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Today, 27 April, is the feast of ... Anthimus, bishop of Nicomedia (303) Asicus or Tassach, bishop of Elphin (470): Tassach is the principal patron of Elphin in County Roscommon, and is traditionally regarded as having been the first bishop of that diocese. Maughold or Maccul, bishop of Man (498): A bloodthirsty evildoer, Maughold was converted by St Patrick. As penance Patrick bade him leave his native land without rudder or oars, in a leather-covered coracle which bore him to the shores of the Isle of Man. Floribert, bishop of Liege (746): The saint is described as a man of great humility, a lover of the poor and "vehement in correcting" [he probably was a Latin teacher]. Stephen Pechersky, bishop of Vladimir (1094): Disciple of St Theodosius at the monastery of the Caves in Kiev. Zita, housekeeper (1278): Patroness of domestic workers. One bitterly cold Christmas Eve in Lucca, when Zita insisted upon going to church, her master threw his fur coat over her, telling her not to lose it. In the entrance to San Frediano she came upon a scantily clad man, whose teeth were chattering with the cold. As he laid an appealing hand upon the coat, Zita immediately placed it upon his shoulders, telling him that he could keep it until the end of Mass. When the service was over, neither the man nor the coat were anywhere to be seen. Crestfallen, Zita returned home to encounter the reproaches of her master Pagano. Pagano was about to sit down to his Christmas dinner, when a stranger appeared at the door carrying the fur coat and handed it to Zita. Master and maid eagerly addressed him, but he disappeared from their sight as suddenly as had come, leaving in the hearts of all who had seen him a wonderful celestial joy. Since that day, the people of Lucca called the portal of San Frediano where Zita met the stranger "The Angel Door." Zita had a special devotion to criminals under sentence of death on whose behalf she would pray for hours. Peter Armengol, belonged to the Order of Mercedarians (1304): Twice was sent to Africa to ransom prisoners in captivity among the Moors. On the second occasion, the money he had taken with him was insufficient to secure the release of 18 boys. He volunteered to remain as a hostage until his companion returned with the ransom demanded. But the religious who brought it only arrived in time to learn that Peter had been hanged as a defaulter some days before. He went to secure the remains of the martyr, but discovered on cutting the body down that Peter was still living. He was allowed to return his fellow religious at Guardia, and there living for ten years, with twisted neck and contorted limbs, he gave a wonderful example of virtue. Antony of Siena, belonged to the order of the Hermits of St Augustine (1311) James of Bitetto, Franciscan lay-brother (1485): James was seen on occasions upraised from the ground when engaged in prayer. In a Franciscan friary he was employed as a cook. The sight of the kitchen fire led him at times to contemplate the flames of Hell, and on other occasions to dwell on the consuming fire of eternal love in Heaven. He often fell into ecstasies over his work, standing motionless and entirely absorbed in God. Carolyn Muessig [log in to unmask] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%