Commemoration of Saints (March 15)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Longinus, martyr
• Matrona, virgin and martyr
• Zachary, pope
• Lucretia, virgin and martyr
• Louise de Marillac, widow
• Clement Mary Hofbauer, priest [1]

Today, March 15, the Catholic Church commemorates 2 virgin-martyrs, 1 martyr, 1 pope, 1 widow and foundress, and 1 priest-religious.

St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660 A.D.) was married and after her husband's death, she met St. Vincent de Paul. It was Vincent de Paul who encouraged Louise de Marillac to lead a group of aristocratic women in caring for the sick and the poor. In 1633 A.D., this group of women began to work in the Parisian home of Louise de Marillac. It soon developed under St. Vincent de Paul's spiritual guidance to become the religious congregation of the Sisters of Charity. They soon founded more apostolic communities in other parts of the world continuing to take charge of hospitals, orphanages and even schools. St. Louise de Marillac herself continued to care for the sick and even nursed those who suffered from the plague. She died on March 15 [2].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 15]

• St. Agapius, Martyr, and six companions: Timolaus, Alexander, Alexander, Romel, Dionisii, Dionisii [1]

Martyrs Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, two named Dionysius, and two named Alexander, at Caesarea in Palestine were executed during the persecution of Christians under Diocletian because they refused to sacrifice to pagan idols. They were terribly tortured and executed: some by burning, others by being thrown to the wild beasts or beheaded [3].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
• [2] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
• [3] Martyrs Agapius and Companions, Oca.org

Books and Resources on the Holy Spirit

In Western Christianity, the least written about among the three persons of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. However, during preparation of the Jubilee year in 2000 A.D., the year 1998 was dedicated to the person of the Holy Spirit. There is a lot of books and resources that were written on the Holy Spirit during that time. Some of these resources are included in the list given below.

• The Wellspring of Love: 30 Days Reflections on the Person of the Holy Spirit [this is an unpublished booklet that was prepared for the year 1998 A.D. in preparation for the Jubilee Year of 2000] written by Rev. Fr. Jose M. Dimaculangan
• Spiritual Gifts by Stephen B. Clark
• In the Power of the Spirit: Effective Catholic Evangelization by Kevin M. Ranaghan
• Still Riding the Wind: Learning the Ways of the Spirit by George T. Montague, S.M.
• Resting in the Spirit by Fr. Robert Degrandis
• The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life...prepared by the Theological Commission for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
• The Spirit is Lord and Gives Life...prepared by the Pastoral-Missionary Commission of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
• The Spirit Broods Over the World by George A. Maloney, SJ
• The Holy Spirit Acting in Our Souls by Alexis Riaud
• Rebirth in the Holy Spirit by Blessed Elena Guerra
• The Acts of the Apostles: A Collegeville Bible Commentary by William S. Kurz
• The Gift of God the Holy Spirit by Andrew Apostoli, CFR
• Lord and Giver of Life, Dominum et Vivificantem, Encyclical of John Paul II written May 30, 1986

Other books in Librarything.com

Commemoration of Saints (March 14)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Leobinus, bishop
• Eutychius, martyr
• Matilda, widow [1]

St. Leobinus (d. ca. 558 A.D.) worked at the monastery at Noailles and became a hermit with St. Avitus, before entering an abbey near Lyons in France. When raiders attacked this abbey, he was tortured so that he would reveal the treasures of the abbey. He was left almost dead by the raiders but he recovered and rejoined St. Avitus at Le Perche. After the death of St. Avitus, he continued living as a hermit.

Leobinus was eventually ordained and made abbot of Brou. But he resigned to become a monk at Lerins. He returned to Brou at the advice of St. Caesarius. Soon after, he was appointed bishop of Chartres where he instituted reforms and participated in two councils: one at Orleans and the other at Paris. St. Leobinus died on March 14 after a long illness [2].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [March 14]

• Benedict, Abbot
• St. Alexander of Pidna, Priest-Martyr

Today, March 14, the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates St. Benedict of Nursia, abbot. Also commemorated today is St. Alexander of Pidna, Priest-Martyr.

St. Alexander of Pidna was a priest of Pidna, near Thessalonica in Greece. He converted many pagans to the Christian faith, and suffered torture and martyrdom through beheading, during the persecution of Christians in the reign of Emperor Galerius [3].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

• [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
• [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
• [3] AI Overview for search query, "st alexander of pidna", Google.com, March 14, 2025