SAINT CHRYSOLIUS

Chrysolius the Armenian
St. Chrysolius
Feast day: February 7

Death: 4th century

Saint Chrysolius  .A martyred bishop of Armenia who served as a missionary in northeastern Gaul, where he became a bishop. During the persecution of Diocletian he was martyred in the region of modern Flanders., his relics are venerated at Bruges

SAINT THEODORE STRATELATES

Theodore Stratelates
St. Theodore Stratelates
also known as Theodore of Heraclea

Feast day: February 7

Patron of soldiers

Death: 319

Roman general and martyr. Surnamed Stratelates , he supposedly served in the army of Emperor Licinius Licinianus (r. 308-324) until the decision by that ruler to end the toleration of Christians in the lands under his rule. At the command of the emperor, he was tortured and either beheaded or crucified. Theodore is much venerated by the Orthodox Greek Church. Lie is also called Theodore of Heraclea.

 Theodore lived in Heraclea and was a general (stratelates) commanding one of the armies of the Emperor Licinius and governor of Pontus. A man of great political influence, Theodore also governed part of Licinius's territory.

 His fellow-soldiers realized that their general had embraced the Christian faith when he refused to join them in pagan worship. For this the general was tortured by those he had once loyally served, and was then let out of prison on remand.

 He showed his scorn for the idol worshippers by setting fire to a temple dedicated to the goddess Cybele at Amasea in Pontus. The authorities lost no time in throwing him back into prison and again torturing him. The general was comforted by a vision of heaven, before perishing in a furnace. He was buried at Euchaita and is revered by the Eastern Church as a great soldier-saint.

 He is probably identical with Theodore Tyro of Amasea, whose later legends became so contradictory and complicated by incredible embroideries that this one was invented to account for the differences. The stratelates is one of the four soldiers honored by the Greeks as a megolomartyr

SAINT AUGULUS

St. Augulus
 Augurius, Aule
Feast day: February 7
 Died  303.
Saint Jerome's martyrology lists Augulus as a bishop. Others describe him as a martyr put to death in London under Diocletian. French writers normally identify him with Saint Aule of Normandy , France.

SAINT AMULWINUS

St. Amulwinus

Amulwinus of Lobbes, OSB, Abbot-Bishop
 Amolvinus
Feast day: February 7

Death: 750

A Benedictine abbot and bishop. Amulwinus was St. Erminus' successor at the monastery of Lobbes, Belgium. Amulwinus assumed his post in 737.

SAINT RICHARD

St. Richard
Richard the King
 Died 722.

Feast day: February 7

Richard was the father of Saints Willibald, Winnebald, and Walburga. He was on a pilgrimage to Rome from his native Wessex, England, with his two sons when he was stricken and died at Lucca, Italy. Miracles were reported at his tomb and he became greatly venerated by the citizens of Lucca, who embellished accounts of his life by calling him "king of the English".


 Saint Richard was not really a king-early Italian legend made him a prince of Wessex--but his sanctity was verified by the fact that he fathered three other saints: Willibald, Winebald (Wunibald), and Walpurga (Walburga). Butler tells us that "Saint Richard, when living, obtained by his prayers the recovery of his younger son Willibald, whom he laid at the foot of a great crucifix erected in a public place in England, when the child's life was despaired of in a grievous sickness.  perhaps deprived of his inheritance by some revolution in the state; or he renounced it to be more at liberty to dedicate himself to the pursuit of Christian perfection. . Taking with him his two sons, he undertook a pilgrimage of penance and devotion, and sailing from Hamble-haven, landed in Neustria on the western coasts of France. He made a considerable stay at Rouen, and made his devotions in the most holy places that lay in his way through France."

 He fell ill, died suddenly at Lucca, Italy, and was buried in the church of San Frediano. A later legend makes him the duke of Swabia, Germany. Miracles were reported at his tomb, and he became greatly venerated by the citizens of Lucca and those of Eichstatt to where some of his relics were translated. The natives of Lucca amplified accounts of his life by calling him king of the English. Neither of his legends is especially trustworthy--even his real name is unknown and dates only from the 11th century. A famous account of the pilgrimage on which he died was written by his son's cousin, the nun Hugeburc, entitled Hodoeporicon  He is venerated at Heidenheim and Lucca

SAINTS SILVANUS,LUKE AND MUCIUS

Silvanus, Luke, and Mucius


Feast day: February 6

Silvanus, Luke, and Mucius
 Died 312.
 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

SAINTS JACUT AND GUETHENOC

Jacut and Guethenoc
 5th century.

Feast day: February 6
 Sons of Saints Fragan and Gwen and brothers of the more celebrated Saint Gwenaloe ,Winwaloe twin of Jacut, Jacut and Guethenoc became disciples of Saint Budoc, and like him were driven from their native Britain by the invading Saxons 

BLESSED HILDEGUND OF MEER

 Hildegund of Meer, O. Praem., Widow
 (also known as Hildegund of Mehre)

Feast day: February 6

 Died 1183.
Hildegund, daughter of Count Herman of Lidtberg and widow of Count Lothair, turned her castle of Meer near Cologne, Germany, into a Premonstratensian convent. In the face of fierce opposition from her family, she and her daughter, Blessed Hedwig, entered religious life there. Hildegund became prioress of the new foundation. Hildegund was also the mother of Blessed Herman Joseph, who also became a Premonstratensian

BLESSED GUARINUS OF PALESTRINA

Guarinus of Palestrina, OSA

Feast day: February 6

 Born in Bologna, Italy;
 Died in Pavia, Italy, 1159;
 canonized by Alexander III. Saint Guarinus left his hometown to join the Augustinian canons at Montaria. There he enjoyed 40 years of religious life prior to being elected bishop of Pavia. Nothing, however, could induce him to accept the position. Nevertheless, Pope Lucius II created him a cardinal bishop of Palestrina because of his holiness and humility. There he is highly venerated 

BLESSED GERALD OF OSTIA

Gerald of Ostia, OSB

Feast day: February 6

 Died 1077.
 Gerald was prior at Cluny and raised by Pope Alexander II to the see of Ostia (Italy) as successor to Saint Peter Damian. He was the papal legate to France, Spain, and Germany. In the course of his duties, Gerald was arrested and imprisoned by the German emperor, Henry V. He is the principal patron of Velletri

SAINT ANTHOLIAN OF AUVERGNE

Antholian of Auvergne
 (also known as Anatolianus)

Feast day: February 6


 Died . 265. Saint Gregory of Tours mentions Antholianus as one of the martyrs of Auvergne under Valerian and Gallienus. Fellow sufferers were Saints Cassius, Maximus, Limininus, and Victorinus

BLESSED ANGELUS OF FURCI

Blessed Angelus of Furci, OSA

Feast day: February 6

 Born at Furci, Abruzzi, Italy;
Died 1372;
 cultus confirmed in 1888. Angelus joined the Augustinian friars at an early age, studied in Paris, where he became a lecturer in theology, and on his return to Italy, spent the rest of his life as a professor of theology at Naples. Without giving up his teaching, he became provincial of the order for a time.

BLESSED ANDREW OF ELNON

Andrew of Elnon, OSB, Abbot

Feast day: February 6
Andrew of Elnon, OSB, Abbot
 Died . 690. Monk and disciple of Saint Amand of Maastricht, whom he succeeded as abbot. His relics were "raised" together with those of Amand in 694

BLESSED AMANDUS OF NANTES

Amandus of Nantes, OSB, Abbot

Feast day: February 6

Amandus of Nantes, OSB, Abbot
 7th century. Abbot-founder of Nantua

BLESSED AMAND OF MOISSAC

Amand of Moissac, OSB, Abbot

Feast day: February 6

Amand of Moissac, OSB, Abbot
 (also known as Amandus)
 Died 644. Abbot-founder of Moissac

SAINT MICHAEL KOZAKI

St. Michael Kozaki


Feast day: February 6

Death: 1597



Martyr of Japan. He was a native Japanese catechist who served as a hospital nurse and was arrested for being a Christian. His son, St. Thomas Kozaki, died with him as did St. Peter Baptist and companions. They were crucified at Nagasaki. Michael was canonized in 1862.

SAINT MARTIN LOYNAZ

St. Martin Loynaz of the Ascension OFM,
Martin Loynaz (de Aguirre)

Feast day: February 6


Franciscan martyr of Japan. He was born at Vergara, Navarre,near Pamplona, Spain,  He studied in Alcala and became a Franciscan in 1586 .He first worked as a missionary in Mexico and Manila, in the Philippines, before serving in Japan. He was crucified at Nagasaki and was canonized in 1862.

SAINT MUN

St. Mun

Mun of Lough Ree
Feast day: February 6

Death: 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 

SAINT JOHN SOAN DE GOTO

St. John Soan de Goto
John Soan de Goto, SJ
Feast day: February 6

Death: 1597

Japanese martyr of Japan. He was only nineteen at the time of his crucifixion at Nagasaki with many companions.

John Soan de Goto, SJ, a 19-year-old native Japanese who was admitted to the Jesuits in prison shortly before his martyrdom. Prior to that he was a temporal-coadjutor of the Society of Jesus and catechist at Osaka

SAINT FRANCIS OF SAINT MICHAEL

St. Francis of St. Michael
Francis of Saint Michael, OFM,

Feast day: February 6

Death: 1597



Franciscan martyr of Japan. Born in Parilla, Spain, he was a Franciscan lay brother sent to Manila, in the Philippines to Japan as a missionary. In 1593, he accompanied St. Peter Baptist to Japan. After three years he was arrested at Osaka, Japan, with St. Peter Baptist and twenty-four others, in 1596, and awaited execution the following year..They were crucified near Nagasaki on February 5. He was canonized in 1862 as a Martyr of Japan.

SAINT COSMAS

St. Cosmas
Cosmas Takeya (Tachegia, Zaquira), OFM

Feast day: February 6
Death: 1597

 A lay Franciscan from Owari, Japan, who served the Franciscan missionaries as interpreter and preached in Osaka.
One of the Martyrs of Japan in Nagasaki. He was a native of Japan and a Franciscan tertiary, serving as an interpreter for the missionaries. He was crucified with St. Paul Miki and twenty-five companions in Nagasaki. He was beautified in 1627 and canonized in 1862.

SAINT THOMAS KOZAKI

St. Thomas Kozaki
Thomas Cozaki (Kasaki)

Feast day: February 6

Death: 1597



Japanese martyr. The son of St. Michael Kozaki, he was a boy of fifteen who aided the Franciscan missionaries and was crucified at Nagasaki with twenty-five other companions, including his father, lIe was canonized in 1862 and is counted among the companions of St. Paul Miki.

SAINT THEOPHILUS OF CAESAREA

Theophilus of Caesarea
St. Theophilus the Lawyer


Feast day: February 6

Martyr, known as Theophilus Scholasticus "the Lawyer." He was beheaded at Caesarea, in Cappadocia (in modern Turkey). Theophilus is mentioned in the legend of St. Dorothy.Died 300. 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

SAINT BONAVENTURE OF MIAKO

St. Bonaventure of Miako

Feast day: February 6

Death: 1597


Bonaventure of Miyako (Meaco), OFM Tert. A Japanese native who became a Franciscan tertiary and catechist.Martyr of Japan. A native of that nation, Bonaventure was a Franciscan tertiary and a catechist. A companion of St. Paul Miki, he was crucified at Nagasaki.

SAINT ANTHOLIAN

Antholian of Auvergne
St. Antholian

Feast day: February 6

Death: 265

 (also known as Anatolianus)

Also called Anatolianus, a martyr. He is mentioned by St. Gregory of Tours as one of the martyrs of Auvergne, France, in the reign of Emperor Valerian. . Fellow sufferers were Saints Cassius, Maximus, Limininus, and Victorinus

SAINT VEDAST

Vedast of Arras

Feast day: February 6

Birth: 453

Death:539 /540

 (also known as Foster, Gaston, Vat, Vaast, Waast)

Known also as Vaast, Foster, and Gaston, St. Vedast, a native of western France, is best-known as the catechist of Clovis, King of the Franks. Ordained at Toul, Vedast met Clovis when the king required a learned man to accompany him to Rheims after the battle of Tolbiac (496); upon their arrival, Clovis recommended his companion to Archbishop Remigius, who was to baptize the king after his wife, Clotilde had converted him to Christianity. The two clerics evangelized the Franks, and in 499, Vedast was named bishop of Arras and Cambrai, dioceses that had returned to paganism after the raids of Atilla. During his forty-year tenure, Vedast restored the faith of his people and the churches in which they worshiped.

 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 Jumisges, 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

 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  (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 eye

BLESSED DIEGO DE AVEZEDO

Blessed Diego de Azevedo, OSB Cist.

 (also known as Didacus)

Feast day: February 6

Blessed Diego De Avezedo was sent to escort the fiance' of Prince Ferdinand. When he arrived, she had died, so he accompanied St. Dominic which ultimately led to the founding of the Dominicans. He died on December 30, 1207. He was Bishop of Osma, Spain. His feast day is February 6th


 A member of the clergy attached to the cathedral at Osma, Old Castile (Spain). He became provost and obtained a canonry for Saint Dominic Guzmán and in 1201 was named bishop of Osma. In 1206, he was sent by King Alfonso IX of Castile to the Marches (Italy) to escort back to Spain the bride-to-be of Prince Ferdinand. On arrival, Diego found the girl dead.

 He then went to Rome, taking with him a member of his party, Saint Dominic, a visit that ultimately led to the founding of the Dominicans. In the same year Diego joined the Cistercians at Cîteaux in order to join the crusade against the Albigensians in Languedoc. He returned to Osma late in 1207 and died there. He has always been styled a beatus or saint by the Cistercians