Today, 17 April, is the feast of ...
Anicetus, pope and martyr (165)
Mappalicus and his Companions, martyrs (250)
Innocent, Bishop of Tortona (350)
Donnan and his Companions, martyrs (618):Donnan was one of the many
Irishmen who followed Columba to Iona. Afterwards, with fifty-two
companions, he founded a monastery on the island of Eigg in the Inner
Hebrides. They were all slaughtered by robbers who descended on them while
Donnan celebrated Mass on the night of Easter. A story says that the raid
was instigated by a woman who had formerly pastured sheep on the island
and resented the loss of it to the monks.
Robert of Chaise-Dieu, abbot (1067): Founder and first abbot of the
monastery of Chaise-Dieu in Auvergne.
Stephen Harding, abbot of Citeaux, co-founder of the Cistercians (1134):
While abbot of Citeaux, a mysterious disease appeared amongst the monks
which depleted their numbers greatly. Stephen then began to wonder if he
were really doing the will of God. Addressing a dying monk the abbot asked
him to bring back word from beyond the grave to let him know the divine
will. Soon after his death the monk appeared to Stephen and said that his
way of life was pleasing to God and recruits would soon come who "like
bees swarming in haste and overflowing the hive, would fly away and spread
themselves through many parts of the world." Soon afterwards, at the
monastery gates appeared a troop of thirty men who announced to the porter
that they had come to offer themselves to the religious life. They were
all of noble lineage, mostly in their early prime, and they had as their
leader a young man of singular beauty whose name was Bernard.
Eberhard of Marchthal, abbot (1178)
James of Cerqueto, Hermit of St Augustine (1367): During his open-air
preaching it was noticed that the frogs would cease their croaking at his
bidding to allow his words to be heard.
Clare of Pisa, Dominican (1419): Was married at twelve. After her
husband's death when she was fifteen, to avoid a second marriage she ran
away and sought admission to the Poor Clares. The following day her
brothers appeared at the gates to demand her return, the terrified nuns
let her down over the wall and into the hands of her brothers. Although
she was kept prisoner in her father's house for five months, neither
threats nor starvation could shake her determination. At last her father
relented and not only allowed her to enter the Dominican priory of Holy
Cross, but promised to build another house of which she eventually became
prioress.
Carolyn Muessig
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