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. Hildgard was very
friendly with St Boniface's kinswoman, the abbess Lioba.
Forannan, abbot (982): The abbey of Waulsort on the Meuse must have been
closely connected with Ireland in its early days, several of its
abbots came to it from that country - St Maccallan, St Cadroc, and St
Forannan.
Gualfardus or Wolfhard (1127): About the year 1106 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.
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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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