Today, 30 April, is the feast of ...
Maximus, martyr (250)
Marian and James, martyrs (259)
Eutropius, bishop of Saintes, martyr (third century): The story locally
told is that St Eutropius accompanied St Denis to France to share his
apostolic labours. The people of Saintes, to whom he preached, expelled
him from their city, and he went to live in a cell on a neighbouring rock
where he gave himself to prayer and to instructing those who would listen.
Amongst others he converted and baptised was the Roman governor's
daughter, Eustella. When the girl's father discovered that she was a
Christian he drove her from his house, and charged the butchers of Saintes
to slay Eutropius. Eustella found Eutropius dead with his skull split by
an axe, and she buried his remains in his cell.
Hildegard, matron (783): Charlemagne married Hildegard after his
repudiation of the Lombard princess Hermengard. Hildegard was very
friendly with St Boniface's kinswoman, the abbess St Lioba.
Forannan, abbot (982): The abbey of Waulsort on the Meuse must have been
closely connected with Ireland in its early days, for several of its
abbots came to it from that country - St Maccallan, St Cadroc, and St
Forannan.
Gualfardus or Wolfhard (1127): About the year 1906 there arrived at Verona
a saddler from Augsburg called Wolfhard, who took up his abode in the
city. All that he earned by his trade, apart from what was necessary for
bare subsistence, he gave to the poor, and he led so holy a life that he
was regarded with veneration. Shocked to find himself treated as a saint,
he secretly left Verona to seek a spot where he could serve God unobserved
by people. As a hermit, he lived in a forest on the river Adige for years
until he was recognised by some boatmen whose vessel ran aground near his
hut. The Veronese induced him to return into their midst and he eventually
became a hermit-monk of the Camaldolese priory of the Holy Redeemer.
Carolyn Muessig
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