Memorial of Saints (December 12)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Jane Frances de Chantal, religious
• Epimachus Alexander and Companions, martyrs
• Finian of Clonard, bishop
• Corentin or Cury, bishop
• Edburga, virgin
• Vicelin, bishop

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She appeared four times to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac hill outside of Mexico City. The apparition produced a miraculous imprint on the tilma (cloak) of Juan Diego. This image was meant to convince the local bishop, of the Blessed Virgin's appearance to Juan Diego, and that a chapel be built right on the spot where she appeared. The bishop was convinced. He kept Juan Diego's tilma, first in his private chapel and then in the church on public display, where it attracted great attention.

On December 26, 1531 A.D., a procession formed to transfer the miraculous image back to Tepeyac Hill where it was installed in a small, hastily built chapel.

The image on the cloak of Juan Diego gave the native Indians the assurance that Christianity was also a faith for them; that Our Lady of Guadalupe was loving and compassionate to them.

In 1754 A.D., Pope Benedict XIV authorized a Mass and Office to be celebrated on December 12 under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641 A.D.) was born of an aristocratic family at Dijon, France. She married the Baron of Chantal and they had six children. Her husband died in 1601 A.D., but three years after, she met St. Francis de Sales. St. Francis de Sales, who became her spiritual director, wanted her to lead the religious community he wanted to found. So, in 1610 A.D., Francis and Jane Frances founded the Congregation of the Visitation - a community for widows and young girls who want to live a religious life. Before the death of Jane Frances, this community grew to more than sixty houses.

More on Saints for December 12

Related blog posts:

• St. Juan Diego, (December 9)
• St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal
• French School of Spirituality
• Our Lady of Lourdes and Other Marian Apparitions

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• St. Spiridion, Wonderworker

St. Spiridion, or Spyridon, was a fourth-century shepherd who became bishop of a small and remote area northeast of Cyprus. Spiridion was known for his knowledge of the Bible though he was unschooled. He was also known for his simplicity and holiness, and was credited with many miracles. According to the Roman Martyrology, he attended the Council of Nicaea where he converted a skeptical philosopher. St. Spiridion was firm in his opposition to Arianism.

St. Spiridion is patron saint of Corfu, Zakythos, and Kephalonia. Devotion to St. Spiridion is strong in Cyprus. His feast day in the Roman Calendar is every December 14. The Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches celebrate his feast today, December 12.

Memorial of Saints (December 11)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Damasus I, pope
• Daniel the Stylite
• Barsabas, martyr
• Fuscian, Victorinus, and Gentian, martyrs

St. Damasus I (305-384 A.D.) succeeded Pope Liberius to the papacy. He became pope in a time of turmoil, because the Church was divided by an antipope. Damasus I had to fight many heresies and in the ensuing conflict he was accused of scandals that caused his exile.

He was able to return to Rome and called St. Jerome to be his secretary. He then commissioned Jerome to make a new translation of the Bible into Latin. St. Jerome obeyed and translated the whole Bible into Latin from the ancient Greek manuscripts, the original Hebrew, Aramaic texts, and existing Latin translations. After St. Jerome completed the translation, Damasus I approved what is now called the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Bible).

Damasus I also changed the liturgical language of Greek into Latin because the people did not understand. He also promoted devotion to the martyrs of the faith. Remembered for his modesty, and despite his being a very learned man, he is known for his compassion for the poor, the innocence of his manners, and his holiness. St. Damasus I's papal administration lasted eighteen years and two months. His remains are buried in a small church built on the Ardeatina Way in Rome (died ca. 384 A.D.).

St. Daniel the Stylite (409-493 A.D.) was from Syria. He became a monk and soon followed the example of St. Simeon Stylites the Elder. He lived on a "stylos" or "pillar" in Constantinople, where he performed his priestly duties. Renowned for his sanctity and spiritual insights, Daniel lived on a pillar for the last 33 years of his life and was buried in an oratory at the foot of the pillar. He is one of the many "pillar" Saints whose holiness edified the people of their time.

Related information: The story of Stylite or the Pillar-Saints & the Stylite Tower Umm Ar-Rasas, Jordan, YouTube video, 2:34 minutes

Learn more - December 11 Saints

December 11 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Daniel, Stylite

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches also celebrate the feast of Daniel the Stylite on this day.

Memorial of Saints (December 10)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Melquiades, pope
• Eulalia of Merida, virgin and martyr
• Gregory III, pope
• Mennas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus, martyrs
• Edmund Gennings, Eustace White, Polydore Plasden, Swithen Wells, John Roberts

St. Gregory III (died ca. 741 A.D.) was born in Syria and became a priest in Rome. In 731 A.D., he was elected to the Papacy. He supported the missionary activities in the Church, especially the missionary work of St. Boniface in Germany.

Sts. Edward Gennings (1567-1591 A.D.), Polydore Plasden (1563 A.D.), John Roberts (ca. 1576-1610 A.D.), Swithin Wells (1536-1591 A.D.), and Eustace White (d. ca. 1591 A.D.) are among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. They were canonized in 1970 A.D. Sts. Edward, Polydore, and Eustace were priests. St. Swithin was a schoolmaster and married to Margaret, who was also sentenced to death, but reprieved. (She died in prison eleven years later.) St. John Roberts was a Benedictine monk.

December 10 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Sts. Mennas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus, Martyrs

This day marks the feast on the martyrs Mennas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus. The martyrs' feast coincide (both December 10) in the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar. (It is also celebrated this day by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches).

St. Mennas was a civil servant in Rome while Eugraphus was his friend and secretary. When Mennas publicly lashed at the critics of Christianity, the Roman Emperor sent one of his magistrates, Hermogenes, to investigate. Mennas was tried in court and Hermogenes ordered Mennas to be tortured and his tongue cut out. After a time, Mennas and his secretary Eugraphus, were summoned before Hermogenes. When the tongueless Mennas spoke in a "sweet and beautiful voice", Hermogenes fell to his knees in acceptance of Christ. All three, Mennas, Eugraphus and Hermogenes, were beheaded at the command of the Roman governor.

Today in Catholic Church History

On December 10, 1968 A.D. marks the day of death of Thomas Merton, Trappist monk and activist in the cause of world peace, social justice, and interfaith harmony. He influenced millions of people of all faiths and of no faith with his spiritual writings. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, is a modern classic.