Saints & Sinners

Saint of the day July 08

St. Withburga, 743 A.D. Withburga (d.c. 743). Virgin and Benedictine nun. The youngest daughter of King Anna of East Anglia, England (d. 653). Following the death of her father in battle, she moved to Dereham where she established a nunnery and a church. She died with the church unfinished, on March 17. Her remains were later stolen by monks who enshrined her in Ely. A fresh spring, called Withburga's Well, sprang up at her grave in Dereham.

St. Grimbald, 901 A.D. Benedictine abbot also called Grimwald, invited to England by King Alfred in 885. Grimbald arrived in England and declined the see of Canterbury, preferring to remain a monk. He became the abbot of New Minster Abbey at Winchester appointed by King Edward the Elder. Grimbald is credited with restoring learning to England.

St. Kilian. An Irish monk, St. Kilian was consecrated Bishop, went to Rome with eleven companions in 686, and received permission from Pope Conon to evangelize Franconia (Baden and Bavaria). He was successful, with two followers - Colman, a priest, and Totnan, a deacon - in his missionary endeavors until he converted Gosbert, Duke of Wurzburg, who had married Geilana, his brother's widow. According to legend, while Gosbert was away on a military expedition, Geilana is reputed to have had the three missionaries beheaded when she found that Gosbert was going to leave her after Kilian had told him the marriage was forbidden by the Church.

Bl. Peter the Hermit. A renowned hermit and founder. Originally a soldier, he is said in tradition to have become a hermit in the Holy Land before returning to the West to help preach the First Crusade throughout France, Italy, and Germany. He then embarked upon the crusade as a soldier and took part in the siege of Antioch and the capture of Jerusalem in 1099. Going home, he once more devoted himself to a spiritual life, founding the monastery of Neufmoutier, in Flanders. 1115 A.D While termed Blessed, he was never officially beatified. July 8

St. Maria Chaira, and St. Marie Adolphine Dierks Roman Catholic Chinese Martyrs. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes 120 Catholics who died between 1648 and 1930 as its "Martyr Saints of China". Feastday July 8

STS. AQUILA AND PRISCILLA, DISCIPLES OF ST. PAUL,

Saint of the day July 07

St. Humphrey Lawrence, 1572-1591 A.D. Martyr of England. Born in Hampshire, he was a convert to Catholicism through the efforts of Jesuit missionaries. Humphrey openly called Queen Elizabeth I a heretic and she had him arrested immediately. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Winchester. Pope Pius XI beatified him in 1929.

Bl. Ralph Milner, 1591 A.D. English martyr. He was born at Stocksteads, Hampshire, and was a convert. He was arrested the day he received his first Communion. A husbandman by trade, Ralph was allowed a leave from prison and aided priests and Catholics. He was executed at Winchester on July by being hanged, drawn, and quartered for giving assistance to Blessed Roger Dickenson. He was beatified in 1929.

St. Ercongotha, 660 A.D. Benedictine nun, the daughter of a king of Kent and St. Sexburga. Also called Ercongota, she was a nun in Faremoutiers-en-Brie, France, at least for a short time, and possibly died there at a young age.

St. Maolruain. Abbot founder of Ireland. He opened Tallaght and compiled a mythology of the area.

Sts. Medran and Odran, 6th century. Two brothers who were disciples of St. Kieran of Saghir, in Ireland. One remained with St. Kieran and the other founded Muskerry Abbey.

Saint of the day July 06

Bl. Thomas Alfield, 1585 A.D. English martyr. A native of Gloucester, he was educated at Eton and Cambridge. While raised as an Anglican, he eventually was converted to Catholicism and left England to study for the priesthood at Douai and Reims, France, receiving ordination in 1581. Returning to England, he was soon arrested while handing out copies of the polemic True and Modest Defence by Dr. Allen. Condemned, he was hanged at Tybum. Thomas was beatified in 1929.

B. BENEDICT XI, POPE

St. Maria Goretti, Roman Catholic Virgin Martyr. Patron of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape. Feastday July 6

St. Noyala, Roman Catholic Virgin Martyr. She was beheaded at Beignan, Brittany Noyala walked from the site of her martyrdom to Pontivy, holding her head in her hands. July 6

Martyrs of the Abrahamites, Roman Catholic monks who were members of the monastery founded by St. Abraham of Ephesus at Constantinople. The Abrahamites were defenders of icons and sacred images and were martyred by Emperor Theophilus, an Iconoclast. July 6

St. Modwenna. The St. Modwenna, or Monenna, formally venerated at Burton-on-Trent and elsewhere, may have lived in the middle of the seventh century and been a recluse on an islet called Andresey in the Trent. But not only are other and conflicting things alleged of her, but her legend has been confused with that of the Irish saint Darerca, or Moninne, said to have been the first abbess of Killeavy, near Nerwy and to have died in 517; and she has perhaps been confused with others as well. Capgrave and others speak of St. Modwenna as having charge of St. Edith of Polesworth, which were it true would throw no useful light on either saint. The most valuable information we possess about St. Moninne seems to be the entry in the Felire of Oengus: "Moninne of the mountain of Cuilenn was a fair pillar; she gained a triumph, a hostage of purity, a kinswoman of great Mary", with the gloss.

Saint of the day July 05

Saint Zoe of Rome, Roman Catholic Martyr. She was greatly devoted to St Peter, and was praying by his tomb when she was arrested for her faith. She died, stifled by smoke, being hung by her own hair, over a fire. Her body then was thrown into the River Tiber. Feastday: July 5

ST. ANTONY M. ZACCARIA, PRIEST, FOUNDER OF THE BARNABITIS

Although he lived on 36 years, St Anthony had a profound effect on the Church of the 16th century. He founded the Barnabite community, and the associated Angelic Sisters of St Paul and the Laity of St Paul. Twice he was accused of heresy, and twice absolved. July 5

St. Edana, Irish saint venerated in western Ireland, sometimes called Etaoin. She lived near the Boyle and Shannon Rivers and a well bears her name. She may be confused with St. Modwenna.