Memorial of Saints (December 4)

St. John Damascene was a financial officer of the city before he entered the monastery of Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. John was known for his encyclopedic knowledge and theological method, both of which inspired St. Thomas of Aquinas, the Dominican. John was not only gifted in writing, but also had talent in music. His more important contribution to the Church of his time was his defense of the veneration of sacred images against the iconoclasts (died ca. 749 A.D.).

St. Barbara is a saint honored in the Church's ancient tradition. Martyred in ca. 303 A.D., under Emperor Maximian, devotion to her became more popular in the later Middle Ages, especially in France. She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers - a group of saints who were popular in the fourteenth century and in the countries of Germany, Hungary and Sweden. St. Barbara is the patron saint of those in danger of sudden death by lightning. Tradition tells us that this came about because her father was struck dead by lightning when he killed Barbara for her Christian faith (died ca. 4th century A.D.).

St. Maruthas was bishop of Maiferkat, Mesopotamia (near the Persian border). Maruthas was able to find favor with the king of Persia and received permission to restore a Church organization and to build many churches in Persia. St. Maruthas is considered the father of the Syrian Church. He compiled a record of Christians martyred in Persia during the reign of King Sapor. He also brought so many martyrs' relics to Maiferkat that it was renamed Martyropolis (died ca. 415 A.D.).

St. Anno studied at the cathedral school of Bamberg and became one of Henry III's chaplains. In 1056 A.D., Anno was appointed archbishop of Cologne and Henry III's chancellor. St. Anno was constantly involved in the murky politics of his era. But even with these involvements, he was also able to establish monasteries, reformed existing ones, and was given to charitable acts with the poor. He spent the last years of his life doing penance at the monastery he founded at Siegburg (died ca. 1075 A.D.).

St. Osmund served as chancellor and was named bishop of Salisbury in 1078 A.D. Osmund drew up new liturgical books regulating the Mass, the Divine Office, and the administration of the Sacraments. These regulations were followed until the next century and widely adapted in England, Ireland and Wales. Osmund also gathered together an extensive collection of manuscripts for the cathedral library. He was also an expert copyist, a skilled binder of books, and an author on the life of St. Aldhelm (died ca. 1099 A.D.).

St. Bernard of Parma joined the Vallombrosans. In time, he was elected general of this Order. In 1097 A.D., he was made cardinal by Pope Urban II. In 1106 A.D., he was appointed bishop of Parma. When Maginulf became an antipope, Maginulf's followers drove Bernard into exile. Bernard was twice driven into exile: the first in 1104 A.D., and the second in 1127 A.D. He was however able to return to his see in Parma where he spent his last years (died ca. 1133 A.D.).