St. Saturninus and Companions were martyrs from Abitina in Africa. Saturninus was a priest who gathered 48 other men, women and children for a Sunday religious assembly. The soldiers of the empire asked for the surrender of the Sacred Scriptures. When Saturninus and the assembly refused, they were arrested and sent to Carthage. Some were executed the following day while the rest were allowed to die of hunger in prison. This was during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Diocletian (died ca. 304 A.D.).
St. Benedict of Aniane was a reformer of Benedictine monasteries in France. He first became a monk and then decided to live as a hermit in his own estate. Later, others joined him. They built a monastery and a church. Benedict soon got the support of the emperor and became director of all the monasteries in the empire. In 817 A.D., he systematized the Benedictine rule. Considered the restorer of Western monasticism, he is often called the "second Benedict".
St. Marina was brought by her father (a Bithynian) to a monastery dressed as a boy. Marina suffered much and was assigned the lowliest tasks. She was also made to perform the most severe penances. When her gender was revealed at her death, all those who maltreated or falsely accused her were filled with remorse (date of death unknown).
St. Julian the Hospitaler was of noble birth. He married a wealthy widow and lived in a castle. While Julian was away, his parents arrived seeking him. Julian's wife accommodated them for the night in the master's bedroom. When Julian was startled to see a man and woman in his bed, he killed them, not knowing that it was his parents. Filled with much remorse, he fled from the castle, resolving to do a fitting penance. He was joined by his wife and they built an inn for travelers and a hospital for the poor. Julian was eventually forgiven for his crime (date of death unknown).
St. Meletius of Antioch was appointed bishop of Sebastea in ca. 358 A.D. When the appointment caused dissension, Meletius fled to the desert and then to Syria. In 361 A.D., he was elected archbishop of Antioch. But conflicts continued and Meletius was exiled to Lower Armenia. Since the Arian heresy was causing great rifts in the Church, Meletius suffered further exiles. Only in 378 A.D., when the pro-Arian Valens died, that Meletius was reinstated to his see. St. Meletius presided at the 3rd General Council of Constantinople (died ca. 381 A.D.).
St. Ethelwald was an assistant to St. Cuthbert and became prior of Old Melrose in Scotland. He eventually became abbot of the monastery. Upon the death of Eadfrith in 721 A.D., Ethelwald succeeded as bishop of Lindisfarne. St. Ethelwald was highly praised by St. Bede the English historian (died ca. 740 A.D.).
St. Antony Kauleas was of Phrygian descent. He entered a monastery near Constantinople upon the death of his mother. In time, he became abbot of the monastery. In 893 A.D., he was chosen patriarch of Constantinople. As patriarch, Antony was active in reconciling the differing theological factions within his patriarchate (died ca. 901 A.D.).
St. Ludan was the son of a Scottish prince. On the death of his father, he gave his inheritance to the poor and built a hospice for pilgrims and the ill. He then went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On the way back, he dreamed of his death in a place near Strasbourg. When he awoke, he was given communion by an angel, and then afterwards, he passed away (died ca. 1202 A.D.).
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