, at Salency, about the year 457. From his childhood he evinced...
December. 7. St. Ambrose, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 374 DECEMBER 7.--ST. AMBROSE, BISHOP. AMBROSE was of a noble family, and was governor of Milan in 374, when a bishop was to be chosen for that great see. As the Arian heretics were many and fierce, he was present to preserve...
June. 29. St. Peter, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 29.--ST. PETER, APOSTLE. PETER was of Bethsaida in Galilee, and as he was fishing on the lake was called by Our Lord to be one of His apostles. He was poor and unlearned, but candid, eager, and loving. In his heart, first...
July. 25. St. James, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 25.--ST. JAMES, APOSTLE. AMONG the twelve, three were chosen as the familiar companions of our blessed Lord, and of these James was one. He alone, with Peter and John, was admitted to the house of Jairus when the dead maiden...
December. 5. St. Sabas, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 5.--ST. SABAS, ABBOT. ST. SABAS, one of the most renowned patriarchs of the monks of Palestine, was born in the year 439, near Csarea. In order to settle a dispute which had arisen between some of his relatives in regard...
March. 1. St. David, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 1.--ST. DAVID, BISHOP. ST. DAVID, son of Sant, Prince of Cardigan and of Non, was born in that country in the fifth century, and from his earliest years gave himself wholly to the service of God. He began his religious life...
November. 17. St. Gregory Thaumaturgus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 17.--ST. GREGORY THAUMATURGUS. ST. GREGORY was born in Pontus, of heathen parents. In Palestine, about the year 231, he studied philosophy under the great Origen, who led him from the pursuit of human wisdom to Christ...
February. 8. St. John Of Matha : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 8.--ST. JOHN OF MATHA. THE life of St. John of Matha was one long course of self-sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of his neighbor. As a child, his chief delight was serving the poor; and he often told them he...
July. 9. St. Ephrem, Deacon : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 9.--ST. EPHREM, DEACON. ST. EPHREM is the light and glory of the Syriac Church. A mere youth, he entered on the religious life at Nisibis, his native place. Long years of retirement taught him the science of the Saints...
December. 9. St. Leocadia, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 9.--ST. LEOCADIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. LEOCADIA was a native of Toledo, and was apprehended by an order of Dacian, the cruel governor under Diocletian in 304. Hearing of the martyrdom of St. Eulalia, she prayed that God...
February. 4. St. Jane Of Valois : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 62 FEBRUARY 4.--ST. JANE OF VALOIS. BORN of the blood royal of France, herself a queen, Jane of Valois led a life remarkable for its humiliations even in the annals of the Saints. Her father, Louis XI., who had hoped for a s...
June. 4. St. Francis Caracciolo : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 4.--ST. FRANCIS CARACCIOLO. FRANCIS was born in the kingdom of Naples, of the princely family of Caracciolo. In childhood he shunned all amusements, recited the Rosary regularly, and loved to visit the Blessed Sacrament...
August. 25. St. Louis, King : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 25.--ST. LOUIS, KING. THE mother of Louis told him she would rather see him die than commit a mortal sin, and he never forgot her words. King of France at the age of twelve, he made the defence of God's honor the aim...
August. 2. St. Stephen, Pope And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 2.--ST. STEPHEN, POPE AND MARTYR. ST. STEPHEN was by birth a Roman, and, being promoted to holy orders, was made archdeacon under the holy Popes St. Cornelius and St. Lucius. The latter? having suffered martyrdom, St...
January. 21. St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 21.--ST. AGNES, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. AGNES was but twelve years old when she was led to the altar of Minerva at Rome and commanded to obey the persecuting laws of Diocletian by offering incense. In the midst...
May. 23. St. Julia, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 23.--ST. JULIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. JULIA was a noble virgin of Carthage, who, when the city was token by Genseric in 439, was sold for a slave to a pagan merchant of Syria named Eusebius. Under the most mortifying employments...
November. 11. St. Martin Of Tours : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 11.--ST. MARTIN OF TOURS. WHEN a mere boy, Martin became a Christian catechumen against his parents' wish; and at fifteen was therefore seized by his father, a pagan soldier, and enrolled in the army. One winter's day...
June. 20. St. Silverius, Pope And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 20.--ST. SILVERIUS, POPE AND MARTYR. SILVERIUS was son of Pope Hermisdas, who had been married before he entered the ministry. Upon the death of St. Agapetas, after a vacancy of forty-seven days, Silverius, then subdeac...
May. 4. St. Monica : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 4.--ST. MONICA. MONICA, the mother of St. Augustine, was born in 332. A, a girlhood of singular innocence and piety, she was given in marriage to Patritius, a pagan. She at once devoted herself to his conversion, praying...
January. 14. St. Hilary Of Poitiers : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 36 JANUARY 14.--ST. HILARY OF POITIERS. ST. HILARY was a native of Poitiers in Aquitaine. Born and educated a pagan, it was not till near middle age that he embraced Christianity, moved thereto mainly by the idea of God...
April. 7. Blessed Herman Joseph Of Steinfeld : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], BLESSED HERMAN JOSEPH OF STEINFELD. HERMAN from his earliest years was a devoted client of the Mother of God. As a little child he used to spend all his playtime in the church at Cologne before an image of Mary, where he received...
September. 14. The Exaltation Of The Holy : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 14.--THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. CONSTANTINE was still wavering between Christianity and idolatry when a luminous cross appeared to him in the heavens, bearing the inscription, "In this...
December. 3. St. Francis Xavier : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 3.--ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. YOUNG Spanish gentleman, in the dangerous days of the Reformation, was making a name for himself as a Professor of Philosophy in the University of Paris, and had seemingly no higher aim, when St...
September. 1. St. Giles, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 1.--ST. GILES, ABBOT. ST. GILES, whose name has been held in great veneration for several ages in France and England, is said to have been an Athenian by birth, and of noble extraction. His extraordinary piety...
January. 16. St. Honoratus, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 38 JANUARY 16.--ST. HONORATUS, ARCHBISHOP. ST. HONORATUS was of a consular Roman family settled in Gaul. In his youth he renounced the worship of idols, and gained his elder brother, Venantius, to Christ. Convinced...
December. 19. St. Nemesion, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 19.--ST. NEMESION, MARTYR. IN the persecution of Decius, Nemesion, an Egyptian, was apprehended at Alexandria upon an indictment for theft. The servant of Christ easily cleared himself of that charge, but was immediately...
October. 15. St. Teresa : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 15.--ST. TERESA. WHEN a child of seven years, Teresa ran away from her home at Avila in Spain, in the hope of being martyred by the Moors. Being brought back and asked the reason of her flight, she replied, "I want to see...
March. 21. St. Benedict, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 21.--ST. BENEDICT, ABBOT. ST. BENEDICT, blessed by grace and in name, was born of a noble Italian family about 480. When a boy he was sent to Rome, and there placed in the public schools. Scared by the licentiousness...
September. 21. St. Matthew, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 21.--ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE. ONE day, as Our Lord was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw, sitting at the receipt of custom, Matthew the publican, whose business it was to collect the taxes from the people for their...
April. 17. St. Anicetus, Pope, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 17.--ST. ANICETUS, POPE, MARTYR. ST. ANICETUS succeeded St. Pius, and sat about eight years, from 165 to 173. If he did not shed his blood for the Faith, he at least purchased the title of martyr by great sufferings...
October. 11. St. Tarachus And His Companions : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 11.--ST. TARACHUS AND HIS COMPANIONS. IN the year 304, Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus, differing in age and nationality, but united in the bonds of faith, being denounced as Christians to Numerian, Governor of Cilici...
June. 9. St. Columba, Or Columkille, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. COLUMBA, OR COLUMKILLE, ABBOT. ST. COLUMBA, the apostle of the Picts, was born of a noble family, at Gartan, in the county of Tyrconnel, Ireland, in 521. From early childhood he gave himself to God. In all his labors...
June. 25. St. Prosper Of Aquitaine. St William : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 229 JUNE 25.--ST. PROSPER OF AQUITAINE.--ST WILLIAM OF MONTE-VERGINE. ST. PROSPER was born at Aquitaine, in the year 403. His works show that in his youth he had happily applied himself to all the branches both of polite...
August. 20. St. Bernard : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 20.--ST. BERNARD. BERNARD was born at the castle of Fontaines, in Burgundy. The grace of his person and the vigor of his intellect filled his parents with the highest hopes, and the world lay bright and smiling before him...
June. 17. St. Avitus, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 17.--ST. AVITUS, ABBOT. ST. AVITUS was a native of Orleans, and, retiring into Auvergne, took the monastic habit, together with St. Calais, in the abbey of Menat, at that time very small, though afterward enriched by Queen...
February. 22. St. Peter's Chair At Antioch : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 22.--ST. PETER'S CHAIR AT ANTIOCH. THAT St. Peter, before he went to Rome, founded the see of Antioch is attested by many Saints. It was just that the Prince of the Apostles should take this city under his particular...
February. 14. St. Valentine, Priest And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 14.--ST. VALENTINE, PRIEST AND MARTYR. VALENTINE was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emper...
April. 24. St. Fidelis Of Sigmaringen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 24.--ST. FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN. FIDELIS was born at Sigmaringen in 1577, of noble parents. In his youth he frequently approached the sacraments, visited the sick and the poor, and spent moreover many hours before the altar...
December. 13. St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 378 DECEMBER 13.--ST. LUCY, VIRGIN, MARTYR. THE mother of St. Lucy suffered four years from an issue of blood, and the help of man failed. St. Lucy reminded her mother that a woman in the Gospel had been healed of the same...
May. 14. St. Pachomius, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 14.--ST. PACHOMIUS, ABBOT. IN the beginning of the fourth century great levies of troops were made throughout Egypt for the service of the Roman emperor. Among the recruits was Pachomius, a young heathen, then in his...
August. 31. St. Raymund Nonnatus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 300 AUGUST 31.--ST. RAYMUND NONNATUS. T. RAYMUND NONNATUS was born in Catalonia, in the year 1204, and was descended of a gentleman's family of a small fortune. In his childhood he seemed to find pleasure only in his devotions...
March. 2. St. Simplicius, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 2.--ST. SIMPLICIUS, POPE. ST. SIMPLICIUS was the ornament of the Roman clergy under Sts. Leo and Hilarius, and succeeded the latter in the pontificate in 468. He was raised by God to corn fort and support his Church amidst...
April. 9. St. Mary Of Egypt : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 9.--ST. MARY OF EGYPT. AT the tender age of twelve, Mary left her father's house that she might sin without restraint, and for seventeen years she lived in shame at Alexandria. Then she accompanied a pilgrimage to Jerusalem...
February. 12. St. Benedict Of Anian : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 12.--ST. BENEDICT OF ANIAN. BENEDICT was the son of Aigulf, Governor of Languedoc, and was born about 750. In his early youth he served as cup-bearer to King Pepin and his son Charlemagne, enjoying under them gre...
October. 10. St. Francis Borgia : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 10.--ST. FRANCIS BORGIA. FRANCIS BORGIA, Duke of Gandia and Captain-General of Catalonia, was one of the handsomest, richest, and most honored nobles in Spain, when, in 1539, there was laid upon him the sad duty...
February. 9. St. Apollonia And The Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 9.--ST. APOLLONIA AND THE MARTYRS OF ALEXANDRIA. AT Alexandria, in 249, the mob rose in savage fury against the Christians. Metras, an old man, perished first. His eyes were pierced with reeds, and he was stoned to death...
October. 25. Sts. Crispin And Crispinian, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 25.--STS. CRISPIN AND CRISPINIAN, MARTYRS. THESE two glorious martyrs came from Rome to preach the Faith in Gaul toward the middle of the third century. Fixing their residence at Soissons, they instructed many...
February. 24. St. Matthias, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 24.--ST. MATTHIAS, APOSTLE. AFTER our blessed Lord's Ascension His disciples met together, with Mary His mother and the eleven apostles, in an upper room at Jerusalem. The little company numbered no more than one hundred...
March. 16. Sts. Abraham And Mary : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 16.--STS. ABRAHAM AND MARY. ABRAHAM was a rich nobleman of Edessa. At his parents' desire he married, but escaped to a cell near the city as soon as the feast was over. He walled up the cell-door, leaving only a small...
October. 26. St. Evaristus, Pope And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 26.--ST. EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR. ST. EVARISTUS succeeded St. Anacletus in the see of Rome, in the reign of Trajan, governed the Church nine years, and died in 112. The institution of cardinal priests is by some...
August. 30. St. Fiaker, Anchorite : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 299 ST. FIAKER, ANCHORITE. ST. FIAKER was nobly born in Ireland, and had his education under the care of a bishop of eminent sanctity who was, according to some, Conan, Bishop of Soder or the Western Islands. Looking upon all...
April. 23. St. George, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 155 APRIL 23.--ST. GEORGE, MARTYR. ST. GEORGE was born in Cappadocia, at the close of the third century, of Christian parents. In early youth he chose a soldier's life, and soon obtained the favor of Diocletian, who advanced...
June. 1. St. Justin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 1.--ST. JUSTIN, MARTYR. ST. JUSTIN was born of heathen parents at. Neapolis in Samaria, about the year 103. He was well educated, and gave himself to the study of philosophy, but always with one object, that he might learn...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Teres : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. TERESA OF THE INFANT JESUS MARIE-FRANCOISE-THERESE MARTIN, known as "The Little Flower of Jesus," was born at Alenon. France, on January 2nd, 1873. Reared in a home of comfort and surrounded by refinements that would have...
August. 16. St. Hyacinth : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 16.--ST. HYACINTH. HYACINTH, the glorious apostle of Poland and Russia, was born of noble parents in Poland, about the year 1185. In 1218, being already Canon of Cracow, he accompanied his uncle, the bishop of that place...
December. 11. St. Damasus, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 11.--ST. DAMASUS, POPE. ST. DAMASUS was born at Rome at the beginning of the fourth century. He was archdeacon of the Roman Church in 355, when Pope Liberius was banished to Berda, and followed him into exile, but...
April. 9. St. John The Almoner : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. JOHN THE ALMONER. ST. JOHN was married, but when his wife and two children died he considered it a call from God to lead a perfect life. He began to give away all he possessed in alms, and became known throughout the East...
August. 8. St. Cyriacus And His Companions : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 8.--ST. CYRIACUS AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS. ST. CYRIACUS was a holy deacon at Rome, under the Popes Marcellinus and Marcellus. In the persecution of Diocletian, in 303, he was crowned with a glorious martyrdom in th...
January. 11. St. Theodosius, The Cenobiarch : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 11.--ST. THEODOSIUS, THE CENOBIARCH. THEODOSIUS was born in Cappadocia in 423. The example of Abraham urged him to leave his country, and his desire to follow Jesus Christ attracted him to the religious life. He placed...
May. 28. St. Germanus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 28.--ST. GERMANUS, BISHOP. ST. GERMANUS, the glory of the Church of France in the sixth century, was born in the territory of Autun, about the year 469. In his youth he was conspicuous for his fervor. Being ordained priest...
June. 3. St. Clotilda, Queen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 3.--ST. CLOTILDA, QUEEN. ST. CLOTILDA was daughter of Chilperic, younger brother to Gondebald, the tyrannical King of Burgundy, who put him and his wife, and his other brothers, except one, to death, in order to usurp their...
June. 1. St. Pamphilus, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. PAMPHILUS, MARTYR. ST. PAMPHILUS was of a rich and honorable family, and a native of Berytus, in which city, at that time famous for its schools, he in his youth ran through the whole circle of the sciences, and was afterward...
November. 25. St. Catherine Of Alexandria : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 366 NOVEMBER 25.--ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA. CATHERINE was a noble virgin of Alexandria. Before her Baptism, it is said, she saw in vision the Blessed Virgin ask her Son to receive her among His servants, but the Divine...
January. 31. St. Marcella, Widow : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 54 JANUARY 31.--ST. MARCELLA, WIDOW. ST. MARCELLA, whom St. Jerome called the glory of the Roman women, became a widow in the seventh month after her marriage. Having determined to consecrate the remainder of her days...
September. 17. St. Lambert, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 17.--ST. LAMBERT, BISHOP, MARTYR. ST. LAMBERT was a native of Maestricht. His father intrusted his education to the holy Bishop St. Theodard, and on that good man being assassinated, Lambert was chosen his success...
May. 19. St. Peter Celestine : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 185 MAY 19.--ST. PETER CELESTINE. AS a child, Peter had visions of our blessed Lady, and of the angels and saints. They encouraged him in his prayer, and chided him when he fell into any fault. His mother, though only a po...
April. 6. St. Celestine, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 6.--ST. CELESTINE, POPE. ST. CELESTINE was a native of Rome, and upon the demise of Pope Boniface he was chosen to succeed him, in September 422, by the wonderful consent of the whole city. His first official act w...
October. 5. St. Placid, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 330 OCTOBER 5.--ST. PLACID, MARTYR. ST. PLACID was born in Rome, in the year 515, of a patrician family, and at seven years of age was taken by his father to the monastery of Subiaco. At thirteen years of age he followed St...
March. 13. St. Euphrasia, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 13.--ST. EUPHRASIA, VIRGIN. EUPHRASIA was the daughter of pious and noble parents. After the death of her father his widow withdrew privately with her little daughter into Egypt, where she was possessed of a very large...
November. 9. St. Theodore Tyro, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 354 NOVEMBER 9.--ST. THEODORE TYRO, MARTYR. ST. THEODORE was born of a noble family in the East, and enrolled while still a youth in the imperial army. Early in 306 the emperor put forth an edict requiring all Christians...
February. 1. St. Bridgid, Abbess, And Patroness : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 1.--ST. BRIDGID, ABBESS, AND PATRONESS OF IRELAND. NEXT to the glorious St. Patrick, St. Bridgid, whom we may consider his spiritual daughter in Christ, has ever been held in singular veneration in Ireland. She was born...
September. 15. St. Catherine Of Genoa : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 315 SEPTEMBER 15.--ST. CATHERINE OF GENOA. NOBLE in birth, rich, and exceedingly beautiful, Catherine had as a child rejected the solicitations of the world, and begged her divine Master for some share in His sufferings...
July. 20. St. Margaret, Virgin And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 256 JULY 20.--ST. MARGARET, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. ACCORDING to the ancient Martyrologies, St. Margaret suffered at Antioch in Pisidia, in the last general persecution. She is said to have been instructed in the Faith by...
November. 14. St. Laurence O'toole, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. LAURENCE O'TOOLE, ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN. ST. LAURENCE, it appears, was born about the year 1125. When only ten years old, his father delivered him up as a hostage to Dermod Mac Murchad, King of Leinster, who treated the child...
April. 11. St. Leo The Great : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 11.--ST. LEO THE GREAT. LEO was born at Rome. He embraced the sacred ministry, was made archdeacon of the Roman Church by St. Celestine, and under him and Sixtus III. had a large share in governing the Church. On the death...
April. 30. St. Catherine Of Siena : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 30.--ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. CATHERINE, the daughter of a humble tradesman, was raised up to be the guide and guardian of the Church in one of the darkest periods of its history, the fourteenth century. As a child, prayer...
March. 26. St. Ludger, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 26.--ST. LUDGER, BISHOP. ST. LUDGER was born in Friesland about the year 743. His father, a nobleman of the first rank, at the child's own request, committed him very young to the care of St. Gregory, the disciple of St...
October. 9. St. Dionysius And His Companions : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 9.--ST. DIONYSIUS AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS.--ST. LOUIS BERTRAND. OF all the Roman missionaries sent into Gaul, St. Dionysius carried the Faith the furthest into the country, fixing his see at Paris, and by him and his...
November. 27. St. Maximus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 27.--ST. MAXIMUS, BISHOP. ST. MAXIMUS, abbot of Lerins, in succession to St. Honoratus, was remarkable not only for the spirit of recollection, fervor, and piety familiar to him from very childhood, but still more...
September. 29. St. Michael, Archangel : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 29.--ST. MICHAEL, ARCHANGEL. "MI-CA-EL," or "Who is like to God?" Such was the cry of the great Archangel when he smote the rebel Lucifer in the conflict of the heavenly hosts, and from that hour he has been known...
November. 28. St. James Of La Marca Of Ancona : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 28.--ST. JAMES OF LA MARCA OF ANCONA. THE small town of Montbrandon, in the Marca of Ancona, gave birth to this Saint. When young he was sent to the University of Perugia, where his progress in learning soon qualified...
January. 19. St. Canutus, King, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 41 JANUARY 19.--ST. CANUTUS, KING, MARTYR. ST. CANUTUS, King of Denmark, was endowed with excellent qualities of both mind and body. It is hard to say whether he excelled more in courage or in conduct and skill in war; but his...
April. 12. St. Julius, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 12.--ST. JULIUS, POPE. ST. JULIUS was a Roman, and chosen Pope on the 6th of February in 337. The Arian bishops in the East sent to him three deputies to accuse St. Athanasius, the zealous Patriarch of Alexandria. These...
March. 4. St. Casimir, King : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 4.--ST. CASIMIR, KING. CASIMIR, the second son of Casimir III., King of Poland was born A. D. 1458. From the custody of a most virtuous mother, Elizabeth of Austria, he passed to the guardianship of a devoted master...
September. 7. St. Cloud, Confessor : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 307 SEPTEMBER 7.--ST. CLOUD, CONFESSOR. ST. CLOUD is the first and most illustrious Saint among the princes of the royal family of the first race in France. He was son of Chlodomir, King of Orleans, the eldest son of St...
January. 26. St. Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 49 JANUARY 26.--ST. POLYCARP, BISHOP, MARTYR. ST. POLYCARP, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of St. John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met St...
July. 10. The Seven Brothers, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 10.--THE SEVEN BROTHERS, MARTYRS, AND ST. FELICITAS, THEIR MOTHER. THE illustrious martyrdom of these Saints happened at Rome, under the Emperor Antoninus. The seven brothers were the sons of St. Felicitas, a noble, pious...
December. 1. St. Eligius : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 370 DECEMBER 1.--ST. ELIGIUS. ELIGIUS, a goldsmith at Paris, was commissioned by King Clotaire to make a throne. With the gold and precious stones given him he made two. Struck by his rare honesty, the king gave him...
March. 18. St. Cyril Of Jerusalem : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 18.--ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM. CYRIL was born at or near the city of Jerusalem, about the year 315. He was ordained priest by St. Maximus, who gave him the important charge of instructing and preparing the candidates...
November. 10. St. Andrew Avellino : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 10:--ST. ANDREW AVELLINO. AFTER a holy youth, Lancelot Avellino was ordained priest at Naples. At the age of thirty-six he entered the Theatine Order, and took the name of Andrew, to show his love for the cross...
August. 10. St. Laurence, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 10.--ST. LAURENCE, MARTYR. ST. LAURENCE was the chief among the seven deacons of the Roman Church. In the year 258 Pope Sixtus was led out to die, and St. Laurence stood by, weeping that he could not share his fate. "I w...
August. 5. The Dedication Of St. Mary Ad Nives : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 5.--THE DEDICATION OF ST. MARY AD NIVES. THERE are in Rome three patriarchal churches, in which the Pope officiates on different festivals. These are the Basilics of St. John Lateran, St. Peter's on the Vatican Hill...
November. 12. St. Martin, Pope : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 12.--ST. MARTIN, POPE. ST. MARTIN, who occupied the Roman See from A. D. 649 to 655, incurred the enmity of the Byzantine court by his energetic opposition to the Monothelite heresy, and the Exarch Olympius went so far...
January. 30. St. Bathildes, Queen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 53 JANUARY 30.--ST. BATHILDES, QUEEN. ST. BATHILDES was an Englishwoman, who was carried over whilst yet young into France, and there sold for a slave, at a very low price, to Erkenwald, mayor of the palace under King Clovis...
September. 6. St. Eleutherius, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 6.--ST. ELEUTHERIUS, ABBOT. WONDERFUL simplicity and spirit of compunction were the distinguishing virtues of this holy man. He was chosen abbot of St. Mark's near Spoleto, and favored by God with the gift of miracles...
February. 29. St. Oswald, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 29.--ST. OSWALD, BISHOP. OSWALD was of a noble Saxon family, and was endowed with a very rare and beautiful form of body and with a singular piety of soul. He was brought up by his uncle, St. Odo, Archbishop...
October. 21. St. Ursula, Virgin And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 21.--ST. URSULA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. A NUMBER of Christian families had intrusted the education of their children to the care of the pious Ursula, and some persons of the world had in like manner placed themselves under...
March. 7. St. Thomas Aquinas : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 7.--ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. ST. THOMAS was born of noble parents at Aquino in Italy, in 1226. At the age of nineteen he received the Dominican habit at Naples, where he was studying. Seized by his brothers on his way to Paris...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Francis Solano : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. FRANCIS SOLANO. THE diocese of Cordova, in Spain, was the birthplace of this Saint, who won many thousands of souls to God. From his earliest years he was characterized by a modest behavior, prudent silence, and edifying...
August. 1. St. Peter's Chains : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 267 AUGUST 1.--ST. PETER'S CHAINS. HEROD AGRIPPA, King of the Jews, having put to death St. James the Great in the year 44, in order to gain the affection and applause of his people, caused St. Peter, the prince of the sacred...
May. 2. St. Athanasius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 2.--ST. ATHANASIUS, BISHOP. ATHANASIUS was born in Egypt towards the end of the third century, and was from his youth pious, learned, and deeply versed in the sacred writings, as befitted one whom God had chosen to be...
May. 1. Sts. Philip And James, Apostles : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 1.--STS. PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES. PHILIP was one of the first chosen disciples of Christ. On the way from Judea to Galilee Our Lord found Philip, and said, "Follow Me" Philip straightway obeyed; and then in his zeal...
June. 14. St. Basil The Great : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 14.--ST. BASIL THE GREAT. ST. BASIL was born in Asia Minor. Two of his brothers became bishops, and, together with his mother and sister, are honored as Saints. He studied with great success at Athens, where he formed with...
October. 2. The Holy Guardian Angels : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 2.--THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS. GOD does not abandon to mere chance any of His handiworks; by His providence He is everywhere present; not a hair falls from the head or a sparrow to the ground without His knowledge. Not...
August. 6. The Transfiguration Of Our Lord : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 273 AUGUST 6.--THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD. OUR divine Redeemer, being in Galilee about a year before His sacred Passion, took with Him St. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts. James and John, and led them to a retired...
February. 28. Sts. Romanus And Lupicinus, Abbots : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 28.--STS. ROMANUS AND LUPICINUS, ABBOTS. ROMANUS at thirty-five years of age left his relatives and spent some time in the monastery of Ainay at Lyons, at the great church at the conflux of the Sane and Rhone which...
March. 12. St. Gregory The Great : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 105 MARCH 12.--ST. GREGORY THE GREAT. GREGORY was a Roman of noble birth, and while still young was governor of Rome. On his father's death he gave his great wealth to the poor, turned his house on the Clian Hill ...
October. 1. St. Remigius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 1.--ST. REMIGIUS, BISHOP. REMIGIUS, or Remi, was born of noble and pious parents. At the age of twenty-two, in spite of the canons and of his own reluctance, he was acclaimed Archbishop of Rheims. He was unusually tall...
May. 30. St. Felix I., Pope And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 30.--ST. FELIX I., POPE AND MARTYR. ST. FELIX was a Roman by birth, and succeeded St. Dionysius in the government of the Church in 269. Paul of Samosata, the proud Bishop of Antioch, to the guilt of many enormous crimes added...
April. 7. St. Hegesippus, A Primitive Father : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 7.--ST. HEGESIPPUS, A PRIMITIVE FATHER. HE was by birth a Jew, and belonged to the Church of Jerusalem, but travelling to Rome, he lived there nearly twenty years, from the pontificate of Anicetus to that of Eleutherius...
March. 14. St. Maud. Queen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 14.--ST. MAUD. QUEEN THIS princess was daughter of Theodoric, a powerful Saxon count. Her parents placed her very young in the monastery of Erford, of which her grandmother Maud was then abbess. Our Saint remained in th...
January. 17. St. Antony, Patriarch Of Monks : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 39 JANUARY 17--ST. ANTONY, PATRIARCH OF MONKS. ST. ANTONY was born in the year 251, in Upper Egypt. Hearing at Mass the words, "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor," he gave away all his vast...
June. 10. St. Margaret Of Scotland : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 10.--ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND. ST. MARGARET'S name signifies "pearl; a fitting name," says Theodoric, her confessor and her first biographer, "for one such as she." Her soul was like a precious pearl. A life spent amidst...
August. 2. St. Alphonsus Liguori : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI. ST. ALPHONSUS was born of noble parents, near Naples, in 1696. His spiritual training was intrusted to the Fathers of the Oratory in that city, and from his boyhood Alphonsus was known as a most devout...
March. 8. St. John Of God : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 8.--ST. JOHN OF GOD. NOTHING in John's early life foreshadowed his future sanctity. He ran away as a boy from his home in Portugal, tended sheep and cattle in Spain, and served as a soldier against the French...
July. 4. St. Bertha, Widow, Abbess : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 4.--ST. BERTHA, WIDOW, ABBESS. BERTHA was the daughter of Count Rigobert and Umana, related to one of the kings of Kent in England. In the twentieth year of her age she was married to Sigefroi, by whom she had five daughters...
March. 19. St. Joseph, Spouse Of The Blessed : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 19.--ST. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. ST. JOSEPH was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter when God raised him to the highest...
June. 23. St. Etheldreda, Abbess : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 23.--ST. ETHELDREDA, ABBESS. BORN and brought up in the fear of God--her mother and three sisters are numbered among the Saints--Etheldreda had but one aim in life, to devote herself to His service in the religious state...
July. 15. St. Henry, Emperor : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 15.--ST. HENRY, EMPEROR. HENRY, Duke of Bavaria, saw in a vision his guardian, St. Wolfgang, pointing to the words "after six." This moved him to prepare for death, and for six years he continued to watch and pray, when...
May. 27. St. Mary Magdalen Of Pazzi : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 27.--ST. MARY MAGDALEN OF PAZZI. ST. MARY MAGDALEN OF PAZZI, of an illustrious house in Florence, was born in the year 1566, and baptized by the name of Catherine. She received her first Communion at ten years of age...
February. 26. St. Porphyry, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 26.--ST. PORPHYRY, BISHOP. AT the age of twenty-five, Porphyry, a rich citizen of Thessalonica, left the world for one of the great religious houses in the desert of Scet. Here he remained five years, and then, finding...
February. 5. St. Agatha, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 5.--ST. AGATHA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. AGATHA was born in Sicily, of rich and noble parents--a child of benediction from the first, for she was promised to her parents before her birth, and consecrated from her earliest...
July. 6. St. Palladius, Bishop, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 240 ST. PALLADIUS, BISHOP, APOSTLE OF THE SCOTS. THE name of Palladius shows this Saint to have been a Roman, and most authors agree that he was deacon of the Church of Rome. At least St. Prosper, in his chronicle, informs us...
October. 23. St. Theodoret, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 23.--ST. THEODORET, MARTYR. ABOUT the year 361, Julian, uncle to the emperor of that name, and like his nephew an apostate, was made Count of the East. He closed the Christian churches at Antioch, and when St. Theodoret...
October. 6. St. Bruno : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 6.--ST. BRUNO. BRUNO was born at Cologne, about 1030, of an illustrious family. He was endowed with rare natural gifts, which he cultivated with care at Paris. He became canon of Cologne, and then of Rheims, where he had...
March. 23. Sts. Victorian And Others, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 121 MARCH 23.--STS. VICTORIAN AND OTHERS, MARTYRS. HUNERIC, the Arian king of the Vandals in Africa, succeeded his father Genseric in 477. He behaved himself at first with moderation towards the Catholics, but in 480 he beg...
February. 25. St. Tarasius : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 25.--ST. TARASIUS. TARASIUS was born at Constantinople about the middle of the eighth century, of a noble family. His mother Eucratia, brought him up in the practice of the most eminent virtues. By his talents and virtue...
August. 11. Sts. Tiburtius And Susanna, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 278 AUGUST 11.--STS. TIBURTIUS AND SUSANNA, MARTYRS. AGRESTIUS CHROMATIUS was vicar to the prefect of Rome, and had condemned several martyrs in the reign of Carinus; and in the first years of Diocletian, St. Tranquillinus...
August. 23. St. Philip Benizi : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 23.--ST. PHILIP BENIZI. ST. PHILIP BENIZI was born in Florence, on the Feast of the Assumption, 1233. That same day the Order of Servites was founded by the Mother of God. As an infant at the breast, Philip broke out...
August. 15. The Assumption Of The Blessed : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 15.--THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. IN this festival the Church commemorates the happy departure from life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her translation into the kingdom of her Son, in which she received...
December. 21. St. Thomas, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 21.--ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE. ST. THOMAS was one of the fishermen on the Lake of A Galilee whom Our Lord called to be His apostles. By nature slow to believe, too apt to see difficulties, and to look at the dark side...
October. 17. St. Hedwige. Saint Margaret : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 17.--ST. HEDWIGE.--SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE. ST. HEDWIGE, the wife of Henry, Duke of Silesia, and the mother of his six children, led a humble, austere, and most holy life amidst all the pomp of royal state. Devoti...
January. 10. St. William, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 10.--ST. WILLIAM, ARCHBISHOP. WILLIAM BERRUYER, of the illustrious family of the ancient Counts of Nevers, was educated by Peter the Hermit, Archdeacon of Soissons, his uncle by the mother's side. From his infancy William...
December. 24. St. Delphinus, Bishop. Sts : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 24.--ST. DELPHINUS, BISHOP.--STS. THRASILLA AND EMILIANA, VIRGINS. LITTLE is known of St. Delphinus before his elevation to the episcopate. He assisted at the Council of Saragossa, in 330, in which the Priscillianists...
February. 7. St. Romuald, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 7.--ST. ROMUALD, ABBOT. IN 976, Sergius, a nobleman of Ravenna, quarrelled with a relative about an estate, and slew him in a duel. His son Romuald, horrified at his father's crime, entered the Benedictine monastery...
March. 3. St. Cunegundes, Empress : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 3.--ST. CUNEGUNDES, EMPRESS. ST. CUNEGUNDES was the daughter of Siegfried, the first Count of Luxemburg, and Hadeswige, his pious wife. They instilled into her from her cradle the most tender sentiments of piety...
June. 21. St. Aloysius Gonzaga : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 21.--ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA. ALOYSIUS, the eldest son of Ferdinand Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglione, was born on the 9th of March, 1568. The first words he pronounced were the holy names of Jesus and Mary. When he was nine...
June. 13. St. Antony Of Padua : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 13.--ST. ANTONY OF PADUA. IN 1221 St. Francis held a general chapter at Assisi; when the others dispersed, there lingered behind, unknown and neglected, a poor Portuguese friar, resolved to ask for and to refuse nothing...
March. 25. The Annunciation Of The Blessed : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 25.--THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. THIS great festival takes its name from the happy tidings brought by the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin, concerning the Incarnation of the Son of God. It commemorates...
November. 18. St. Odo Of Cluny : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 361 NOVEMBER 18.--ST. ODO OF CLUNY. ON Christmas-eve, 877, a noble of Aquitaine implored Our Lady to grant him a son. His prayer was heard; Odo was born, and his grateful father offered him to St. Martin. Odo grew in wisdom...
December. 8. The Feast Of The Immaculate : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 8.--THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. ON this day, so dear to every Catholic heart, we celebrate, in the first place, the moment in which Almighty God showed Mary, through the distance of ages, to our first parents...
May. 18. St. Venantius, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 18.--ST. VENANTIUS, MARTYR. ST. VENANTIUS was born at Camerino in Italy, and at the age of fifteen was seized as a Christian and carried before a judge. As it was found impossible to shake his constancy either by threats...
March. 10. The Forty Martyrs Of Sebaste : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 10.--THE FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTE. THE FORTY MARTYRS were soldiers quartered at Sebaste in Armenia, about the year 320. When their legion was ordered to offer sacrifice they separated themselves from the rest and formed...
December. 26. St. Stephen, First Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 387 DECEMBER 26.--ST. STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR. THERE is good reason to believe that St. Stephen was one of the seventy-two disciples of our blessed Lord. After the Ascension he was chosen one of the seven deacons. The ministry...
May. 12. St. Epiphanius, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 12.--ST. EPIPHANIUS, ARCHBISHOP. ST. EPIPHANIUS was born about the year 310, in Palestine. In his youth he began the study of the Holy Scriptures, embraced a monastic life, and went into Egypt to perfect himself...
January. 24. St. Timothy, Bishop, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 24.--ST. TIMOTHY, BISHOP, MARTYR. TIMOTHY was a convert of St. Paul. He was born at Lystra in Asia Minor. His mother was a Jewess, but his father was a pagan; and though Timothy had read the Scriptures from his childhood...
January. 8. St. Apollinaris, The Apologist, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 8.--ST. APOLLINARIS, THE APOLOGIST, BISHOP. CLAUDIUS APOLLINARIS, Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, was one of the most illustrious prelates of the second age. Notwithstanding the great encomiums bestowed on him by...
May. 5. St. Pius V : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 5.--ST. PIUS V. A DOMINICAN friar from his fifteenth year, Michael Ghislieri, as a simple religious, as inquisitor, as bishop, and as cardinal, was famous for his intrepid defence of the Church's faith and discipline...
August. 7. St. Cajetan : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 7.--ST. CAJETAN. CAJETAN was born at Vicenza, in 1480, of pious and noble parents, who dedicated him to our blessed Lady. From childhood he was known as the Saint, and in later years as "the hunter of souls"...
March. 24. St. Simon, Infant Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 24.--ST. SIMON, INFANT MARTYR. "HAIL, flowers of the martyrs!" the Church sings in her Office of the Holy Innocents, who were the first to die for Christ; and in every age mere children and infants have gloriously confessed...
May. 11. St. Mammertus, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 11.--ST. MAMMERTUS, ARCHBISHOP. ST. MAMMERTUS, Archbishop of Vienne in Dauphin, was a prelate renowned for his sanctity, learning, and miracles. He instituted in his diocese the fasts and supplications called the Rogations...
July. 12. St. John Gualbert : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 12.--ST. JOHN GUALBERT. ST. JOHN GUALBERT was born at Florence, A. D. 999. Following the profession of arms at that troubled period, he became involved in a blood-feud with a near relative. One Good Friday, as he was riding...
September. 2. St. Stephen, King : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 2.--ST. STEPHEN, KING. GEYSA, fourth Duke of Hungary, was, with his wife, converted to the Faith, and saw in a vision the martyr St. Stephen, who told him that he should have a son who would perfect the work he had...
December. 22. St. Ischyrion, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 22.--ST. ISCHYRION, MARTYR. ISCHYRION was an inferior officer who attended on a magistrate of a certain city in Egypt. His master commanded him to offer sacrifice to the idols; and because he refused to commit th...
July. 16. St. Simon Stock : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 16.--ST. SIMON STOCK. SIMON was born in the county of Kent, England, and left his home when he was but twelve years of age, to live as a hermit in the hollow trunk of a tree, whence he was known as Simon of the Stock. Here...
October. 30. St. Marcellus, The Centurion, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 347 OCTOBER 30.--ST. MARCELLUS, THE CENTURION, MARTYR. THE birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus, in the year 298, was celebrated with extraordinary feasting and solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian centurion or capt...
July. 30. St. Germanus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 30.--ST. GERMANUS, BISHOP. IN his youth Germanus gave little sign of sanctity. He was of noble birth, and at first practised the law at Rome. After a time the emperor placed him high in the army. But his one passion w...
March. 30. St. John Climacus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 130 MARCH 30.--ST. JOHN CLIMACUS. JOHN made, while still young, such progress in learning that he was called the Scholastic. At the age of sixteen he turned from the brilliant future which lay before him, and retired to Mt...
May. 29. St. Cyril, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 29.--ST. CYRIL, MARTYR. ST. CYRIL suffered while still a boy at Csarea in Cappadocia, during the persecutions of the third century. He used to repeat the name of Christ at all times, and confessed that the mere utterance...
June. 27. St. Ladislas, King : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 27.--ST. LADISLAS, KING. LADISLAS the First, son of Bela, King of Hungary, was born in 1041. By the pertinacious importunity of the people he was compelled, much against his own inclination, to ascend the throne, in 1080. He...
December. 6. St. Nicholas Of Bari : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 6.--ST. NICHOLAS OF BARI. ST. NICHOLAS, the patron Saint of Russia, was born toward the end of the third century. His uncle, the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, ordained him priest, and appointed him abbot of a monastery;...
November. 16. St. Edmund Of Canterbury : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 16.--ST. EDMUND OF CANTERBURY. ST. EDMUND left his home at Abingdon, a boy of twelve years old, to study at Oxford, and there protected himself against many grievous temptations by a vow of chastity, and by espousing...
April. 1. St. Hugh, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 1.--ST. HUGH, BISHOP. IT was the happiness of this Saint to receive from his cradle the strongest impressions of piety by the example and care of his illustrious and holy parents. He was born at Chateau-neuf...
January. 4. St. Titus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 4.--ST. TITUS, BISHOP. TITUS was a convert from heathenism, a disciple of St. Paul, one of the chosen companions of the Apostles in his journey to the Council of Jerusalem, and his fellow-laborers in many apostolic...
September. 5. St. Laurence Justinian : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 5.--ST. LAURENCE JUSTINIAN. LAURENCE from a child longed to be a Saint; and when he was nineteen years of age there was granted to him a vision of the Eternal Wisdom. All earthly things paled in his eyes before...
October. 13. St. Edward The Confessor : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 13.--ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR. EDWARD was unexpectedly raised to the throne of England at the age of forty years, twenty-seven of which he had passed in exile. On the throne, the virtues of his earlier years, simplicity...
September. 23. St. Thecla, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 23.--ST. THECLA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. THECLA is one of the most ancient, as she is one of the most illustrious, Saints in the calendar of the Church. It was at Iconium that St. Paul met St. Thecla, and kindled the love...
May. 16. St. John Nepomucen : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 16.--ST. JOHN NEPOMUCEN. ST. JOHN was born, in answer to prayer, 1330, of poor parents, at Nepomuc in Bohemia. In gratitude they consecrated him to God; and his holy life as a priest led to his appointment as chapla...
January. 12. St. Aelred, Abbot : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 12.--ST. AELRED, ABBOT. "ONE thing thou lackest." In these words God called Aelred from the court of a royal Saint, David of Scotland, to the silence of the cloister. He left the king, the companions of his youth...
April. 10. St. Bademus, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 10.--ST. BADEMUS, MARTYR. BADEMUS was a rich and noble citizen of Bethlapeta in Persia, who founded a monastery near that city, which he governed with great sanctity. He conducted his religious in the paths of perfecti...
April. 8. St. Perpetuus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 8.--ST. PERPETUUS, BISHOP. ST. PERPETUUS was the eighth Bishop of Tours from St. Gatian, and governed that see above thirty years, from 461 to 491, when he died on the 8th of April. During all that time he labored by...
July. 28. Sts. Nazarius And Celsus, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 28.--STS. NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS. T. NAZARIUS's father was a heathen, and held a considerable post in the Roman army. His mother, Perpetua, was a zealous Christian, and was instructed by St. Peter, or his disciples...
January. 20. St. Sebastian, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 20.--ST. SEBASTIAN, MARTYR. ST. SEBASTIAN was an officer in the Roman army, esteemed even by the heathen as a good soldier, and honored by the Church ever since as a champion of Jesus Christ. Born at Narbonne, Sebasti...
September. 30. St. Jerome, Doctor : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 30.--ST. JEROME, DOCTOR. ST. JEROME, born in Dalmatia, in 329, was sent to school at Rome. His boyhood was not free from fault. His thirst for knowledge was excessive, and his love of books a passion. He had studied...
November. 22. St. Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 22.--ST. CECILIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. IN the evening of her wedding-day, with the music of the marriage-hymn ringing in her ears, Cecilia, a rich, beautiful, and noble Roman maiden, renewed the vow by which she had...
September. 3. St. Seraphia, Virgin And Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 3.--ST. SERAPHIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. ST. SERAPHIA was born at Antioch, of Christian parents, who, flying from the persecutions of Adrian, went to Italy and settled there. Her parents dying, Seraphia was sought...
July. 3. St. Heliodorus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 237 JULY 3.--ST. HELIODORUS, BISHOP. THIS Saint was born at Dalmatia, St. Jerome's native country, and soon sought out that great Doctor, in order not only to follow his advice in matters relating to Christian perfection, but...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Philip Of Jesus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 15 LIVES OF CERTAIN SAINTS CONTAINED IN THE CALENDAR OF SPECIAL FEASTS FOR THE UNITED STATES AND OF SOME OTHERS RECENTLY CANONIZED ST. PHILIP OF JESUS, MARTYR, PATRON OF THE CITY OF MEXICO. PHILIP DE LAS CASAS was born...
November. 1. All Saints : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 1.--ALL-SAINTS. THE Church pays, day by day, a special veneration to some one of the holy men and women who have helped to establish it by their blood, develop it by their labors, or edify it by their virtues. But...
January. 4. St. Gregory, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. GREGORY, BISHOP. ST. GREGORY was one of the principal senators of Autun, and continued from the death of his wife a widower till the age of fifty-seven, et which time, for his singular virtues, he was consecrated Bishop...
June. 18. Sts. Marcus And Marcellianus, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 221 JUNE 18.--STS. MARCUS AND MARCELLIANUS, MARTYRS. MARCUS AND MARCELLIANUS were twin brothers of an illustrious family in Rome, who had been converted to the Faith in their youth and were honorably married. Diocleti...
March. 28. St. Gontran, King : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 28.--ST. GONTRAN, KING. ST. GONTRAN was the son of King Clotaire, and grandson of Clovis I. and St. Clotildis. Being the second son, whilst his brothers Charibert reigned at Paris, and Sigebert in Ostrasia, residing at Metz...
August. 21. St. Jane Frances De Chantal : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 289 AUGUST 21.--ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL. AT the age of sixteen, Jane Frances de Frmyot, already a motherless child, was placed under the care of a worldly-minded governess. In this crisis she offered herself to the Mother...
May. 6. St. John Before The Latin Gate : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 6.--ST. JOHN BEFORE THE LATIN GATE. IN the year 95, St. John, who was the only surviving apostle, and governed all the churches of Asia, was apprehended at Ephesus, and sent prisoner to Rome. The Emperor Domitian did not...
April. 20. St. Marcellinus, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 152 APRIL 20.--ST. MARCELLINUS, BISHOP. ST. MARCELLINUS was born in Africa, of a noble family; accompanied by Vincent and Domninus, he went over into Gaul, and there preached the Gospel, with great success, in the neighborhood...
June. 9. Sts. Primus And Felicianus, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 9.--STS. PRIMUS AND FELICIANUS, MARTYRS. THESE two martyrs were brothers, and lived in Rome, toward the latter part of the third century, for many years, mutually encouraging each other in the practice of all good works...
February. 20. St. Eucherius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 20.--ST. EUCHERIUS, BISHOP. THIS Saint was born at Orleans, of a very illustrious family. At his birth his parents dedicated him to God, and set him to study when he was but seven years old, resolving to omit nothing...
September. 22. The Theban Legion : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 22.--THE THEBAN LEGION. THE Theban legion numbered more than six thousand men. They marched from the East into Gaul, and proved their loyalty at once to their Emperor and to their God. They were encamped near the Lake...
March. 9. St. Frances Of Rome : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 9.--ST. FRANCES OF ROME. FRANCES was born at Rome in 1384. Her parents were, of high rank. They overruled her desire to become a nun, and at twelve years of age married her to Rorenzo Ponziano, a Roman noble. During...
July. 11. St. James, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 11.--ST. JAMES, BISHOP. THIS eminent Saint and glorious Doctor of the Syriac Church was a native of Nisibis, in Mesopotamia. In his youth, entering the world, he trembled at the sight of its vices and the slippery path...
August. 14. St. Eusebius, Priest : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 14.--ST. EUSEBIUS, PRIEST. THE Church celebrates this day the memory of St. Eusebius, who opposed the Arians, at Rome, with so much zeal. He was imprisoned in his room by order of the Emperor Constantius, and sanctified...
April. 25. St. Mark, Evangelist : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 157 APRIL 25.--ST. MARK, EVANGELIST. ST. MARK was converted to the Faith by the Prince of the Apostles, whom he afterwards accompanied to Rome, acting there as his secretary or interpreter. When St. Peter was writing his first...
March. 6. St. Colette, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 98 MARCH 6.--ST. COLETTE, VIRGIN. AFTER a holy childhood, Colette joined a society of devout women called the Beguines; but not finding their state sufficiently austere, she entered the Third Order of St. Francis, and lived...
August. 29. The Beheading Of St. John The Baptist : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 29.--THE BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST was called by God to be the forerunner of His divine Son. In order to preserve his innocence spotless, and to improve the extraordinary graces which he had...
June. 24. St. John The Baptist : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 24.--ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. THE birth of St. John was foretold by an angel of the Lord to his father, Zachary, who was offering incense in the Temple. It was the office of St. John to prepare the way for Christ, and before he...
April. 29. St. Peter, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 29.--ST. PETER, MARTYR. IN 1205 the glorious martyr Peter was born at Verona of heretical parents. He went to a Catholic school, and his Manichean uncle asked what he learnt. "The Creed," answered Peter; "I believe in God...
September. 9. Saint Peter Claver : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 310 SAINT PETER CLAVER. PETER CLAVER was a Spanish Jesuit. In Majorca he fell in with the holy lay-brother Alphonsus Rodriguez, who, having already learned by revelation the saintly career of Peter, became his spiritual guide...
November. 7. St. Willibrord : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 7.--ST. WILLIBRORD. WILLIBRORD was born in Northumberland in 657, and when twenty years old went to Ireland, to study under St. Egbert; twelve years later, he felt drawn to convert the great pagan tribes who were hanging...
April. 28. St. Paul Of The Cross : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 160 APRIL 28.--ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS. THE eighty-one years of this Saint's life were modelled on the Passion of Jesus Christ. In his childhood, when praying in church, a heavy bench fell on his foot, but the boy took no notice...
March. 22. St. Catharine Of Sweden, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MARCH 22.--ST. CATHARINE OF SWEDEN, VIRGIN. ST. CATHARINE was daughter of Ulpho, Prince of Nericia in Sweden, and of St. Bridget. The love of God seemed almost to prevent in her the use of her reason. At seven years of age she...
April. 13. St. Hermenegild, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 13.--ST. HERMENEGILD, MARTYR. LEOVIGILD, King of the Visigoths, had two sons, Hermenegild and Recared, who reigned conjointly with him. All three were Arians, but Hermenegild married a. zealous Catholic, the daughter...
December. 16. St. Eusebius, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 16.--ST. EUSEBIUS, BISHOP. ST. EUSEBIUS was born of a noble family, in the island of Sardinia, where his father is said to have died in prison for the Faith. The Saint's mother carried him and his sister, both infants...
April. 21. St. Anselm, Archbishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 21.--ST. ANSELM, ARCHBISHOP. ANSELM was a native of Piedmont. When a boy of fifteen, being forbidden to enter religion, he for a while lost his fervor, left his home, and went to various schools in France. At length his...
November. 23. St. Clement Of Rome : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 23.--ST. CLEMENT OF ROME ST. CLEMENT is said to have been a convert of noble birth, and to have been consecrated bishop by St. Peter himself. With the words of the apostles still ringing in his ears, he began to rule...
August. 9. St. Romanus, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 9.--ST. ROMANUS, MARTYR. ST. ROMANUS was a soldier in Rome at the time of the martyrdom of St. Laurence. Seeing the joy and constancy with which that holy martyr suffered his torments, he was moved to embrace the Faith...
February. 15. Sts. Faustinus And Jovita, Martyrs : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 15.--STS. FAUSTINUS AND JOVITA, MARTYRS. FAUSTINUS and Jovita were brothers, nobly born, and zealous professors of the Christian religion, which they preached without fear in their city of Brescia, while, the bishop...
October. 14. St. Callistus, Pope, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], OCTOBER 14.--ST. CALLISTUS, POPE, MARTYR. EARLY in the third century, Callistus, then a deacon, was intrusted by Pope St. Zephyrinus with the rule of the clergy, and set by him over the cemeteries of the Christians at Rome;...
June. 12. St. John Of St. Fagondez : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 12.--ST. JOHN OF ST. FAGONDEZ. ST. JOHN was born at St. Fagondez, in Spain. At an early age he held several benefices in the diocese of Burgos, till the reproaches of his conscience forced him to resign them all except one...
August. 30. St. Rose Of Lima : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 30.--ST. ROSE OF LIMA. THIS lovely flower of sanctity, the first canonized Saint of the New World, was born at Lima in 1586. She was christened Isabel, but the beauty of her infant face earned for her the title of Rose...
June. 11. St. Barnabas, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 11.--ST. BARNABAS, APOSTLE. WE read that in the first days of the Church, "the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul; neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own." Of this...
December. 30. St. Sabinus, Bishop, And His : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 30.--ST. SABINUS, BISHOP, AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS. THE cruel edicts of Diocletian and Maximin against the Christians being published in the year 303, Sabinus, Bishop of Assisium, and several of his clergy, were...
December. 18. St. Gatian, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 18.--ST. GATIAN, BISHOP. ST. GATIAN came from Rome with St. Dionysius of Paris, about the middle of the third century, and preached the Faith principally at Tours in Gaul, where he fixed his episcopal see. The Gauls...
July. 27. St. Pantaleon, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JULY 27.--ST. PANTALEON, MARTYR. T. PANTALEON was physician to the Emperor Galerius Maximianus, and a Christian, but, deceived by often hearing the false maxims of the world applauded, was unhappily seduced into an apostasy. But...
November. 2. St. Malachi, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. MALACHI, BISHOP. DURING his childhood Malachi would often separate himself from his companions to converse in prayer with God. At the age of twenty-five he was ordained priest; his devotion and zeal led to his being...
April. 26. Sts. Cletus And Marcellinus, Popes : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], APRIL 26.--STS. CLETUS AND MARCELLINUS, POPES, MARTYRS. ST. CLETUS was the third Bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which circumstance alone shows his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter in the West. He...
Lives Of Certain Saints. St. Joan Of Arc : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. JOAN OF ARC. AT Domremy, on the Upper Meuse, was born on January 6, 1412, of pious parentage, the illustrious heroine of all time, St. Joan of Arc. Taught by her mother from earliest years to pray each night "O God, save...
August. 4. St. Dominic : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], AUGUST 4.--ST. DOMINIC. ST. DOMINIC was born in Spain, in 1170. As a student, he sold his books to feed the poor in a famine, and offered himself in ransom for a slave. At the age of twenty-five he became superior of the Canons...
January. 7. St. Lucian, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 29 JANUARY 7.--ST. LUCIAN, MARTYR. ST. LUCIAN was born at Samosata in Syria. Having lost his parents in his youth, he distributed all his worldly goods, of which he inherited an abundant share, to the poor, and withdrew...
February. 13. St. Catherine Of Ricci : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], FEBRUARY 13.--ST. CATHERINE OF RICCI. ALEXANDRINA of Ricci was the daughter of a noble Florentine. At the age of thirteen she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic in the monastery of Prato, taking in religion the name...
September. 20. Sts. Eustachius And Companions : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 20.--STS. EUSTACHIUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS. EUSTACHIUS, called Placidus before his conversion, was a distinguished officer of the Roman army under the Emperor Trajan. One day, whilst hunting a deer, he suddenly...
August. 8. Blessed Peter Favre : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], BLESSED PETER FAVRE. BORN in 1506 of poor Savoyard shepherds, Peter, at his earnest request, was sent to school, and in after years to the University of Paris. His college friends were St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis...
September. 18. St. Thomas Of Villanova : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 18.--ST. THOMAS OF VILLANOVA. ST. THOMAS, the glory of the Spanish Church in the sixteenth century, was born in 1488. A thirst for the science of the Saints led him to enter the house of the Austin Friars at Salamanc...
January. 3. St. Genevieve, Virgin : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JANUARY 3.--ST. GENEVIEVE, VIRGIN. GENEVIEVE was born at Nanterre, near Paris. St. Germanus, when passing through, specially noticed a little shepherdess, and predicted her future sanctity. At seven years of age she made a vow...
April. 29. St. Hugh, Abbot Of Cluny : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. HUGH, ABBOT OF CLUNY. ST. HUGH was a prince related to the sovereign house of the dukes of Burgundy, and had his education under the tuition of his pious Mother, and under the care of Hugh, Bishop of Auxerre, his great-uncle...
February. 5. The Martyrs Of Japan : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], THE MARTYRS OF JAPAN. ABOUT forty years after St. Francis Xavier's death a persecution broke out in Japan, and all Christian rites were forbidden under pain of death. A confraternity of martyrs was at once formed, the object...
December. 2. St. Bibiana, Virgin, Martyr : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], DECEMBER 2.--ST. BIBIANA, VIRGIN, MARTYR. ST. BIBIANA was a native of Rome. Flavian, her father, was apprehended, burned in the face with a hot iron, and banished to Aequapendente, where he died of his wounds a few days after;...
September. 9. St. Omer, Bishop : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 9.--ST. OMER, BISHOP. ST. OMER was born toward the close of the sixth century, in the territory of Constance. His parents, who were noble and wealthy, gave great attention to his education, but, above all, strove...
May. 17. St. Paschal Baylon : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], MAY 17.--ST. PASCHAL BAYLON. FROM a child Paschal seems to have been marked out for the service of God; and amidst his daily labors he found time to instruct and evangelize the rude herdsmen who kept their flocks on the hills...
Untitled : * This is the Benziger Brothers edition of Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints. Butler (1711-1773), was an English Roman Catholic priest. This, his principal literary work, was published between 1756 and 1759. Lives of the Saints has hundreds of capsule descriptions of Catholic saints, organized by...
November. 24. St. John Of The Cross : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 24.--ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS. THE father of St. John was discarded by his kindred for marrying a poor orphan, and the Saint, thus born and nurtured in poverty, chose it also for his portion. Unable to learn a trade, he...
September. 10. St. Nicholas Of Tolentino : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], SEPTEMBER 10.--ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO. BORN in answer to the prayer of a holy mother, and vowed before his birth to the service of God, Nicholas never lost his baptismal innocence. His austerities were conspicuous even...
January. 18. St. Peter's Chair At Rome : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], p. 40 JANUARY 18.--ST. PETER'S CHAIR AT ROME. ST. PETER having triumphed over the devil in the East, the latter pursued him to Rome in the person of Simon Magus. He who had formerly trembled at the voice of a poor maid now feared...
January. 2. St. Macarius Of Alexandria : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], ST. MACARIUS OF ALEXANDRIA. MACARIUS when a youth left his fruit-stall at Alexandria to join the great St. Antony. The patriarch, warned by a miracle of his disciple's sanctity, named him the heir of his virtues. His life was one...
November. 30. St. Andrew, Apostle : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], NOVEMBER 30.--ST. ANDREW, APOSTLE. ST. ANDREW was one of the fishermen of Bethsaida, and brother, perhaps elder brother, of St. Peter, and became a disciple of St. John Baptist. He seemed always eager to bring others into notice;...
June. 15. Sts. Vitus, Crescentia, And Modestus : * "Lives of the Saints", by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], JUNE 15.--STS. VITUS, CRESCENTIA, AND MODESTUS, MARTYRS. VITUS was a child nobly born, who had the happiness to instructed in the Faith, and inspired with the most perfect sentiments of his religion, by his Christian nurse, named...

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Lives Of The Saints

by Alban Butler

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