Memorial of Saints (January 16)

St. Marcellus I succeeded St. Marcellinus to the papacy in 308 A.D. As Pope, Marcellus reorganized the Church in Rome and settled the lapsi controversy by issuing a papal decree. This decree caused widespread civil disorders. It was due to this unrest that led Emperor Maxentius to send Marcellus into exile (died ca. 309 A.D.).

St. Priscilla is the wife of the Christian martyr Mancius Glabrio. She is traditionally known to be the mother of St. Pudens. But what she is more known for is her home on the Via Salaria in Rome, which was used by St. Peter the Apostle as his headquarters for leading the Christians. St. Priscilla's home has a catacomb underneath it (died ca. 98 A.D.).

St. Honoratus is the founder of the monastery in Lérins, off the coast of southern France. In honor of this saint, the island is now called Saint-Honorat. St. Honoratus was named archbishop of Arles in 426 A.D. The monastery he founded produced southern France's leading bishops and writers - one of whom was St. Vincent of Lérins. St. Honoratus is the patron saint of bakers (died ca. 429 A.D.).

St. Fursey was an Irishman who left his home to build a monastery at Killursa. Twelve years later, he went with his brothers Sts. Foillan and Ultan, to settle in England, where they built a monastery on land donated by Sigebert. After several years in this monastery, St. Fursey went on to Gaul (now in France) and built a monastery at Lagny (died ca. 648 A.D.).

St. Henry of Cocket was from Denmark, and since his youth wanted to live a religious life. He travelled to England and built a hermitage on the island of Cocket, off the coast of northeastern England (known at that time as Northumberland). Henry lived as a hermit until his death in ca. 1127 A.D.

St. Berard and his Franciscan companions (Sts. Peter, Odo, Accursio, and Adjutus) were the Franciscan order's first martyrs. St. Francis of Assisi sent St. Berard and his four companions to a mission among the Muslims in southern Spain and Morocco. Despite warnings from the local Muslim sultan at the time, they continued to preach zealously Christ and the gospel. All five Franciscans were martyred for Christ on January 16, 1220 A.D.