JANUARY 9

Blessed Alix le Clerc, Virgin († 1622)

FOUNDER OF THE CANONESSES OF OUR LADY

Optional Memorial

 

 

     Blessed Alix le Clerc was born at Remiremont in the Province of Lorraine. In her early youth she followed a divine calling and on the advice of St. Peter Fourier, established schools for girls in many French cities. She also engaged herself in many apostolic works. To bring all this about she founded with St. Peter Fourier the Congregation of Canonesses Regular of St. Augustine of Our Lady. She was concerned always with encouraging virtue. Rich in achievements, she died peacefully at Nancy, on January 9, 1622.

FEBRUARY 4

Saint Gilbert of Sempringham, priest († 1198)

FOUNDER OF THE GILBERTINES IN ENGLAND

Memorial

 

 

 

     Of the town of Sempringham in England, he was proficient in sacred and secular learning, and was ordained Priest. He took over the administration of the Parish of his birthplace. Concerned with youth, he founded two Societies: one for Nuns to serve God under the Rule of St. Benedict; the other for Lay Brothers and Canons Regular – those among all Orders who were spiritual directors of the other religious – to live under the Rule of St. Augustine. Known afterwards as the Gilbertines, these religious men and women soon grew greatly in numbers. Excelling in prudence and humility this man of God underwent many persecutions in the cause of justice. He died about the year 1189.

FEBRUARY 7

Saint Guarinus, bishop († 1159)

CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP OF PALESTRINA

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

     Born at Bologna of illustrious parents, as a youth he was ordained Cleric. Searching more eagerly for perfection he took the habit of the Canons Regular. Elected to the Bishopric of Pavia, he lay in hiding so long that another was made Bishop in his place. Nevertheless Pope Lucius II appointed him, though against his wall, Cardinal and Bishop of Palestrina. Established in that dignity, Guarinus labored unremittingly in charity towards the poor, the preaching of the Word and works of piety. Attaining old age he want to the Lord in 1158.

FEBRUARY 18

Saint Theotonius, priest († 1166)

PRIOR OF THE CANONS REGULAR OF THE HOLY CROSS OF COIMBRA

Memorial

 

 

 

     He was born in Portugal and at an early age became a clerk in Holy Orders, later he was ordained Priest. His one desire was to visit the Holy places and he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on two occasions. On return to his native land he joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in the suburbs of Coimbra, and was elected Prior. Highly esteemed by St. Bernard, he died and the age of eighty in 1166.

FEBRUARY 18

Saint Ollegarus, bishop († 1137)
ARCHBISHOP OF TARRAGONA

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

     Born at Barcelona in Spain he was received into the Order of Canons as a youth. Ordained Priest and promoted to the office of Superior at the Monastery of St. Hadrian, he later went to the Monastery of St. Rufus in the Province of the same Order. He was soon elected abbot and ruled the Monastery with prudence and holiness. Afterwards, elected Bishop of Barcelona, and also called to administer the diocese of Tarragona, he restored and strengthened ecclesiastical discipline, aided the poor, brought peace and harmony to the discontented, and helped the cause of the Roman Pontiffs against the schism of Peter Leo. Worn out by measureless labors he found peace in the Lord in 1137.

MARCH 29

Saint William Tempier, bishop († 1197)
BISHOP OF POITIERS

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

 

     At a very early age William joined the Canons Regular.  He was remarkable for his holiness, and rose to be the Superior of the Monastery of St. Hilaire-de-la-Celle near his native city of Poitiers.  At the request of both clergy and people he accepted the Bishopric of Poitiers, and worked ceaselessly for their salvation by word and example.  He endured much persecution for the sake of justice, and died with a reputation for sanctity in 1197.

APRIL 5

Saint Catherine Thomas, virgin († 1574)

MYSTIC AND CANONESS IN PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

     St. Catherine Thomas was born in the Belearic Islands and showed signs of sanctity from her early years. She entered the Order of Canonesses Regular in Palma and gave a great example in all the virtues, especially by her humility. She spent her whole life in prayer, work and penance. She died in 1574.

APRIL 6

Saint William, abbot († 1203)

ABBOT OF EBBELHOLT, DENMARK

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

      Born in Paris, William was enrolled into the College of Canons of St. Genevieve which was at that time a Secular College and after Pope Eugene III had entrusted to the Canons Regular of St. Victor the reformation of the College, the establishment was given into his charge. He was then called to Denmark to reform the Community of the Canons Regular, situated on the Island of Eskito. He was made Abbot of that Community and experienced great pressures and much poverty. At length after overcoming every difficulty, he successfully completed the work of reformation and built a new Community. He died in 1203.

APRIL 9

Saint Gaucherius, priest († 1140)
Optional Memorial

 

 

 

 

 

     He was born at Meulan in France and educated in the Humanities, but his real desire was to live the austere life of a hermit. Hence he went off to another part of France to live in solitude. However, both men and women wanted to share his life so he founded two Houses for them, each following the Augustinian Rule, and spent the rest of his days amongst them, giving them an example of religious life. He died, aged eighty, in 1140.

APRIL 24

Conversion of Saint Augustine in 387 († 430)

Optional Memorial

 

Tolle Lege
The Conversion of St. Augustine by Frangelico
The Baptism of St. Augustine

 

 

     When Augustine came to Milan as a Professor of Rhetoric, he often went to hear the preaching of St. Ambrose who was the Bishop of this diocese. As a result he gradually lost interest in the Manichean sect of which he was a fervent member, and turned instead to the Holy Scriptures, especially to the letters of St. Paul. Despising the pleasures of this world, he now applied himself eagerly to the search for true salvation.

     When the season for gathering the grapes came, he abandoned his Professorship and left with his mother and some friends for a country house named Cassaciacus. He spent several months there in prayer, meditation and the study of the Holy Scriptures; then he returned to Milan where he was baptized by St. Ambrose on the 24th of April in the year 387. His mother, St. Monica, was present, her heart full with joy at the conversion of her son.

APRIL 26

Blessed Boniface of Valperga, bishop († 1243)

and Blessed Emericus, bishop († 1313)

BISHOPS OF AOSTA

Optional Memorial

 

Blessed Emericus

 

 

     Boniface was born at Aosta and after completing his schooling he first enrolled in the Monstery of St. Benignus de Fractuaria, but then changed to the Canons Regular of the Augustinian Collegiate Church of St. Ursus. He was chosen Prior of the Community for his learning and holiness and then Bishop of the city. He was keenly earnest to save souls, and was especially loving and humble. He died in 1243.

     Emericus was born near the same city and became a Canon in the Community where he excelled in the religious virtues. He was chosen as a Bishop of Aosta and his wonderful, austere life and his eagerness to save souls was a shining example. Tradition says that he instituted in his Diocese the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He died in 1313.

APRIL 30

Saint Aldobrandus (Hildebrand), bishop († 1219)

BISHOP OF FOSSOBRONE

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

 

     Born near Cesana in Emilia he entered the house of the Canons Regular of St. Mary de Portu, in the city of Ravenna. He devoted himself to the work of that house which he had joined. Later he was made Bishop of Fossobrone and set an example of godly life in word and deed. Gentle and liberal to others, he was harsh and severe with himself; he died in 1219.

MAY 16

Saint Ubald of Gubbio, bishop († 1160)

BISHOP OF GUBBIO

Memorial

 

The skull cap St. Ubald
The incorrupt body of St. Ubald

 

 

     Born at Gubbio, he studied at Fano and in his native town. Called to the post of Prior in the Cathedral Church, he strove to establish the Common Life. To this end he went to Ravenna and learnt by experience the usages of the Canons Regular in the Monastery of St. Maria in Portu, then introduced its Rule into the Church of Gubbio with happy results. On being made Bishop of Gubbio, he changed nothing in his usual way of life. Meek and humble, he endured many trials calmly and kindly, and died in 1160.

MAY 21

Saint Ivo, bishop († 1116)

BISHOP OF CHARTRES

Memorial

 

 

 

      Born at Auteuil in France, he was well instructed first at Paris, then at the Monastery of Bec. Being called to Beauvais, he ruled the Monastery of Canons Regular well and diligently, himself teaching his clerics sacred theology, so that many of them were sought, not only for their canonical life, but also for their praiseworthy learning. For work like this and the excellent instructions he gave, St. Ive stands out as a leading reformer of the Canonical Order in France. Elected Bishop of Chartres, he was famous for his pastoral virtues and unshakable fidelity to the Apostolic See. He wrote sermons and letters, and excellently expounded Canon Law. He Died in 1116.

MAY 25

Saint Gregory VII, pope († 1160)

Memorial

 

 

 

     Hildebrand, born in Tuscany about the year 1028, was educated at Rome and led a monastic life; he helped the Popes of his time very much by many embassies and was most zealous for the reformation of the Church. He strove energetically, by introducing austere observances, that the old Order of Canons should flourish again. Elected to the Chair of St. Peter in the Euddoxian Basilica in 1073 and assuming the name Gregory VII, he vigorously continued the work of reformation. Opposed especially by Henry VI he died in exile in Salerno.

MAY 29

Saint Bona, virgin († 1207)

Optional Memorial

 

 

 

     She was born at Pisa about 1156. Richly endowed with heavenly gifts, she joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine who practiced the Common Life of the Church of St. Martin in that city as Oblate or Associate. In her offices of charity she went to Jerusalem, many times to Rome, to the Church of St. Michael the Archangel on Mount Gargano, and nine times to the Sanctuary of St. James at Compostella. In 1962 John XXIII constituted her heavenly patron of hostesses or helpers of travelers in Italy. She died at Pisa on the 29th of May, 1207, and is buried in the Church of St. Martin.

JUNE 6

Saint Norbert, bishop († 1134)

ARCHBISHOP OF MAGDEBURG

Memorial

 

 

 

 

     Saint Norbert was born in the duchy of Cleves around the year 1080.  A canon of the church of Xanten, he was converted from a worldly life and, embracing the religious state, was ordained to the priesthood in 1115.  Undertaking the apostolic life, he accepted the duty of preaching, particularly throughout France and Germany.  Gathering together some companions, he laid the foundation of the Premonstratensian Order, for which he also founded monasteries.  Elected Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1126, he reformed the Christian life and spread the faith to nearby pagan nations.  Saint Norbert died in 1134.

JUNE 15

Saint Bernard of Mont-Joux, priest († 1081)

FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION SAINT BERNARD OF MENTHON

(also of AOSTE or also of MONT-JOUX)
Memorial

 

 

 

     St. Bernard was the person who instituted the Canons at Aosta. He was a dedicated ascetic and proclaimed the Gospel throughout the Alps. On a ridge of one of the Alps called Mt. Jupiter, he founded a lodging house and Church in honor of St. Nicholas and started a devout family of Canons Regular to celebrate the Holy Offices and show the works of love to travelers on the mountains which towered above them. He never missed an opportunity to sow the Word of God. He died at Novara in 1081.

JUNE 25

Blessed Mary Lhulier, virgin and martyr († 1794)

Memorial

 

 

 

 

 

     Mary Lhulier, accepted by the Cannonesses of St. Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus, devoted herself to the duties of a Lay Sister throughout her life and strenuously cultivated the virtues of religion. Refusing to take the civil oath during the French Revolution, she was accused and thrown into prison. Since she faithfully persevered in her loyalty to the Church, she was condemned to death in 1794.

JULY 6

Saint John Oosterwyck, priest and martyr († 1572)

Memorial

 

 

 

 

 

     [St. Jan of Osterwijk] John owed his excellent education to his parents.  He entered the Order of the Canons in the Congregation of Windesheim, and after his Ordination, was appointed spiritual director to the Canonesses Regular.  A band of Calvinists, after attacking and destroying the Monastery of this congregation at Rugen, took John prisoner, together with some twenty other Priests; they were thrown into gaol and treated most barbarously.  In spite of the many tortures they had to endure, they remained steadfast in proclaiming the Catholic Faith, particularly their faith in the Holy Eucharist and in the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff.  St. John was put to death by hanging in the year 1572.

AUGUST 2

Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop († 371)

BISHOP OF VERCELLI
Memorial

 

 

Reliquary of St. Eusebius

 

 

     St. Eusebius was born in Sardinia at the beginning of the fourth century, became a Cleric at Rome, and in 345 was elected as first Bishop of Vercelli.  He was the first in the West to lead his clergy to life in community; while preserving the rules of monks he considered religious observance and pastoral needs.  Later it happened that the clergy leading their lives in community, later to be called Canons Regular, spread successfully.  Because of his faith, St. Eusebius was exiled by the Emperor Constantine, and endured much suffering.  After returning to his birth place, he worked hard for the restoration of the faith against the Arians.  He died and Vercelli in 371.

AUGUST 12

Blessed Maurice Tornay, priest and martyr († 1949)

MISSIONARY CANON OF GREAT ST. BERNARD

Optional Memorial