St. Mark (John Mark) 2nd Gospel
before year 60 Greek for Christian Gentile converts St. Paul St.
Barnabas associates (who was Mark's cousin) Patron of notaries
 St. Mark
The second Gospel was written by St. Mark, who, in the New Testament,
is sometimes called John Mark. Both he and his mother, Mary, were
highly esteemed in the early Church, and his mother's house in
Jerusalem served as a meeting place for Christians there.
St. Mark was associated with St. Paul and St. Barnabas (who was Mark's
cousin) on their missionary journey through the island of Cyprus. Later
he accompanied St. Barnabas alone. We know also that he was in Rome
with St. Peter and St. Paul. Tradition ascribes to him the founding of
the Church in Alexandria.
St. Mark wrote the second Gospel, probably in Rome sometime before the
year 60 A.D.; he wrote it in Greek for the Gentile converts to
Christianity.
Tradition tells us that St. Mark was requested by the Romans to set
down the teachings of St. Peter. This seems to be confirmed by the
position which St. Peter has in this Gospel. In this way the second
Gospel is a record of the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of the
Prince of the Apostles. |
1st v. St Anianus Bishop
St Mark shoemaker aide
great fervor and virtue
In the apocryphal Acts of Mark, Anianus is described as the second
bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Mark states that Anianus was originally a
shoemaker. Other lists refer to Anianus as a noble who was consecrated
by Mark and named to succeed him.
Anianus of Alexandria B (RM) 1st century. According to Eusebius and the
apocryphal acta of Saint Mark, Anianus was a shoemaker by trade. He was
converted to Christianity and became a disciple of Saint Mark when he
was healed of an awl wound. His fervor and virtue were so great that
Mark appointed Anianus as his vicar during his absence and upon Mark's
death Anianus succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria for 18 years and
seven months.
Other sources have him a noble who was named bishop by Mark. Saint
Epiphanius mentions a church in Alexandria built in the honor of
Anianus (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth). |
75 Mark, Evangelist
according to Papias, "he had neither heard the Lord, nor ever been his
disciple, but later had attended Peter, who composed his teachings to
suit the needs of the moment, but did not profess to make a regular
collection of the Lord's sayings. And so Mark made no mistakes; writing
down the particulars just as he remembered them."(RM)
feast day in the East is September 23; feast of the translation of his
relics to Venice is celebrated on January 31.
Among the younger figures of the New Testament is John Mark (Acts
12:25), mentioned several times in the New Testament. Of the four
Gospels his is the most vivid and informal because it was probably the
first recorded (AD 60-70). In some ways it is the most descriptive
Gospel, yet he writes as though it had to be done quickly. Papias,
bishop of Hierapolis, Asia Minor, called him the interpreter of Peter,
c. 130, and said that he preached the gospel in Alexandria. An ancient
tradition had the Gospel written down in Rome for Gentile Christians.
He recorded the story of Jesus as he heard it from the lips of Saint
Peter. "For," according to Papias, "he had neither heard the Lord, nor
ever been his disciple, but later had attended Peter, who composed his
teachings to suit the needs of the moment, but did not profess to make
a regular collection of the Lord's sayings. And so Mark made no
mistakes; writing down the particulars just as he remembered them."
Mark's Gospel is written in awkward Greek, full of Semitic turns of
phrases, cumbersome participles, and a lack of transitions. Yet Mark's
simple language, stripped of rhetorical flourishes, without oratorical
periods, without concern for syntax, is perhaps the clearest language
through which to see best the flesh and blood of Jesus. The miracles of
Jesus must have deeply affected Mark because his Gospel recounts many
of them. In order to demonstrate Jesus's divinity to the Romans, Mark
skillfully shows Jesus as a worker of miracles rather than Jesus
fulfilling prophecies that would be unknown to his intended readers.
Saint Mark Image of Saint Mark courtesy of Saint Charles Borromeo Church
 Mark's Gospel starkly sets out the demands of Jesus on
his followers.
Jesus had suffered, says Mark; His followers will suffer similarly.
Indeed, Jesus had explicitly warned the disciples about this. But it is
also clear that those who can endure such sufferings will be greatly
rewarded, for what Mark claims to be bringing is 'good news,' 'the
gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,' as he states in the very first
verse.
Another early historian, Eusebius, reporting the words of Saint Clement
of Alexandria says that Saint Mark, a follower of Saint Peter, was
asked by Roman tradesmen to compose a permanent memorial of Saint
Peter's sermons, and so came to write, from his memory of them, the
Gospel which bears his name.
Saint Ireneaus also tells us that Mark was Saint Peter's interpreter
and mouthpiece.
Saint Mark was a cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). His mother, Mary, was
evidently a person of some wealth and position in Jerusalem, for her
home was a center of hospitality to which the leaders of the early
Church naturally gravitated.
When Saint Peter escaped from prison, he
came "to the house of Mary, the mother
of John whose surname was Mark;
where many were gathered together praying," and it was a maid
of the
house, called Rhoda, who answered the door.
Mark was probably a Levite, because we know that his kinsman Barnabas
was one (Acts 4:36), and
perhaps a minor minister in the synagogue.
He
accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch in AD 44 (Acts 12:25), then to
Salamis in Cyprus, and with Barnabas was on Paul's first missionary
journey (Acts 13:5), but left
Paul at Perga in Pamphylia and returned
alone to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
For some reason he evidently offended Paul, who did not take him on his
second missionary journey to Cilicia and Asia Minor, which was the
occasion of the disagreement and separation of Paul and Barnabas (Acts
15:36-40).
Mark accompanied Barnabas to Cyprus (Acts
15:39) and then, evidently
back in Paul's good graces, was with him in Rome during his first
imprisonment (Col. 4:10), where
he was apparently a disciple of Peter,
who affectionately called him "my son, Mark" (1 Peter 5:13).
During Paul's second Roman captivity, shortly before his martyrdom, he
writes to Timothy, who was at Ephesus, to "take Mark and bring him with
you, for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11).
An early uncertain tradition, recorded by Eusebius, renders Mark the
first bishop of Alexandria, but neither Papias nor Clement of
Alexandria mentions it.
The tradition says that upon his arrival in Alexandria, like Paul
arriving in Damascus, Mark found lodging with an inhabitant, in this
case with a shoemaker. The shoemaker was also to become a saint, whose
feast is celebrated today-- Anianus.
Tradition continues that Mark was martyred during the reign of Emperor
Trajan or the "eighth year of Nero," and the shoemaker Anianus
succeeded him as bishop.
One Easter Sunday, the uncertain tradition continues, April 24, 68,
Mark was arrested. The long path of Jesus, from Gethsemani up to the
palace of Anna, which Mark had not had the courage to pursue in
Jerusalem, had been reserved for him, with a rope around his neck, from
Alexandria up to the little port of Bucoles.
Tintoretto The Stealing of the Dead Body of St. Mark
 Tintoretto, Galleria dell'Accademia, Venice Electronic
image from Web
Gallery of Art
He fell several times along the way. Finally, after having carried his
rope all day and then for a night, and feeling it sink into his flesh,
in the end he no longer desired that it be removed. He wanted to find
this collar to his measure, this light yoke--and died strangled.
In the East, John Mark is
believed to be a separate person who became
bishop of Biblios and whose feast is celebrated on September 27.
Regardless of Papias's remarks that Mark never knew our Lord, there is
speculation that he would have been acquainted with Jesus. He may have
been the unnamed youth (mentioned only in Saint Mark's Gospel 14:51-52)
who appeared at the time of the Betrayal, wrapped in a sheet, as if he
had come straight from his bed, and who, when caught, escaped into the
night (this has always been curious to me).
It is likely enough that Saint Mark, as a boy, had been drawn to the
scene, but it is only a conjecture.
Other Scripture scholars note that
the Last Supper may have occurred in the room reserved in Mark's
mother's house for pilgrims, and that the Garden of Gethsamane belonged
to the family. It would have been common enough for one of the family
members or servants to sleep in the garden as a protection against
thieves, which would explain the boy sleeping in the open (Attwater,
Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, Walsh,
White).
Tintoretto
By the 2nd century after Christ, Christians transferred the emblem to
the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in written
allusions. These became visual symbols in the 5th century.
Traditionally, it is explained that the winged lion is chosen for Mark
because his gospel speaks of the royal dignity of Christ, and because
he begins his account of Saint John the Baptist with the "voice crying
is the desert" (Appleton).
Saint Mark is the patron of Venice, to where his relics were reputedly
brought in the 9th century from Alexandria. Although the original
church of St. Mark in Venice was destroyed in 976, the rebuilt basilica
contains both the relics and a magnificent series of mosaics on Mark's
life, death, and translation. These date from the 12th-13th centuries
and form a unique record (Farmer). He is also the patron of Egypt,
glaziers, notaries, secretaries, and Spanish cattle breeders (for which
there is no obvious explanation). He is invoked by captives (Roeder,
White). The Miracle of St.
Mark Freeing the Slave Tintoretto, Galleria dell'Accademia, Venice
Electronic image from Web Gallery of Art
In art, Saint Mark is an evangelist with a book or scroll and a winged
lion. At times he may be shown (1) with palm and book (sometimes pax
tibi Marce is written on his book); (2) as a bishop with his throne
decorated with lions; (3) coming to the aid of Venetian sailors; or (4)
rescuing Christian slaves from the Saracens (Roeder).
The winged lion is used as Saint Mark's emblem. This is one of the four
winged creatures of Ezekiel 1:10; 10:14
that were first applied by
Jewish scholars to the four archangels (Michael,
Gabriel, Raphael, and
Uriel) with reference to and later used in reference to the four
major
prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
and Daniel).
|
150 St. Philo and
Agathopodes
Antiochene deacons authored Acts life and death of St. Ignatius of
Antioch
who are believed to have authored the Acts recounting the life and
death of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
They were deacons who assisted Ignatius and, after his martyrdom in
Rome, brought back to Antioch those relics they could recover from
Roman authorities. |
480 St. Macedonius Patriarch
of
Constantinople Council of Chalcedon defener
He was exiled by the Arians for his defense of the Council of
Chalcedon. |
300 Theophilus of Caesarea
M (RM)
According to the apocryphal life of Saint Dorothy, Theophilus is the
lawyer who mocked her on her way to martyrdom. She sent him apples and
flowers 'from the heavenly garden' and he was converted to
Christianity. He himself was beheaded at Caesarea, Cappadocia, several
years later, perhaps with Saturninus and Revocata (Attwater,
Benedictines, Delaney). |
Evodius, Hermogenes
& Callistus MM (RM)
Date unknown. The Roman Martyrology mentions this group three times. On
August 2, they are given as the three sons of Theodota, martyred at
Nicaea in Bithynia. On the other two dates their martyrdom is placed at
Syracuse, and in each of these places, the third name is given as
Callista, indicating a sister and not a third brother. There is no
passio of the martyrs of Syracuse, and it is possible that they
suffered at Nicaea (Benedictines). |
4th v. Kebius preached
conversion in Cornwall B (AC)
4th century. Saint Kebius was ordained bishop by Saint Hilary(315-368) of Poitiers, and, returning into his own
country, preached conversion in Cornwall (Husenbeth). |
312 Saturninus,
Theophilus & Revocata MM (RM)
Date unknown. A group of martyrs concerning whom neither place nor date
of martyrdom is known (Benedictines).
Silvanus, Luke, and Mucius MM (RM)
Died . Bishop Silvanus of Emesa, Phoenicia, his deacon Luke, and his
lector Mucius were martyred under Maximian following a long
imprisonment. The Roman Martyrology identifies this Silvanus with the
companion of Tyrannio (Benedictines). |
392 St. Phaebadius one of
“the
illustrious men” of the Church extirpated Arianism heresy
Also called Fiari, bishop of Agen in Southern Gaul. He was a very well
known bishop and was termed by St.
Jerome one of “the illustrious men” of the Church. With his
friend St. Hilary of Poitiers,
he worked to extirpate the heresy of Arianism in the West. |
489 St. Macaille Bishop
of
Croghan prelate vows of St. Brigid
Offaly, Ireland, a disciple of St.
Mel(488-490).
He was one of the prelates receiving the vows of St. Brigid(450-525).
Macaille of Croghan B (AC) (also known as Macculi, Macull) If this one
is confusing, it is because I am confused. The sources say that there
are two bishops whose feasts fall on the same day named Macaille (the
second one actually has his feast on April 27). One was a disciple of
Saint Patrick, and the other was only converted by him (though the
stories do not indicate that either was really a disciple, per se, of
Patrick). Today's Macaille was a disciple of Saint Mel and assisted him
in receiving the vow of Saint Brigid. There is a tradition that Mel
erred in using the service for the consecration of a bishop, and that
Macaille strongly protested. Saint Mel refused to admit he was wrong
and said that it was all the will of God. This Macaille became the
first bishop of Croghan, Offaly. A third gentleman, sometimes known as
Saint Maccai, was also a disciple of Saint Patrick and is venerated on
the isle of Bute (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth, Montague). |
5th v. Mun of Lough
Ree hermit another nephew of Saint Patrick B (AC)
5th century. Described as another nephew of Saint Patrick, who
consecrated him bishop of what is now County Longford. He ended his
days as a hermit on an island in Lough Ree (Benedictines). |
5th v. Dyfnan saintly son
of Welsh chieftain Brychan (AC)
One of the many saintly sons of the Welsh chieftain Brychan, Saint
Dyfnan founded a church at Anglesey (Benedictines). |
525 Deodatus of Blois, Abbot
(AC)
Deodatus was either a hermit or an abbot in the area of Blois. At a
later period the town of Saint-Dié grew up around his cell or
monastery (Benedictines). |
539 Vedast of Arras
holy from childhood instrumental in the conversion of Clovis I to
Christianity B (AC)
(also known as Foster, Gaston, Vat, Vaast, Waast)
Born in western France, died February 6, 539; other feasts at Arras are
celebrated on July 15 and October 1.
When he was still very young, Vedast had left his home and led a holy
life concealed from the world in the diocese of Toul, where the bishop,
charmed with his virtue, consecrated him to the priesthood. Vedast, a
fellow-worker with Saint Remigius in the conversion of the Franks, was
instrumental in the conversion of Clovis I to Christianity.
The occasion of Clovis's conversion was a victory over the Alemanni in
496. He had already been influenced by Saint Clothilde, whom he had
married four years earlier. After his victory, he was heading to Rheims
to receive baptism at the hands of Remigius, but at Toul he requested
the help of a priest who might instruct and prepare him for the holy
sacrament as he travelled. Vedast was presented to his majesty for this
purpose. When Vedast restored the sight of a blind man along the Aisne
River with a prayer and the sign of the cross, Clovis was strengthened
in his resolve to become a Christian and some of his courtiers
converted immediately.
After being consecrated in 499 as bishop of Arras (united with Cambrai
in 510) by Remigius, Vedast ruled the united sees of Arras- Cambrai for
about 40 years. Upon his arrival in Arras, he restored sight to a blind
man, and cured another who was lame. These miracles excited the
attention, and disposed the hearts of many to open themselves to
receive the Gospel. Although the region had been Christianized during
the Roman occupation, the repeated incursion of Vandals and Alans had
virtually destroyed any remnant of the faith. At the beginning of
episcopacy, the only vestige of Christianity in his see was a ruined
church. Though nearly discouraged at the ravages done to the faith,
Vedast's patience, meekness, charity, and most especially prayers,
allowed God to triumph over superstition and lust, and the faith was
restored throughout that area.
Vedast was buried in the cathedral, but 128 years later Bishop Saint
Aubertus changed a little chapel which Vedast had built in honor of St.
Peter into an abbey, and translated the Vedast's relics into this new
church, leaving a small portion of them in the cathedral. The great
abbey of Saint Vedast was finished by Bishop Saint Vindicianus and
endowed by king Theodoric or Thierry, who lies buried in the church
with his wife Doda.
Many sites through Arras, Cambrai, and Belgium commemorate his name, as
do three ancient church in England (in London, Norwich, and Tathwell in
Lincolnshire). Although it is unlikely that Vedast ever visited
England, his cultus there dates to the 10th century, which was
heightened in the 12th century by the presence of Arrouaise
Augustinians in the country. In England, he is sometimes known as Saint
Foster, which is the derivation of that family name.
The feast of Vedast was included in the Benedictional of Saint
Ethelwold, the Missal of Robert of JumiŠges, and the Leofric missal, as
well as the calendars of Sarum, York, and Hereford. Blessed Alcuin
wrote a vita for Vedast, as well as an Office and Mass in his honor for
usage at Arras. In a letter to the monks of Arras in 769, Alcuin calls
Vedast his protector (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth).
As in the stained glass image in the church of Blythburgh, Suffolk,
Saint Vedast is pictured as a bishop with a wolf carrying a goose in
its mouth (Roeder) (which had been rescued by Vedast for its poor
owners). Other attributes include a child at his feet or a bear
(Farmer). He is invoked on behalf of children who walk with difficulty,
and for diseases of the eyes (Roeder).
|
7th v. Authaire of
La
Ferté courtier at King Dagobert Ipalace France (AC)
(also known as Oye) 7th century. Saint Authaire was a courtier at the
palace of King Dagobert I of France and father of Saint Ouen of Rouen. He is the
patron of the village of Le- Ferté-sous-Jouarre, where he
usually resided (Benedictines). |
7th v. Bova (Beuve,
Bona) abbess
& Doda rejected marriage proposals she devote to service of
God OSB VV (RM)
7th century. Saint Bova, sister of Saint
Balderic (Baudry) and near relative of King Dagobert, edified
the royal court and entire kingdom by her virtues. She rejected all
marriage proposals because she decided to devote herself to the service
of God. After her brother founded Montfauçon Abbey, in 639 he
built a convent near Rheims, where Bova ruled as abbess until her death
c. 680.
Her niece Doda followed in her footsteps and succeeded her as abbess.
The relics of both saints were later translated to Saint Peter's Abbey
in Rheims. Although their original vitae were destroyed in a fire, a
later writer recorded the traditions related by the nuns in the 10th
century (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth). |
729 Egbert of
Rathemigisi
Northumbrian monk of Lindisfarne OSB (RM)
Saint Egbert was a Northumbrian monk of Lindisfarne who migrated to
Ireland and lived at Rathelmigisi (Rathmelsigi) in Connaught. In 684,
he unsuccessfully tried to dissuade King Egfrith from invading Ireland.
At Rathelmigisi Egbert trained several bands of monks for the German
missions that included Saints Wigbert and Willibrord. When his
companion Æthelhun died of the plague and he contracted it, too,
Egbert vowed voluntary exile for life if he recovered. Although he
wanted to join the missionaries, his vow and a vision instructing him
otherwise, led Egbert to become an admirable monk on the island of Iona
in Scotland. There he attempted to induce the monks to adopt Roman
liturgical practices. He succeeded at last: in fact, on the day of his
death, Easter was celebrated at Iona for the first time according to
the Roman reckoning. Egbert's feast is found in both the Roman and
Irish martyrologies and in the metrical calendar of York (Benedictines,
Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill). |
737 Erminus of Lobbes
practicing apostolic zeal as abbot and regional bishop OSB B (RM)
(also known as Ermin, Erminon) Born in Laon; Erminus given the
Benedictine habit in Laon by Saint
Ursmar(713) after his ordination to the
priesthood. Erminus followed in Ursmar's footsteps by practicing his
apostolic zeal as abbot and regional bishop of Lobbes (Benedictines,
Encyclopedia). |
750 Saint Relindis of
Eyck abbess OSB, Abbess (AC)
(also known as Renildis, Renula, Renule) Relindis was educated with her
sister Herlindis in the Benedictine monastery of Valenciennes. She
became an expert in embroidery and painting. Saint Boniface appointed
her abbess of the convent of Eyck (Maaseyk) on the Meuse, which had
been founded by her parents (Benedictines). |
780 St. Mella Widow abbess
She was the mother of St. Cannech and
Tigernach, and lived in Connaught, Ireland. She became the
abbess of DoireMelle, Leitrim |
Blessed Corona of
Elche
Benedictine nun OSB V (AC)
Date unknown. A Benedictine nun of Elche Abbey near Valencia, Spain
(Benedictines). |
857 Heribald of
Auxerre Benedictine monk abbot love of well-regulated lives ceremonies
well-built churches OSB B (AC)
First as a Benedictine monk and abbot of Saint Germanus Abbey in
Auxerre, then as bishop there, Saint Heribald demonstrated his love of
well-regulated lives and ceremonies and well-built churches
(Benedictines, Encyclopedia). |
891 Photius career of
scholarship and public service at the imperial court legitimate
patriarch of Constantinople Orthodox objection to doctrine of the Holy
Spirit BM
Born in Constantinople, c. 810; died there c. 891; canonized by the
Orthodox Church. Photius, a member of a patrician family, was a man of
very great ability and learning who until mid-life followed a career of
scholarship and public service at the imperial court, where he was
secretary of state and filled other offices. Then, in 858, Emperor
Michael III banished the patriarch Ignatius, and Photius, who until
then had been a layman, was made patriarch.
From that time Photius's life is one of difficulties between himself
and Pope Saint Nicholas I and his successor Adrian II, complicated by
the fluctuations of Byzantine politics--a long, complex, and often
obscure struggle that is a matter of ecclesiastical history. It did not
end until 879 when, Ignatius being dead, Pope John VIII recognized
Photius as the legitimate patriarch of Constantinople and peace was
restored between the churches.
For Orthodox Catholics, Saint Photius was the standard-bearer of their
church in its disagreements with the pope of Rome; to Roman Catholics,
he was a proud and ambitious schismatic: the relevant work of scholars
over the past generation has somewhat modified partisan judgements. All
agree on the virtue of his personal life and his remarkable talents,
even genius, and the wide range of his intellectual aptitudes. Pope
Nicholas himself referred to his 'great virtues and universal
knowledge.'
Of his extensive writings the one of most general interest is the
Bibliotheca or Myriobiblion, which has been translated into English and
which includes descriptions and summaries of 279 books of all kinds,
including extracts from works whose original text no longer exists. His
Mystagogy of the Holy Spirit is important as a classical statement of
Orthodox objections to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit's proceeding
from the Father and the Son (Filioque) (Attwater). |
1000 St. Robert of
Syracuse
Benedictine abbot
He headed the monastery at Syracuse, Sicily. |
1243 Blessed
Boniface of Valperga monk bishop of Aosta B (PC)
Boniface, a monk of the Benedictine abbey of Fruttuaria, was chosen to
be prior of the Augustinian canons regular of Saint Ursus at Aosta in 1212 and
finally bishop of Aosta (1219-1243) (Benedictines). |
1586 Bl. Robert
Anderton Jesuit
Cardinal theology professor notable figure Catholic Reformation
defended Gallileo
Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) + Cardinal, theologian, and a
notable figure in the Catholic Reformation. Born at Monte Pulciano, in
Tuscany, Italy, he studied under the Jesuits and then entered the
Society of Jesus in 1560. Ordained in 1570 at Louvain, Belgium, he
served there as a professor of theology and became firmly convinced of
the need for superior training in theology in order to defend Catholic
doctrines properly against the Protestant intellectuals in
Northern Europe.
He thus departed for Rome in 1576, becoming a professor of theology at
the Collegium Romanum, the newly founded Jesuit school in the Eternal
City. Made a cardinal in 1599 by Pope Clement VIII (r. 1592-1605), he
became the archbishop of Capua in 1602. He remained a leading
figure in Rome and a trusted theological advisor to the Holy See.
In 1605, he was named head of the Vatican Library. Thus he took part in
the controversy over Galileo called upon Church officials to declare
the Copernican theory to be “false and erroneous,” while urging Galileo
to abandon his defense of the theory because of the controversy it
might create, most so with the Protestants.
From the time of his teaching at the Louvain, Robert was one of
Catholicism’s most ardent defenders and a brilliant controversialist
against the Protestants, providing a famous definition of the Catholic
Church: “The one and true Church is the assembly of men, bound together
by the profession of the same sacraments, under the rule of legitimate
pastors, and in particular the see of the Vicar of Christ on earth, the
Roman Pontiff.” Feast day: September 17. |
1586 Bl. William
Marsden priest
Martyr of England
A native of Lancashire, he studied at Oxford and then departed the
island for Reims, France, where he was ordained in 1585 with Blessed
Robert Anderson. They were sent to England but were forced to land on
the Isle of Wight in a storm. They were arrested, and then condemned
and hanged on April 25 on Wight. Both were beatified in 1929, and share
the feast. |
1597 Philip of Jesus
friar Miracles attested the power before God of these first martyrs of
Japan patron of Mexico City, Mexico OFM M (RM)
(also known as Philip de las Casas Born in Mexico City, Mexico, May 1,
1571; died in Nagasaki, Japan, 1597; beatified by Pope Urban VIII;
canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862; feast day formerly February 5.
The life of Saint Philip points again to the importance of the domestic
church--the family. Early in life Saint Philip ignored the pious
teachings of his immigrant Spanish family, but eventually he entered
the Reformed Franciscan Convent of Santa Barbara at Puebla, Mexico--and
soon exited the novitiate in 1589. Grieved at the inconstancy of his
son, Philip's father sent him on a business trip to the Philippines.
Like many of us, Philip sought to escape God's love in worldly
pleasures but the Hound of Heaven tracked him down. Gaining courage by
prayer, Philip was again able to follow his vocation, joined the
convent of Our Lady of the Angels in Manila in 1590, and took his vows
in 1594. The richest cargo Philip could have sent back to Mexico
couldn't have pleased his father more than the message that Philip had
been professed a friar. Alonso de las Casas obtained directions from
the commissary of the order that Philip should be sent to Mexico to be
ordained a priest.
He embarked with other religious on the Saint Philip in July 1596 but
storms shipwrecked them in Japan. Amid the storm, Philip saw over Japan
a white cross, in the shape used in that country, which after a time
became blood-red, and remained so for some time. It was an omen of his
coming victory.
The ship's captain sent Philip and two others to the emperor to gain
permission for them to continue their voyage, but they could not obtain
an audience. He then continued to the Franciscan house in Macao to see
if they could apply pressure. In the meantime, the pilot of the Saint
Philip had excited the emperor's fears of Christians, causing him to
contemplate their extermination.
In December, officers seized a number of the Franciscan fathers,
including Philip, three Jesuits, and several of their young pupils.
When Philip had that they were to die, he responded with joy. His left
ear was cut off, and he offered the first fruit of his blood to God for
the salvation of Japan.
The martyrs were taken to Nagasaki, where crosses had been erected on a
high hill. When Philip was led to the one on which he was to die, he
knelt down, clasped it, and exclaimed, "O happy ship! O happy galleon
for Philip, lost for my gain! Loss--no loss for me, but the greatest of
all gain!" He was bound to the cross, but the footrest under him gave
way, so that he was strangled by the cords that bound him. While
repeating the name of Jesus, he was the first of the group to die.
Philip was 25. Miracles attested the power before God of these first
martyrs of Japan (Benedictines, Butler, Delaney).
Saint Philip is the patron of Mexico City, Mexico.
|
1913 Blessed
Giovanni Battista Piamarta (AC)
Born at Brescia, Italy, November 26, 1841; died at Remedello, April 25,
1913; beatified October 12, 1997. (Coming in 2000.) |
