Saint of the day and Feast days.

[odhiambo]

June 5
Today is the Feast day of
Saint Boniface
Among many other saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Boniface
Bishop, Apostle to Germany.
Martyr.
Saint Boniface was born in Devonshire, England in 680. He was baptized Winfrid, which name is said to mean "Joy and Peace".From the age of fourteen, Boniface was educated by the Benedictines, first at Exeter, then at Nursling Abbey in Winchester. He was ordained a priest in 710, by which time he was 30 years old. He was a good teacher as well as a good preacher.
Boniface wished very much to become a missionary. In 716, he asked to be sent to Germany but this was not granted. He then traveled to Rome to seek the Pope’s blessing . He was given the authority to preach to the German tribes.
He went to the Netherlands and took the name of Boniface. He worked in Netherlands, Bavaria, and others. Then he went to Germany. In 723, the Pope consecrated him regional bishop of Germany. He was able to get a pledge of protection from the powerful Frankish leader, Charles Martel. The pagans in Giesmar, where Boniface was, worshipped a tree they held as sacred. They called this tree, the Oak of Thor.
Boniface felled the Oak of Thor, and used the wood from it to build a church which he dedicated to Saint Peter. Next he founded a monastery at Ohrduf and imported English missionary monks there. Then the Pope named him metropolitan bishop of Germany in 731, a position which enabled him to extend his reach within Germany and Bavaria.
In 754, Boniface resigned his see to renew missionary work in the Netherlands. One day, on June 5, 754, Boniface and some companions were on their way to attend a confirmation at a place called Dokkum. They were suddenly attacked by pagans and martyred.His body was taken to Mainz.
His tomb is in Fulda, and relics are in Utrecht, Netherlands, and in Mainz Cathedral.
He is known as the apostle of the Germans.
Saint Boniface,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

June 6

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Norbert
Among many other saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Norbert
Bishop.
 Founder of the Premonstratensians.

Norbert was born in 1080 at Xanten, Germany. He was the son of Count Heribert of Gennes and Hedwig of Guise.He was raised around the royal court and served as almoner for Emperor Henry V. Although he was made a canon of the Church at Xanten, he spent his youth frivolously, abandoning himself to the   pleasures and vanities of the world round him. This state of affaires continued until 1115 when a dramatic incident served to bring about a total conversion in him.
Norbert was caught in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm. There was a flash of lightening. His horse was badly frightened. He was thrown off the animal, stunned. Half an hour later, after recovering his senses, he was a new man. He underwent a complete conversion.
He went to the Archbishop of Cologne and humbly asked to receive Holy Orders. He was ordained a priest. He then returned to Xanten where he tried to reform his fellow canons. He also preached against all the abuses and vices of his time.  All he got for his efforts were persecutions and ridicule. Norbert resigned his canonry, gave all his possessions to the poor and went to Pope Galasius II who was at Languedoc at the time. The pope gave Saint Norbert permission to preach anywhere he wished. He started traveling and preaching throughout northern France and soon acquired a reputation for eloquence and miracles.
In 1120, he received some land from Bartholomew, bishop of Leon. With 13 followers, Norbert used this land to establish the Order of the Premonstratensians also known as the Norbertines.He founded this Order at Premontre, France, under the Augustinian rule. The Order grew very rapidly. Within a year, the number of monks increased to forty and soon, other houses were established, largely through the preaching of Norbert across France, Belgium and Germany. Within the first five years, ten houses were founded. The year 1126 brought recognition of the Order by Pope Honorius II and the same year, Saint Norbert was named archbishop of Magdeburg, Germany. As archbishop, he carried out several reforms in the religious life and clergy despite the risk to his life
He died on 6 June 1134 at Magdeburg, Germany. His relics are in Prague.
He was canonized on 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.
Saint Norbert,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

June 7
Today is the Feast day of
Saint Robert of Newminster
Among many other saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Robert of New Minster.

Robert was born in Yorkshire, England in the year 1100. He studied at the University of Paris. While at the University, he is said to have written a commentary on the Psalms but unfortunataly it was not preserved for posterity. He became parish priest at Gargrave, and later a Benedictine  monk at Whitby, England.
In 1132 he learnt that thirteen religious had been  expelled from the Abbey of Saint Mary in York. The reason for their ejection from the Abbey was that they had proposed to restore the strict Benedictine rule. Robert asked permission from his abbot to join them and was allowed.
For two years the group struggled in extreme poverty and the fame of their sanctity spread. After two years, they  were joined by Hugh, Dean of York. He gave the Community  all his wealth. With this they ware able to  lay the foundation for the Cistercian monastery of Fountains.

 In 1137  Raynulph, Baron of Morpeth was so touched by the  example of the monks at Fountains, their adoption of the Cistercian rule that was gaining prominence at the time,  that he built them a monastery in Northumberland, called Newminster.
Robert became the first Abbot of the monastery.
Within ten years, three new communities migrated from this one house, to become centers of holiness in other parts.The holiness of Robert's life, more than his words, guided his community to perfection.
Here is an interesting excerpt from Alban Butler's Life of Saints

" The abstinence of St. Robert in refectory alone sufficed to maintain the mortified spirit of the community. One Easter Day, his stomach, weakened by the fast of Lent, could take no food, and he at last consented to try to eat some bread sweetened with honey. Before it was brought, he felt this relaxation would be a dangerous example for his subjects, and sent the food untouched to the poor at the gate. The plate was received by a young man of shining countenance, who straightaway disappeared. At the next meal the plate descended empty, and by itself, to the abbot's place in the refectory, proving that what the Saint sacrificed for his brethren had been accepted by Christ."

 Saint Robert was reputed to have had supernatural gifts, received visions, and suffered encounters with demons.
Robert died on 7 June 1159 at Newminster England of natural causes. At the moment of his death,

Saint Godric, the hermit of Finchale,  said that he "saw his soul, like a globe of fire, borne up by the angels in a pathway of light; and as the gates of heaven opened before them, a voice repeated twice, "Enter now, my friend."

 He was buried in Newminster, and miracles were reported at the tomb.  Later, the body was  entombed  in the church of Newminster. It became an object of pilgrimage.

Saint Robert,
Pray for us!

[martin]

He became parish priest at Gargrave, and later a Benedictine  monk at Whitby, England.

I have been to Whitby a few yrs ago and it's a beautful little seaside town with harbour and fishing boats and old traditional style houses.
There are so many great saints and martyrs of England that I'm sure this country will return to the true faith through their prayers.

[odhiambo]

He became parish priest at Gargrave, and later a Benedictine  monk at Whitby, England.

There are so many great saints and martyrs of England that I'm sure this country will return to the true faith through their prayers.

Amen to that martin.
We so pray to the Lord

[Shin]

The story of the abstinence of St. Robert is very uplifting! 

[odhiambo]

The story of the abstinence of St. Robert is very uplifting! 

There is a lesson to be learnt there 

[odhiambo]

June 8

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Medard
Among many other saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Medard.
Also knpwn as
Saint Medard of Noyon.

Medard was born in Picardy, France around the year 456. He was born in a noble family. His father was Nectardus, a Frankish nobleman and his mother was Protagia, also of the nobility. He was the brother of Saint Gildardus, archbishop of Rouen France.  Saint Medard was educated at Saint-Quentin. Even as a youth, he was well known for his piety.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 502 at the age of 33 years.He then worked as a missionary until 530 when he  was elected bishop of Vermandois. It is said that Medard may have been consecrated by Saint Remigius of Rheims.
According to tradition, Medard moved his see from Saint-Quentin to Noyon after a raid by the Huns;  he then united it with the diocese of Tournai and became  Bishop of Tournai in 532; the union of the two dioceses lasted until 1146.
In his History of the Franks Gregory of Tours reported that King Clotaire killed Queen Saint Radegund’s brother unjustly. Radegund then asked Médard, then bishop of Noyon, to allow her to become a nun. Médard finally agreed, and she entered a convent; later she founded the nunnery of the Holy Cross at Poitiers.
Medard was one of the most honored bishops of his time. His memory has always been venerated in northern France.
I do not know whether this custom still goes on but it appears that each year on his feast  day at Rosiere, the young girl who had been judged the most exemplary in the district was escorted by 12 boys and 12 girls to the church, where she was crowned with roses and given a gift of money. This was a continuation of a yearly stipend or "scholarship” which he apparently instituted when he was bishop.

He was the hero of numerous legends, for instance, legend says that when he was a child, Medard was once sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle. This is his most common depiction in art, and led to his patronage of good weather, against bad weather.
 Legend also had it that if it rained on his feast day, the next 40 days would be wet; if the weather was good, the next 40 would be fine as well.
In art, he was also depicted as laughing aloud with his mouth wide open; this led to his patronage against toothache.
Saint Medard died on 8 June 545 at Noyon, France.
 His canonization was Pre-Congregation.
Saint Medard,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

Another helpful saint for dental patients. 

[martin]

There's a special feast day tomorrow 9th of June here in our city.
St Columba is the patron saint of Derry and to celebrate there will be a parade in the city centre organized by a local priest (with plenty of helpers of course).

Saint Columba is like my personal patron too as I pray to him each day that a miracle will occur and we can have  the TLM reinstated in our city on a regular basis.

I'll post this lovely hymn which is sung after each Mass on his feast day.

Hark angelic songs resounding,
thro the happy courts of Heaven,
for the triumph of Columba
endless praise to God is given.

Saint Columba, Saint Columba,
holy patron of our town.
While thy children sing thy praises
from thy throne in heaven look down.

See Columba silent kneeling,
rapt in loving ecstasy
at the altar where his Jesus
hides in love His majesty.

St. Columba,dearest father,
would our hearts were like to thine.
Make us share thy deep devotion
to this Sacrament Divine.

When Columba speaks of Jesus,
when his lips pronounce His name,
Every word with love is burning,
and his hearers catch the flame.

St. Columba, holy father,
hear our praises, grant our prayer,
Make us love our Jesus better,
and in Heaven His glory share.

Great Columba, wondrous preacher,
light resplendent of the world,
Holy Church's mighty champion,
truths sacred flag unfurled.

Sweet Columba now thou reignest
crowned eternally above,
Help thy children here in Derry,
thou the Holy Church's Dove.

[odhiambo]

Sweet Columba now thou reignest
crowned eternally above,
Help thy children here in Derry,
thou the Holy Church's Dove.

I was struck by the last verse above. I have never heard of this saint till now, thanks to you.
I wanted to check him out when I read your post and the first thing I saw was that his other name, " Colum Cille"  , means "dove of the church" in Old Irish.
Saint Columba,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

June 9
Today is also the feast day of
Saint Ephrem
Among many other saints.