Today, 8 March, is the feast of ...
* Pontius, Deacon (c. 260)
Wrote the *Vita et passio Cypriani*.
* Philemon and Apollonius, martyrs (c. 305)
Before Phileomon's execution, he requested that a great pot be brought
before him and a baby put inside. The executioners did so. Then
Philemon asked them to shoot at the pot with bows and arrows. They
again complied shooting the pot full of arrows. But the child inside
was found to be unscathed. Thereupon Philemon said: 'The Christian's
body like the pot may be riddled with wounds, whilst the soul
within, like the baby, remains unhurt.'
* Senan, bishop (560)
Established a monastery on Scattery Island. The monastery soon became
famous and many men came there, but it was Senan's rule that no woman
should be allowed to land on the island. However, St Cannera, knowing
that she was about to die, greatly desired to receive the viaticum and
to be buried there. An angel brought her across the water, but on the
shore she was met by Senan who refused her to proceed. Cannera asked:
'If Christ will receive my soul, why should you
reject my body?' Senan replied: 'That is true, but for all that, I will
not allow you to come here: go back and do not plague us. You may be
pure in soul but you are a woman.' Cannera replied: 'I will die before
I go back.' And at that moment she did die and was buried on the
island.
* Felix of Dunwich, bishop of the East Angles (648)
Through preaching converted many in the counties of Norfolk.
* Julian, archbishop of Toledo (690)
Among his literary works was a revision of Mozarbic liturgy, a book
against the Jews, and three books which discuss death and the state of
the soul after death.
* Humphrey or Hunfrid, bishop of Therouanne (871)
By his order the feast of the Assumption became generally observed
throughout his
province.
* Duthac, bishop of Ross (c. 1065)
He is said to have foretold the invasion of the Danes which took place
ten years after his death.
* Veremund, abbot (1092)
Distinguished especially for his boundless love of the poor.
* Steven of Obazine, abbot (1154)
Lived an austere life in a small community of men dedicated to extreme
fasting, prayer, reading and manual labour.
* Vincent, bishop of Cracow (1223)
Best remembered for his *Chronicle of the Kings and Princes of Poland*.
* John of God, founder of the Brothers Hospitallers (1550)
Butler writes: 'He was particularly careful to provide for young girls
in distress to protect them from temptations to which they are often
exposed.'
********************
Dr Carolyn Muessig
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Bristol
Bristol BS8 1TB
UK
phone: +44(0)117-928-8168
fax: +44(0)117-929-7850
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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