Memorial of Saints (March 13)

St. Roderick became a priest and suffered many trials - especially from his two brothers, one of whom became a Moslem, while the other abandoning his faith in Christ. When a fight ensued between his brothers, Roderick tried to prevent violence, but instead was beated up by them. As a result, he was sent to the dungeon in the city of Cordoba, Spain. Forced to retract from his Christian faith, he was beheaded and died a martyr (died ca. 9th century).

St. Euphrasia of Constantinople was betrothed to a senator in her youth. Euphrasia's father was the relative of the Emperor Theodosius I. But instead of marrying the senator, Euphrasia was allowed to give her inheritance to the poor, free all her slaves, and spend the rest of her life in a convent. Many pray to imitate her virtues of poverty and humility (died ca. 420 A.D.).

St. Ansovinus was elected bishop of Camerino, Italy, because of his reputation for holiness while living as a hermit. He then served in the court of Emperor Louis the Pious, with the condition of not being required to be involved in the military activities of the state. St. Ansovinus served the Emperor as confessor. He was also generous to the poor and an effective administrator of resources during times of famine. St. Ansovinus is invoked as a protector of crops (died ca. 840 A.D.).

St. Mochoemoc was the brother of St. Ita, both of whom were from Ireland. Mochoemoc became a monk at Bangor and then was sent by St. Comgall to found another monastery at Arderin on Slieve Bloom. He then founded another monastery at Lieth and several others before his death at a ripe old age (died ca. 656 A.D.).

St. Gerald of Mayo became a monk at Lindisfarne before he left for a monastery on the island of Inishbofin off the coast of Ireland. To settle a quarrel between the English and the Irish monks, Gerald built a monastery for the English monks on the mainland. When the abbot of the two monasteries (St. Colman) passed away, St. Gerald succeeded as abbot of the English monastery (died ca. 732 A.D.).

St. Nicephorus of Constantinople was against the iconoclastic movement of his time. Because of his reverence for holy images (which was banned by the Emperor), he was tortured and exiled. He was then name Patriarch of Constantinople in 806 A.D. Nicephorus devoted himself to reforming his see, restoring monastic discipline, and revitalizing the faith of his people. He wrote several treatises on iconoclasm and two historical works (died ca. 828 A.D.).

St. Heldrad inherited a fortune in his youth, spent a portion of it in building a church and a hospice, and then gave the remaining portion to the poor. He made a pilgrimage to holy places in France, Spain and Italy, and then settled in the Benedictine monastery of Novalese at the foot of the Alps. St. Heldrad was ordained, became in charge of the formation of novices, and eventually abbot of the monastery (died ca. 842 A.D.).