SAINT ABRAN
Hermit also called Gibrian. From Ireland, Abran, the eldest of five brothers and three sisters, sailed to Brittany with his siblings. There all of them continued their hermitages and greatly influenced the people of the area. Abran and his brothers and sisters were all declared saints.
Died: 515 Feastday: May 8.
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SAINT ADELARD
Saint Adelard, grandson of Charles Martel, nephew of King Pepin and first cousin to Charlemagne. He became a monk at Corbie in Picardy in 773. He was chosen abbot, and became Charlemagne’s counselor. He was forced by the king to quit the monastery and work for him as chief minister for his son Pepin. He was accused of supporting a rival power against Emperor Louis the Debonair and was banished to a monastery on the island of Heri. Five years later he was recalled to the king’s court.
Died: January 2, Feastday: January 2.
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SAINT ADELINE
Saint Adeline, sister of Blessed Vitale, became the first Abbess of the monastery founded at Mortain in 1105 or 1115 by Count William of Mortain. Because of the color of their habit the religious came to be called the “White Ladies.” Died: 1125, Feastday: October 20.
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SAINT INNOCENT I
Saint Innocent I was born at Albano, Italy. On December 22, 401 he succeeded Pope Saint Anastasius I. He emphasized papal supremacy and commended the bishops of Africa for referring the decrees of their councils at Carthage and Millevis in 416 condemning Pelagianism. It was his confirmation of these decrees that caused Augustine to make a remark Roma locuta, causa finitas (Rome has spoken, the matter is ended). Earlier Innocent had stressed to Bishop Saint Victrius and the Spanish bishops that matters of great importance were to be referred to Rome for settlement. Innocent strongly favored clerical celibacy and fought the unjust
removal of Saint John Chrysostom. He vainly sought help from Emperor Honorius at Revenna
when the Goths under Alaric captured and sacked Rome. Innocent died in Rome on March 12.
His feast day is July 28th.
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SAINT FINA (Seraphina)
Saint Fina or Seraphina a young girl whose claim to be recognized as a saint lay in the perfect resignation with which she accepted bodily suffering. Poor as she was she always kept half her food to give to those who were worse off than herself. Saint Fina was attacked by a sudden complication of diseases. Her head, hands, eyes, feet and internal organs were affected and paralysis supervened. Desiring to be like our Lord on the cross, for six years she lay on a plank in one position. Although in terrible pain she always maintained serenity and with her eyes fixed upon the crucifix she kept on repeating,”It is not my wounds but thine, O Christ, that hurt me”.
Someone had told her about Saint Gregory the Great and his sufferings. She conceived a special veneration for him. She used to pray that he, who was so much tried by disease would intercede with God that she might have patience in her affliction. Eight days before her death as she lay alone and untended, Gregory appeared to her and said, “Dear child on my festival God will give you rest”. It came to pass when her body was removed from the board on which it had rested, the rotten wood was found to be covered with white violets. All the city attended the funeral and many miracles were reported as having been wrought through her intercession. In particular she is said as she lay dead, to have raised her hand and to have clasped and healed the injured arm of her friend Beldia.
The peasants of San Geminiano, Tuscany still give the name of Santa Fina’s flowers to the white violets.
Saint Fina is the patron of immigrants. Feast day November 13.
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SAINT ANTHELM
Saint Anthelm was born in 1107 in the Castle Chigin in Gaul, France.
Saint Anthelm took the habit of Saint Bruno in 1137, and during his novitiate he was sent to the Grande Chartreuse (house) of the Order. The monastery was heavily damaged by an avalanche, and the managerial abilities of this young priest shown forth in helping to rebuild and reinvigorate the cell. Two years later, anthelm was made Prior.
Our saint completed the rebuilding of the Grande Chartreuse, added an avalanche defence wall, improved the crop yields and sheepfold, as well as the revenues, and through his personality and sanctity, brought many new novices into the Order. He felt the bounty of the Order unbecoming their simple rule, and proceeded to disburse monies to all who needed it throughout the countryside. In addition, he set about uniting the separate Charter houses of the Order, effectively becoming the first General Minister.
This time brought the first of Anthelm’s reclusions, striving to lead a monastic life. He returned to the Grande Chartreuse after building up the House at Portes. In 1159, Pope Alexander III was elected, while anti-pope Victor IV was elected via Emperor Barbarossa. Along with his brothers in the Order, and Geoffrey the Cistercian Abbot of Hautecombe, Anthelm went about championing of Alexander III in France, Spain and England.
In recognition of these services, Alexander promoted Anthelm to the Bishopric of Belley, in spite of vehement objections of the priest-monk. In the new Bishop’s first synod, he set about the work of much needed reform. Most of the clergy had forsaken their vow of chastity, and many lived flauntingly as married men. He chose to use persuasion instead of coercion in the first two years, but made an example of many that would not reform themselves by stripping them of their benefices. He was fearless and uncompromising in dealing with the lax laity as well.
Saint Anthelm spent his extra time back in the Grande Chartreuse, as well as with a community of sisters at Bons, and also at at a leper house where he would tend the sick himself. After a long life of contemplation and service, Saint Anthelm died in 1178 at the age of 72.
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SAINT ADO of VIENNE
Saint Ado was born in Sens and educated at the Benedictine abbey of Ferrieres. Saint Ado renounced his inheritance and became a Benedictine. He was assigned to the monastery of Prum, near Trier, Germany where his enemies forced to leave. He went to Rome on a pilgrimage and for two years and then went to Ravenna. He served as a pastor in Lyons until 860, when he became the archbishop of Vienne, appointed by Pope Nicholas I. Saint Ado wrote the lives of Saint Desiderius and Saint Theuderis. Lothair II, the king of Lorraine, tried to set aside his lawful wife to marry his mistress. Lothair bribed officials to get a divorce from his queen but was undone when Ado went to Rome and denounced the plot to the pope. Died: 875, Feastday: December 16.
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SAINT ACYNDINUS
With Pegasius, Aphthonius, Elpidephours, and Anempodistus, Persian Christians, ordained priests and with their companion clerical assistants; These Christians were arrested and slain for the faith during the persecution of Christians during the reign of King Shapur II. Died: 345, Feastday: November 2.
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SAINT NOEL
Saint Noel was born on February 2 near Mende, France. He joined the Jesuits in 1630 and by 1643 he was a missionary to the Huron Indians in France. He became assistant to Father Charles Garnier at the Indian village of Etarita in 649. He was murdered on December 8 by an apostate Indian while returning from a visit to neighboring Ste. Marie. He was canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI as one of the martyrs of North America.
His feast day is September 26th.
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SAINT ZITA
Saint Zita’s older sister became a Cistercian nun and her uncle Graziano was a hermit whom the local people regarded as a saint. At the age of twelve Saint Zita became a housekeeper in the house of a rich weaver in Lucca, Italy and stayed with that family for the last forty-eight years of her life.
She found time every day to attend Mass and to recite many prayers as well as to carry out her household duties. She use to say a servant is not holy if she is not busy; lazy people of our position is fake holiness.
Saint Zita was given a free reign over her working schedule and busied herself with visits to the sick and those in prison. Word spread rapidly in Lucca of her good deeds and the heavenly visions that appeared to her. Upon her death in 1278 the people acclaimed her as a saint.
She is the patroness of domestic workers. Her feastday is April 27.
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