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May 1

Acius (Ache) and Aceolus (Acheul) May 1
+ c 303. The former a deacon, the latter a subdeacon, they were martyred near Amiens in France under Diocletian.

Amator (Amatre, Amadour) May 1
+ 418. Bishop of Auxerre in France. He had been married to a holy woman, venerated locally as St Martha. St Amator ordained as priest his successor St Germanus who left us the Life of his predecessor.

Andeolus May 1
+ 208. A subdeacon from Smyrna sent to France by St Polycarp. He is said to have been martyred near Viviers on the Rhône.

Arigius May 1
535-604. Bishop of Gap in France for twenty years, he was a fine pastor.

Asaph May 1
+ c 600. One of St Kentigern's monks in the north of Wales. He is believed to have succeeded St Kentigern as abbot and bishop, leaving his own name to the see now in Clwyd. Many of his relatives are also venerated as saints.

Benedict of Szkalka May 1
+ 1012. A hermit on Mount Zobor in Hungary. He was a disciple of St Andrew Zorard. Renowned for his asceticism, he was murdered by robbers in 1012.

Bertha May 1
+ c 680. Foundress of Avenay in France, she is honoured as a martyr.

Brieuc (Briocus, Brioc) May 1
c 420-510. Born in Dyfed in Wales, he went to Brittany where he founded two monasteries, one near Tréguier and the other in what is now St Brieuc. He is also venerated in Cornwall.

Ceallach (Kellach) May 1
6th cent. A disciple of St Kieran of Clonmacnoise, he became Bishop of Killala in Ireland. He ended his life as a hermit and may have been martyred.

Cominus May 1
? A martyr in Catania in Sicily.

Evermarus May 1
+ c 700. A pilgrim murdered by robbers in Rousson near Tongres in Belgium.

Grata May 1
4th (or 8th) cent. A holy woman from Bergamo in Italy, zealous in securing Christian burial for the bodies of the martyrs.

Marculf May 1
+ 558. The founder of a monastery of hermits on the Egyptian model in Nanteuil in France.

Orentius (or Orientius) of Auch May 1
+ c 439. A hermit in the Lavendan valley near Tarbes in France, whom the people of Auch insisted on having for bishop. He was their pastor for over forty years.

Orentius and Patientia May 1
+ c 240. A husband and wife who lived at Loret near Huesca in Spain. An ancient Spanish tradition makes them the parents of St Laurence the Martyr.

Sigismund May 1
+ 523. A Vandal by origin and by character, he was King of the Burgundians in what is now eastern France. He repented for his sins by giving generously to the Church and the poor. He was murdered near the monastery of Agaunum in Switzerland which he had built and was then honoured as a martyr.

Theodard May 1
+ 893. A monk at the monastery of St Martin in Montauriol in France, he became Archbishop of Narbonne. Later the monastery was named St Audard after him.

May 2

Bertin the Younger May 2
+ c 699. A monk at Sithin in France.

Felix of Seville May 2
? A deacon martyred in all probability in Seville in Spain.

Germanus May 2
+ c 460. Probably born in Ireland, he was converted by St Germanus of Auxerre whose name he took. He was martyred in France.

Neachtain May 2
5th cent. A relative of St Patrick of Ireland at whose repose he was present.

Ultan May 2
7th cent. Born in Ireland, he was the brother of Sts Fursey and Foillan and a monk with them at Burgh Castle near Yarmouth in England. From there he went to Belgium, where he was welcomed by St Gertrude of Nivelles. He served as a priest in the convent there until he succeeded St Foillan as Abbot of Fosses and Peronne.

Valentine May 2
+ c 307? Bishop of Genoa in Italy c 295-307.

Vindemialis, Eugene and Longinus May 2
+ c 485. Bishops in North Africa martyred by the Arian Vandal King Hunneric who inflicted horrible tortures on them.

Waldebert (Walbert, Gaubert) May 2
+ c 668. A monk and from about 628 Abbot of Luxeuil in France. The monastery was very influential and St Waldebert helped St Salaberga found a convent in Laon.

Wiborada (Guiborat, Weibrath) May 2
+ 925. A Swabian noble in Germany. When her brother became a monk at St Gall in Switzerland, she became an anchoress not far away, and here she lived the rest of her life. She was martyred by invading Hungarians.

May 3

Adalsindis May 3
c 680. Sister of St Waldalenus, founder of the monastery of Bèze in France. She became abbess of a convent near Bèze.

Aldwyn May 3
8th cent. Abbot of Partney in Lincolnshire in England.

Alexander I May 3 (In the East March 16)
c 115. The fifth Pope of Rome from c 107 to c 115.

Alexander, Eventius and Theodulus May 3
+ c 113. Three martyrs buried on the Via Nomentana in Rome.

Ansfridus May 3
+ 1010. Count of Brabant in Belgium, in 992 he built the convent of Thorn for his daughter and wife, himself wishing to become a monk. Instead he was made Archbishop of Utrecht in Holland. As such, he founded the monastery of Hohorst (Heiligenberg) and, when stricken with blindness, went there, fulfilling his ambition of living as a monk and reposing there.

Elwin (Ethelwin) May 3
8th cent. The second Bishop of Lindsey. He was a close friend of St Egbert whom he accompanied to Ireland and where he reposed.

Gluvias (Glywys) May 3
6th cent. Brother of St Cadoc of Llancarfan in Wales, he went to Cornwall, where he founded a monastery. A church in Cornwall is dedicated to him.

Juvenal of Narni May 3
+ 369. First Bishop of Narni in central Italy.

Philip of Zell May 3
+ c 770. A pilgrim from England, he settled as a hermit near Worms in Germany. With several disciples, he founded the monastery of Zell - so called from his own original cell - which later grew into the town of Zell.

Scannal May 3
+ c 563. Scannal of Cell-Coleraine in Ireland was a disciple of St Columba.

May 4

Antony May 4
6th cent. By tradition a disciple of St Benedict and companion of St Maurus in his mission to France. He was the founder of the monastery of Saint Julian in Tours. He is called 'du Rocher' because he ended his days as a hermit at a place called le Rocher.

Conleth May 4
+ c 519. A hermit in Old Connell on the River Liffey in Ireland. St Brigid came to know him and he became the spiritual father of her nuns at Kildare, of which he became the first bishop. He was a metalworker and very skilled as a copyist and illuminator.

Cunegund May 4
+ c 1052. A nun at the convent of Niedermunster in Ratisbon in Germany.

Curcodomus May 4
3rd cent. A deacon in Rome sent to help St Peregrinus, first Bishop of Auxerre in France.

Cyriacus (Quiriacus) May 4
? A Bishop of Ancona in Italy who was martyred under Julian the Apostate in the Holy Land.

Ethelred (Ailred) May 4
+ 716. King of Mercia in England, he abdicated in order to become a monk at Bardney where he later became abbot.

Florian May 4
+ 304. A senior Roman officer in Noricum, now Upper Austria, he was drowned in the River Enns near Lorsch under Diocletian. He is the patron-saint of Upper Austria and Poland.

Godehard (Godard, Gothard) May 4
+ Born in Bavaria, he became a monk at Niederaltaich in Germany. Later he restored monastic life elsewhere. The monasteries of Tegernsee, Hersfeld and Kremsmünster all received abbots from Niederaltaich. In 1022 he became Bishop of Hildesheim and did much to spread the Faith.

Hilsindis May 4
+ 1028. A widowed noblewoman who founded the convent of Thorn on the Marne in France.

Nepotian May 4
+ 395. Nephew of St Heliodorus, Bishop of Altino near Venice in Italy, by whom he was ordained after leaving his high position as an officer in the imperial bodyguard.

Paulinus of Sinigaglia May 4
+ 826. Bishop and now patron-saint of Sinigaglia in Italy.

Paulinus May 4
? A martyr whose relics are enshrined in Cologne in Germany.

Porphyrius May 4
+ 250. A priest who preached in Umbria in Italy and was beheaded under Decius.

Sacerdos (Sardot, Sadroc, Sardou, Serdon, Serdot) May 4
670-c 720. Born in the neighbourhood of Sarlat in Périgord in France, he became a monk and eventually founded Calabre. He became Bishop of Limoges.

Venerius May 4
+ 409. Ordained deacon by St Ambrose, he later became Bishop of Milan. He is remembered as a loyal supporter of St John Chrysostom.

May 5

Brito (Britonius) May 5
+ 386. Bishop of Trier in Germany. A firm opponent of the Priscillianists, he also refused to hand them over for punishment by the State.

Crescentiana May 5
5th cent. An early martyr in Rome.

Echa (Etha) May 5
+ 767. A priest and hermit in Crayke near York in England.

Geruntius of Milan May 5
+ c 470. Successor of St Eusebius as Bishop of Milan in Italy (c 465-470).

Hilary May 5
c 400-449. Born in Lorraine in France, he gained high office. His relative and friend, St Honoratus, invited him to the monastery founded in Lérins. Hilary received baptism and became a monk there. When St Honoratus became Bishop of Arles, he took Hilary as his secretary. St Hilary succeeded him and was famed for his zeal.

Hydroc May 5
5th cent. The patron saint of Lanhydroc in Cornwall.

Jovinian May 5
+ c 300. A companion of St Peregrinus of Auxerre in France, whom he served as a reader. By tradition he was martyred.

Maurontus (Mauront) May 5
+ 701. Eldest son of Sts Adalbald and Rictrudis, he became a monk at Marchiennes in France. Eventually he founded a monastery at Breuil-sur-lys near Douai, of which he is the patron-saint.

Nectarius May 5
+ c 445. Bishop of Vienne in France.

Nicetus May 5
+ c 449. The fifteenth bishop of Vienne in France.

Sacerdos May 5
+ c 560. A saint venerated in Murviedro in Spain and said to have been bishop there.

Silvanus May 5
? A martyr in Rome.

Theodore of Bologna May 5
+ c 550. Bishop of Bologna in Italy c 530-c 550.

Waldrada May 5
+ c 620. First Abbess of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnais in Metz in France.

May 6

Benedicta May 6
6th cent. A nun of the convent founded in Rome by St Galla, whose repose was foretold to her by the Apostle Peter in a vision.

Edbert (Eadbert) May 6
+ 698. A monk at Lindisfarne in England, who succeeded St Cuthbert as Bishop. He was remarkable for his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.

Heliodorus, Venustus and Companions May 6
3rd cent. A group of seventy-seven martyrs who suffered under Diocletian. Heliodorus and seven others were martyred in North Africa, the others in Milan.

Petronax May 6
+ c 747. Born in Brescia in Italy, he restored monastic life at Montecassino with only a few hermits who chose him as abbot. He is called 'the second founder of Montecassino'

May 7

Domitian May 7
+ c 560. Bishop of Maastricht in Holland and Apostle of the Meuse valley. His relics were venerated at Huy.

John of Beverley May 7
+ 721. Born in Harpham in Yorkshire in England, he became a monk at Whitby. He was consecrated Bishop of Hexham and later became Bishop of York. He ordained St Bede and founded a monastery at Beverley.

Juvenal of Benevento May 7
+ c 132. A saint of Narni in Italy. His shrine is in Benevento.

Peter of Pavia May 7
+ c 735. Bishop of Pavia in Italy during the reign of Luitprand, King of the Lombards.

Placid (Placidus, Plait) May 7
+ c 675. Abbot of St Symphorian in Autun in France.

Serenicus and Serenus May 7
+ c 669. Two brothers belonging to a noble family in Spoleto in Italy. They became monks and later settled as hermits near the River Sarthe in France. Serenus remained a hermit till the end of his life, but Serenicus became the abbot of a monastery with some one hundred and forty monks.

May 8

Benedict II May 8
+ 685. Born in Rome, he became Pope of Rome in 683.

Boniface IV May 8
+ 615. Born in Valeria in the Abruzzi in Italy, he became a monk at St Sebastian in Rome. He became Pope of Rome from 608 to 615.

Desideratus May 8
6th cent. Successor of St Arcadius as Bishop of Bourges in France.

Dionysius May 8
+ c 193. The successor of St Justus as Bishop of Vienne in the Dauphiné in France.

Gibrian May 8
+ c 515. A hermit in Ireland, the eldest of five brothers and three sisters. All of them went to Brittany and became saints there. Their names are given as Tressan, Helan, Germanus, Abran (or Gibrian), Petran, Franca, Promptia and Possenna.

Helladius of Auxerre May 8
+ 387. Bishop of Auxerre in France for thirty years. He converted his successor, St Amator.

Ida (Ita, Iduberga) of Nivelles May 8
+ 652. A widow, she became a nun at Nivelles in Belgium under her daughter, St Gertrude.

Odrian May 8
? An early Bishop of Waterford in Ireland.

Victor the Moor May 8
+ 303. A soldier from Mauritania in North Africa, martyred in Milan in Italy under Maximian.

Wiro, Plechelm and Otger May 8
Born in England, Wiro reposed in c 753. He became Bishop of Utrecht in Holland and is one of the Apostles of Frisia. He and his two companions founded a monastery at Odilienburg.

May 9

Beatus May 9
? An early hermit, venerated as the Apostle of Switzerland. His hermitage was at the place now called Beatenberg above the Lake of Thun.

Gerontius May 9
c 501. Bishop of Cervia near Ravenna in Italy, he was murdered in Cagli on the Flaminian Way, which led to him being honoured as a martyr.

Gorfor May 9
? Patron of Llanover in Gwent in Wales.

Gregory of Ostia May 9
+ c 1044. Bishop of Ostia in Italy, he spent much time in Navarre and Old Castile in Spain. He reposed at Logroño.

John of Châlon May 9
+ c 475. Third Bishop of Châlon-sur-Saône in France, consecrated by St Patiens of Lyons.

Sanctan May 9
6th cent. Bishop of Kill-da-Les and Kill-na-Sanctan near Dublin in Ireland.

Vincent May 9
+ c 950. Abbot of St Peter de Montes in Spain and a disciple and successor of St Gennadius.

May 10

Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus May 10
+ 251. Brothers from Sicily martyred under Decius. They were held in great veneration in Sicily, mainly in Lentini, where they are patron-saints.

Aurelian May 10
3rd cent. Disciple of St Martial of Limoges in France and eventually bishop of that city.

Calepodius, Palmatius, Simplicius, Felix, Blanda and Companions May 10
+ 222-232. Martyrs in Rome under Alexander Severus. Calepodius, a priest, was the first to suffer; St Palmatius, of consular rank, died with his wife and children and forty-two members of his household. St Simplicius, a senator, was martyred with sixty-five members of his family and dependents. Sts Felix and Blanda were husband and wife.

Cataldus May 10
7th cent. Born in Munster in Ireland, he became a monk at Lismore. On his return from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he was chosen as bishop by the people of Taranto in the south of Italy. The Cathedral of Taranto is dedicated to him.

Comgall May 10
c 516-601. Born in Ulster in Ireland, he became a monk with St Fintan and founded the monastery of Bangor (Ben-Chor), where he was the spiritual father of St Columbanus and many other monks who later enlightened Central Europe. It seems that he lived for some time in Wales, Cornwall and Scotland.

Quartus and Quintus May 10
? Two citizens of Capua in Italy who were condemned and executed in Rome. Their relics were returned to Capua and enshrined.

Solangia (Solange) May 10
+ c 880. A poor shepherdess near Bourges in France who defended her chastity and was brutally murdered.

May 11

Anastasius and Companions May 11
+ 251. A tribune in the army of the Emperor Decius, Anastasius was converted on witnessing the courage of the martyrs whom he was torturing to death. A few days after his conversion he too was arrested and beheaded with all his family and servants. Their relics are venerated in Camerino in central Italy.

Anastasius May 11
? The patron-saint of the town of Lérida in Catalonia in Spain. The people of Lérida assert that Anastasius was born there.

Anthimus May 11
+ 303. A priest in Rome, who converted the pagan husband, a prefect, of the Christian matron Lucina, famed for her charity to imprisoned fellow-Orthodox. The martyr, thrown into the Tiber and miraculously rescued by an angel, was afterwards recaptured and beheaded.

Evellius May 11
+ c 66. An advisor of Nero, converted to Christ on witnessing the patience of the martyrs and himself martyred in Pisa in Italy.

Fremund May 11
+ 866. A hermit who was martyred by the Danes. His relics were enshrined in Dunstable in England.

Gangulf May 11
+ 760. Born in Burgundy, he led the life of a hermit and was murdered.

Illuminatus May 11
+ c 1000. A monk at the Monastery of San Mariano in his native town of San Severino near Ancona in Italy.

Majolus (Maieul) May 11
c 906-994. Born in Avignon in France, became a priest and then a monk at Cluny in order to avoid becoming a bishop. Later he became Abbot of Cluny, advising Popes and Emperors.

Mamertus May 11
+ 475. Archbishop of Vienne in France and a man of great piety and faith.

Maximus, Bassus and Fabius May 11
+ 304. Martyrs in Rome under Diocletian.

Odilo May 11
c 962-1049. Of a noble family in Auvergne in France, he became a monk at the monastery of Cluny in about 990 and abbot in 994. Gentle and kind, he was known for his generosity to the poor.

Odo of Cluny May 11
c 879-942. Born in Maine in the west of France, he became a monk at Baume in 909 and Abbot of Cluny in 927. He freed Cluny from secular interference, paving the way for its rapid growth. He reposed in Tours at the tomb of St Martin.

Possessor May 11
+ c 485. A magistrate in Verdun in France who became bishop there in 470. He and his flock were greatly troubled by the barbarian Franks, Vandals and Goths.

Principia May 11
+ c 420. A holy virgin in Rome and disciple of St Marcella.

Sisinius, Diocletius and Florentius May 11
+ 303. Martyrs in Osimo near Ancona in Italy under Diocletian. They were stoned to death at the same time as the Roman priest, St Anthimus.

Tudy (Tudinus, Tegwin, Thetgo) May 11
5th cent. A disciple of St Brioc in Brittany. He was a hermit and then an abbot near Landevennec in Brittany. Like St Brioc he also spent some time in Cornwall, where a church and parish still bear his name.

Walbert (Vaubert) May 11
+ c 678. A noble of holy life born in Belgium, he was the husband of St Bertilia and father of Sts Waldetrudis and Aldegundis.

May 12

Diomma May 12
5th cent. The teacher of St Declan of Ardmore and other saints. He is venerated as the patron- saint of Kildimo in Co. Limerick in Ireland.

Dionysius May 12
+ 304. Born in Asia Minor, he was the uncle of St Pancras, to whom he acted as guardian. They came together to Rome, became Orthodox and were martyred under Diocletian,

Ethelhard May 12
+ 805. Born in Louth in Lincolnshire in England, he became the fifteenth Archbishop of Canterbury in 793. This was a time of political upheaval under Offa of Mercia who tried to abuse and dominate the Church like Charlemagne on the Continent. St Ethelhard resisted him.

Flavia Domitilla, Euphrosyna and Theodora May 12
2nd cent. Flavia Domitilla was a great-niece of the Emperors Domitian and Titus and St Flavius Clemens. She became Orthodox. On refusing to marry a pagan she was exiled from Rome and martyred with her foster sisters, Euphrosyna and Theodora, in Terracina in Italy.

Modoald May 12
+ 640. Born in Gascony in France, he was related by blood and united by friendship with most of the saints of the Merovingian period. In 622 he became Bishop of Trier in Germany.

Nereus and Achilleus May 12
+ c 100. Pretorian soldiers, baptised by tradition by the Apostle Peter, and exiled with Flavia Domitilla to Pontia and later to Terracina in Italy where they were beheaded.

Pancras May 12
+ c 304. (?) A martyr buried in the cemetery of Calepodius in Rome. In the seventh century relics of the saint were sent to England and St Pancras became popular there.

Philip of Agirone May 12
? A saint venerated in Agirone in Sicily as its first missionary.

Rictrudis May 12
+ 688. Born in Gascony in France, she married St Adalbald, by whom she had four children - all saints, Maurontius, Eusebia, Clotsindis and Adalsindis. After her husband's repose she became a nun and founded the convent of Marchiennes in the north of France.

May 13

Agnes of Poitiers May 13
+ 588. Chosen by St Radegund to be Abbess of Holy Cross at Poitiers in France, Agnes adopted the rule of St Caesarius, handed to her by the bishop himself.

Anno (Hanno, Annon) May 13
+ 780. Born in Verona in Italy, he became bishop there and translated the relics of Sts Firmus and Rusticus.

Fortis Gabrielli May 13
+ 1040. Born in Gubbio in Umbria in Italy, he became a hermit in the mountains near Scheggia, but was later attached to the monastery of Fontavellana.

Mael (Mahel) May 13
6th cent. A disciple of St Cadfan with whom he crossed from Brittany to Wales. He lived as a hermit on the Isle of Bardsey.

Natalis May 13
+ 751. Bishop of Milan in Italy (740-751).

Onesimus May 13
+ c 361. Fifth Bishop of Soissons in France.

Servatus (Servais) May 13
+ 384. Bishop of Tongres in Belgium. He was the host of St Athanasius when the latter was exiled to the West.

Valerian May 13
+ c 350. Third Bishop of Auxerre in France and defender of Orthodoxy against Arianism.

May 14

Boniface of Tarsus May 14
+ c 307. A martyr beheaded in Tarsus in Cilicia, where he had gone from Rome to recover the bodies of certain martyrs. His own relics are enshrined in the church of Sts Alexis and Boniface on the Aventine.

Boniface May 14
6th cent. Bishop of Ferentino in Tuscany at the time of the Emperor Justin. He is called on by those who are troubled by alcoholism.

Carthage (Carthach Mochuda) the Younger May 14
+ c 637. Born in Kerry in Ireland, he founded a monastery in Rathin in Westmeath, where he was abbot. Shortly before his repose, he and his monks were expelled. He led his monks to the banks of the Blackwater and founded the monastery of Lismore.

Erembert May 14
+ c 672. Born at Wocourt near Passy in France, he became a monk at Fontenelle (c 640) and Bishop of Toulouse (c 656.

Hallvard (Halward) May 14
+ c 1043. Of the royal family of Norway, he met his death while defending a woman who had appealed to him for help. He is the patron-saint of Oslo.

Justa, Justina and Henedina May 14
+ c 130. Saints venerated in Sardinia where they were martyred under Hadrian (117-138), either in Cagliari or else in Sassari.

Pontius of Cimiez May 14
+ 258 (?) A martyr in Cimella (Cimiez) near Nice in the south of France. His relics gave his name to the town of Saint-Pons.

Tuto (Totto) May 14
+ 930. A monk and Abbot of St Emmeram in Regensburg in Germany, where he later became bishop.

May 15

Bercthun (Bertin) May 15
+ 733. A disciple of St John of Beverley and first Abbot of Beverley in England.

Caesarea May 15
? A holy virgin who took refuge in a cave near Otranto in the south of Italy to defend her virtue and lived there as an anchoress.

Cassius, Victorinus, Maximus and Companions May 15
+ c 264. A group of martyrs in Clermont in Auvergne in France, he suffered at the hands of Chrocas, the leader of invading Teutonic barbarians.

Colman Mc O'Laoighse May 15
6th cent. Also called Columbanus, he was a disciple of St Columba and St Fintan of Clonenagh. He founded and was abbot of a monastery in Oughaval in Ireland. He is still venerated at the nearby Orthodox church at Stradbally which is dedicated to him.

Dympna (Dymphna) May 15
? Born in Ireland, she was forced to flee to Belgium accompanied by a priest, St Gerebern. Their relics were discovered at Gheel near Antwerp in the thirteenth century. Since then numberless cases of mental illness have been healed at their shrine.

Hilary May 15
+ 558. A hermit near the River Ronco in Italy. Joined by others, he built the monastery called Galeata, later known as Sant'Ilaro.

Rupert and Bertha May 15
9th cent. A hermit who lived with his mother Bertha on a hill near Bingen in Germany. The hill has been since called after him, Rupertsberg.

Simplicius May 15
+ 304. A martyr in Sardinia buried alive at the time of Diocletian.

Torquatus, Ctesiphon, Secundus, Indaletius, Caecilius, Hesychius and Euphrasius May 15
1st cent. According to tradition, they were disciples of the Apostles sent to enlighten Spain. They worked chiefly in the South, as follows: Torquatus in Guadix near Granada; Ctesiphon in Verga; Secundus in Avila; Indaletius in Urci near Almeria; Caecilius in Granada; Hesychius in Gibraltar; Euphrasius in Andujar. Most of them suffered martyrdom. The Mozarabic liturgy had a common feast for all seven.

Waldalenus May 15
7th cent. Founder of the monastery of Bèze in France and brother of St Adalsindis.

May 16

Annobert (Alnobert) May 16
+ c 689. A monk at Almenèches, he was consecrated Bishop of Séez in France in about 685.

Brendan the Voyager May 16
c 486-c 575 or c 583. One of the three most famous ascetics of Ireland. He was born in Kerry, becoming a disciple of St Finian at Clonard and of St Gildas at Llancarfan in Wales. He was a great founder of monasteries, especially of Clonfert. He is best known in history for his voyages and may have reached North America. St Brendan is venerated as the patron- saint of sailors.

Carantac (Carantog, Caimach, Carnath) May 16
5th cent. Born in Wales, he worked with St Patrick in the enlightenment of Ireland.

Carantoc May 16
6th cent. An abbot who founded the church of Llangranog in Wales. He is linked with Crantock in Cornwall and Carhampton in Somerset in England and was also venerated in Brittany.

Domnolus May 16
+ 581. Abbot of the monastery of St Laurence near Paris. In 543 he became Bishop of Le Mans, where he founded many monasteries, churches and hospitals.

Felix and Gennadius May 16
? Two martyrs venerated from ancient times in Uzalis in North Africa.

Fidolus (Phal) May 16
+ c 540. The son of an official in Auvergne in France. Taken prisoner and sold into slavery, he was ransomed by Aventinus, Abbot of Aumont near Troyes. Later Fidolus himself became abbot there, which was called Saint-Phal after him.

Fort May 16
? 1st cent. The first Bishop of Bordeaux in France, venerated as a martyr.

Francoveus (Franchy) May 16
7th cent. A monk at St Martin de la Bretonnière in France, he suffered from the jealousy of others. When the monastery was destroyed, he lived as a hermit in the Nivernais.

Germerius May 16
+ ? 560. Bishop of Toulouse in France for fifty years.

Hilary May 16
+ 376. Bishop of Pavia. One of the bishops in the north of Italy who fought against Arianism.

Honoratus of Amiens May 16
+ c 600. Born in Ponthieu in France, he became Bishop of Amiens. The church and Boulevard Saint-Honoré in Paris are called after him.

Maxima May 16
? A holy virgin revered around Fréjus in France, where several villages are named after her.

Peregrinus May 16
+ c 138 (?) Bishop of Terni in Umbria in Italy and founder of its Cathedral.

Peregrinus May 16
+ c 304. By tradition he came from Rome to become first Bishop of Auxerre in France and was martyred under Diocletian in a village called Bouhy.

Possidius May 16
c 370-c 440. Bishop of Calama in Numidia in North Africa, when he was driven out by Arian Vandals, reposing in Apulia in Italy. He opposed both Donatism and Pelagianism.

Primael May 16
+ c 450. From Britain, he went to Brittany and became a hermit near Quimper.

May 17

Cathan (Catan, Chattan, Cadan) May 17
6th or 7th cent. A bishop in the Isle of Bute in Scotland, often called Kil-Cathan after him. His tomb is at Tamlacht in Ireland but others maintain that his relics are on Bute

Gerebern (Gerebrand) May 17
7th cent. A priest from Ireland, he accompanied St Dympna to Belgium and shared in her martyrdom. He is patron-saint of a village in the Rhineland in Germany, where his relics are enshrined.

Heradius, Paul, Aquilinus and Companions May 17
+ 303 Five martyrs at Nyon in Switzerland under Diocletian.

Maden (Madern, Madron) May 17
+ c 545. A hermit born in Cornwall, he later lived in Brittany. Many churches are dedicated to him, the most noted being at St Madern's Well in Cornwall, the reputed site of his hermitage and still a place of pilgrimage.

Mailduf May 17
+ 673. Born in Ireland, he went to England and founded the monastery of Malmesbury, where St Aldhelm was among his disciples.

Rasso (Ratho) May 17
+ 953. A noble from Bavaria in Germany, he fought bravely against the invading Hungarians. Later he went on pilgrimage to Palestine and Rome and on his return founded the monastery of Worth in Bavaria (now called Grafrath after him) and became a monk there.

Restituta May 17
+ 255 (or 304). A virgin-martyr in Carthage in North Africa under Valerian or Diocletian. Her relics are enshrined in Naples in Italy.

May 18

Elgiva May 18
+ 944. Widow of King Edmund and mother of St Edgar, she became Abbess of Shaftesbury in England.

Felix of Spoleto May 18
+ c 304. A bishop, either of Spoleto or of Spello in Italy. He was martyred under Diocletian.

Feredarius May 18
+ c 863. Born in Ireland, he became Abbot of Iona in Scotland in 863.

John I May 18
+ 526. Born in Tuscany, he became Pope of Rome in 523. In 526 he went to Constantinople as an envoy of Theodoric, the Arian King of the Ostrogoths. On his return Theodoric imprisoned the Pope and he died.

Merililaun (Merolilaun) May 18
8th cent. A pilgrim who was murdered near Rheims and venerated as a martyr.

Venantius May 18
+ c 250. By tradition a boy of fifteen who was martyred in Camerino near Ancona in Italy under Decius.

May 19

Calocerus and Parthenius May 19
+ 250. Two brothers, eunuchs in the palace of Tryphonia, wife of the Emperor Decius. They were martyred in Rome in the Decian persecution.

Cyril May 19
5th cent. Bishop of Trier in Germany, his relics were enshrined in the church of St Matthias in Trier.

Dunstan May 19
909-988. Born near Glastonbury, he became a monk and abbot there. He was called to court as a counsellor but was forced into exile. He then spent a year in Ghent, a centre of monastic revival, but then he was recalled to England by King Edgar and became his main advisor. He was consecrated Bishop of Worcester in 957 and Archbishop of Canterbury in 961. Together with Sts Ethelwold of Winchester and Oswald of York, he restored monastic life in England. He reposed peacefully at Canterbury.

Hadulf May 19
+ c 728. Bishop of Arras-Cambrai in the north of France.

Pudens May 19
1st cent ? A Roman senator baptised by the Apostles. He is identified by many with the Pudens mentioned by the Apostle Paul (2 Tim 4,21).

Pudentiana (or Potentiana) May 19
2nd cent. A holy virgin in Rome, daughter of the senator St Pudens. By tradition she died at the age of sixteen.

May 20

Anastasius May 20
+ 610. Bishop of Brescia in Lombardy in Italy. He greatly contributed to the conversion of the Lombards from Arianism..

Austregisilus (Aoustrille, Outrille) May 20
551-624. Born in Bourges in France, he preferred the life of a monk at Saint-Nizier in Lyons, where he became abbot. In 612 he was elected Bishop of Bourges.

Basilla May 20
+ 304. Having been baptised, she refused to marry a pagan patrician and so was martyred for Christ in Rome.

Baudelius May 20
2nd (or 3rd) cent. Born in Orleans in France, he was married and worked zealously for Orthodoxy. He was martyred in Nîmes. Veneration for him spread throughout France and the north of Spain and some four hundred churches were dedicated to him.

Ethelbert (Albert, Albright) May 20
+ 794. King of East Anglia in England, he was treacherously murdered by Offa of Mercia. He has always been venerated as a martyr, especially in Hereford and in East Anglia.

Hilary May 20
4th cent. Bishop of Toulouse in France

Plautilla May 20
+ c 67. The mother of Flavia Domitilla. By tradition she was baptised by the Apostle Peter and was present at the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul.

Theodore of Pavia May 20
+ 778. Bishop of Pavia in Italy 743-778. He had much to endure, including repeated exiles under the Lombard Kings.

May 21

Ageranus (Ayran, Ayrman) May 21
+ 888. Ageranus was a monk at Bèze in in France. When the Vikings invaded Burgundy most of the monks escaped, but Ageranus remained with four other monks, Genesius, Bernard, Sifiard and Rodron, the boy Adalaric and the priest Ansuinus. All were martyred by the invaders.

Barrfoin (Bairrfhionn, Barrindus) May 21
6th cent. By tradition he was in charge of the church founded by St Columba in Drum Cullen in Offaly in Ireland and later he lived in Killbarron near Ballyshannon in Donegal. It is said that he reached America on one of his missions by sea and informed St Brendan the Navigator of his discovery. He is also said to have been a bishop.

Gollen (Collen, Colan) May 21
? 7th cent. A saint who has given his name to Llangollen in Wales.

Hospitius May 21
+ c 580. A hermit at the place now called after him, Cap-Saint-Hospice, between Villefrance and Banlieu in France. His relics were translated to Lérins.

Isberga (Itisberga) May 21
+ c 800. A nun at Aire in France where she is venerated as the patroness of Artois.

Secundinus May 21
+ c 306. A martyr in Cordoba in Spain under Diocletian.

Theobald (Thibaud) of Vienne May 21
+ 1001. Archbishop of Vienne in France 970-1001.

Timothy, Polius and Eutychius May 21
? Three deacons in Mauretania Caesariensis in North Africa martyred under Diocletian.

Valens and Companions May 21
? By tradition a bishop martyred in Auxerre in France with three boys.

May 22

Aigulphus (Ayoul, Aieul, Aout, Hou) May 22
+ c 835. After an excellent education he chose to live as a hermit. However, about the year 812 he was made Bishop of Bourges in France against his will.

Ausonius May 22
3rd cent. By tradition a disciple of St Martial of Limoges and first Bishop of Angoulême in France.

Bobo (Beuvon) May 22
+ c 985. A warrior who fought bravely against invading Saracens and then lived as a hermit in repentance. He reposed at Pavia in Italy while on pilgrimage to Rome.

Boethian May 22
7th cent. Born in Ireland and a disciple of St Fursey, he built the monastery of Pierrepont near Laon in France and was eventually murdered by evildoers.

Castus and Emilius May 22
+ c 250. Two martyrs who suffered in North Africa under Decius. At first they gave way under torture, but then repented. On being arrested a second time they were burnt to death.

Conall (Coel, Conald) May 22
7th cent. Abbot of Inniscoel in Donegal in Ireland, where there is a holy well dedicated to him.

Faustinus, Timothy and Venustus May 22
+ c 362. Martyrs in Rome under Julian the Apostate.

Fulk May 22
+ c 600. A pilgrim to Rome who gave his life for the plague-stricken at Santo-Padre or Castrofuli near Arpino in the south of Italy. He is venerated as the patron saint of the area.

Helen May 22
+ c 418. A holy woman in Auxerre in France.

John of Parma May 22
+ c 982. Born in Parma in Italy, he was ordained priest. He is said to have made six pilgrimages to Jerusalem. He became Abbot of St John's in Parma (973-c 982).

Julia May 22 (In the East July 16)
+ 440. Born in Carthage in North Africa, she was sold into slavery by the Vandal conquerors. The ship on which she was being taken to Gaul stopped in Corsica. At that time heathen festival was being celebrated and when Julia refused to join in, she was immediately martyred by being nailed to a cross. She is the patron-saint of Corsica.

Marcian of Ravenna May 22
+ c 127. Fourth Bishop of Ravenna in Italy, where he is known as San Mariano.

Quiteria May 22
? A saint greatly venerated on the border of France and Spain, especially in Navarre.

Romanus of Subiaco May 22
+ c 560. A monk who lived near Subiaco in Italy, discovered the hermitage of St Benedict, made him a monk and gave him his daily food.

May 23

Desiderius May 23
407 ? Born in Genoa, he became Bishop of Langres in France. He was killed at the time of a Vandal invasion while interceding for his people.

Epitacius and Basileus May 23
1st cent. By tradition the former was the first Bishop of Tuy in Galicia in Spain and the latter the first Bishop of Braga in Portugal .

Euphebius May 23
? Bishop of Naples in Italy.

Eutychius and Florentius May 23
6th cent. Two monks and wonderworkers who became abbots of a monastery in Valcastoria in Italy.

Goban Gobhnena May 23
6th or 7th cent. Abbot of the monastery of Old Leighlin, from where he went to Tascaffin in Co. Limerick in Ireland.

Guibertus May 23
+ 962. A noble from Lorraine in France, who after a military career lived the life of a hermit on his own estate of Gembloux in Brabant in Belgium. Eventually he turned it into a monastery before retiring to the monastery of Gorze in the east of France.

Mercurialis May 23
+ c 406. First Bishop of Forli in central Italy. He opposed paganism and Arianism.

Quintian, Lucius, Julian and Companions May 23
+ c 430. Three of a group of nineteen martyred in North Africa under the Arian Vandal King Hunneric.

Syagrius (Siacre) May 23
+ c 787. A monk at Lérins in the south of France who later founded the monastery of St Pons at Cimiez, after which he became Bishop of Nice (777).

May 24

Afra May 24
? A martyr in Brescia in Italy.

Donatian and Rogatian May 24
+ 299. Two brothers of Nantes in Brittany martyred under Diocletian.

Patrick May 24
+ c 469. The fourth Bishop of Bayeux in France.

Robustian May 24
? An early martyr in Milan in Italy.

Vincent of Lérins May 24
+ c 445. Perhaps of a noble family in Gaul, in early life he followed a military career but abandoned it to become a monk at Lérins in southern France. He is best known as the writer of the Commonitorium, where he formulates the Orthodox principle that the only true teachings are those which have been held 'everywhere, always and by all the faithful' (Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus). It is the Church which interprets the Scriptures and is the source of the Faith.

Vincent of Porto May 24
? A martyr in Porto Romano, the former port of Rome.

Zöellus, Servilius, Felix, Silvanus and Diocles May 24
? Early martyrs in Istria.

May 25

Aldhelm May 25
639-709. Born in Wessex in England, he became a monk at Malmesbury and taught there. In 675 he became abbot and in 705 first Bishop of Sherborne. Aldhelm was the first Englishman to attain distinction as a scholar.

Bede the Venerable May 25
673-735. Born in Wearmouth in the north of England, as a child he entered the monastery of Sts Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow, and spent his whole life there, 'always praying, always writing, always reading, always teaching'. He wrote many commentaries on the Scriptures. His work The History of the English Church and People earned him the title of the Father of English History. He reposed on Ascension Eve and his dying words were Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Dionysius of Milan May 25
+ 359. The successor of St Protasius as Bishop of Milan in Italy in 351. In 355 he was exiled to Cappadocia by the Arian Emperor Constantius for defending St Athanasius. He died in exile but St Ambrose had his relics translated to Milan.

Dunchadh May 25
+ 717. Abbot of Iona in Scotland.

Egilhard May 25
+ 881. The eighth abbot of Cornelimünster near Aachen in Germany. He was killed by Vikings at Bercheim.

Gennadius May 25
+ c 936. A monk at Argeo near Astorga in Spain, he restored the monastery of San Pedro de Montes. About the year 895 he became Bishop of Astorga, but five years before his repose he returned to his beloved San Pedro to live as a hermit.

Gerbald, Reginhard, Winebald and Worad May 25
+ 862. The first two were monks, the latter two deacons, of the monastery of St Bertin in France. They were all martyred by the Danes.

Injuriosus and Scholastica May 25
+ c 550. A married couple in the Auvergne in France who lived in virginity and holiness.

Leo of Troyes May 25
+ c 550. A monk who succeeded St Romanus as Abbot of Mantenay near Troyes in France.

Maximus and Victorinus May 25
+ c 384. Two brothers martyred by barbarians near Evreux in France.

Urban I May 25
+ 230. Born in Rome, he succeeded St Callistus as Pope of Rome (222-230). At that time the Church enjoyed relative peace.

Zenobius May 25
+ c 390. Bishop of Florence in Italy. A friend of St Ambrose and St Damasus, he raised a dead child to life and cast out demons.

May 26

Becan May 26
6th cent. A hermit near Cork in Ireland in the time of St Columba.

Dyfan (Deruvianus, Damian) May 26
2nd cent. By tradition an early missionary in Britain. His church in Merthyr Dyfan shows the popular tradition that he ended his days as a martyr.

Eleutherius May 26
+ 189. A Greek who became a deacon in Rome and succeeded St Soterius as Pope in 175.

Felicissimus, Heraclius and Paulinus May 26
+ 303. Martyrs under Diocletian, in all probability in Todi in Umbria in Italy, where their relics are still venerated.

Fugatius and Damian May 26
? 2nd cent. By tradition they were missionaries sent to Britain from Rome.

Guinizo May 26
+ c 1050. Born in Spain, he became a monk at Montecassino in Italy and remained as a hermit on the holy mountain after one of the destructions of the monastery.

Oduvald May 26
+ 698. A noble who became a monk and later Abbot of Melrose in Scotland.

Priscus and Companions May 26
+ c 272. Priscus, a Roman officer, several soldiers under his command and a number of citizens of Besançon in France were martyred near Auxerre.

Quadratus May 26
? A martyr in North Africa.

Regintrudis May 26
+ c 750 Fourth Abbess of Nonnberg near Salzburg in Austria.

Simitrius and Companions May 26
+ c 159. A group of twenty-three martyrs in Rome, arrested while praying in the church of St Praxedes and beheaded without trial.

Zachary May 26
+ c 106. By tradition the second Bishop of Vienne in France, martyred under Trajan.

May 27

Augustine of Canterbury May 27
+ c 604. He shares the title of Apostle of the English with St Gregory the Great. A monk at St Andrew's on the Coelian Hill, he was sent by St Gregory the Great with a group of forty monks to enlighten England. The missionaries landed at Ebbsfleet near Kent in 597. Soon Augustine had converted the King of Kent with thousands of his subjects. Consecrated bishop in ArIes, he set up his see in Canterbury. Trained in the Roman way, he was not successful in his relations with the Celts. He reposed shortly after St Gregory the Great.

Bruno May 27
+ 1045. Bishop of Würzburg in Germany, he encouraged church-building and spent his private fortune on this.

Eutropius May 27
+ c 475. Born in Marseilles, he succeeded St Justin as Bishop of Orange in France, when the diocese had been laid waste by the Visigoths.

Melangell (Monacella) May 27
+ c 590. A holy virgin who lived as an anchoress in Powys in Wales. Her shrine is in Pennant Melangell.

Ranulf (Ragnulf) May 27
+ 700. A martyr in Thélus near Arras in France. He was the father of St Hadulph, Bishop of Arras-Cambrai.

Restituta and Companions May 27
+ 272. Born in Rome of a noble family, she fled to Sora in Campania in Italy to escape persecution under Aurelian but was martyred there with several companions.

May 28

Caraunus (Ceraunus, Cheron) May 28
5th cent. Of Roman descent, he preached the Gospel in France and was killed by robbers near Chartres. A church and monastery were built over his tomb.

Crescens, Dioscorides, Paul and Helladius May 28
+ c 244. Orthodox Christians burnt to death in Rome.

Emilius, Felix, Priam and Lucian May 28
? Churches are dedicated to these saints in Sardinia.

Germanus of Paris May 28
c 496-576. Born near Autun in France, he became an abbot and later Bishop of Paris. He healed King Childebert I and converted him from an evil life. The King built the monastery of St Vincent for him, which is now known as Saint-Germain-des-Prés. St Germanus was given the title of 'father of the poor'.

Justus of Urgell May 28
+ c 527. The first recorded Bishop of Urgell in Catalonia in Spain. He wrote a commentary on the Song of Songs.

Podius May 28
+ 1002. From Tuscany, he became a priest and then Bishop of Florence in Italy from 990.

Senator May 28
+ 480. A priest from Milan in Italy who attended the Council of Chalcedon as a young man and later became Archbishop of Milan.

William of Gellone May 28
755-812. After a military career, he built a monastery at Gellone in France not far from Aniane which he filled with monks. Later the monastery was named after him Saint-Guilhem-du-Desert.

May 29

Eleutherius May 29
? A pilgrim, said to have been from England and the brother of Sts Grimwald and Fulk, he died in Rocca d'Arce in the south of Italy. He is venerated as the main patron-saint there.

Gerald May 29
+ 927. A monk at Brou in France, he became Bishop of Mâcon but after some forty years as bishop he returned to his monastery and reposed there.

John de Atares May 29
+ c 750. A hermit in the Pyrenees in Spain. He lived beneath a huge rock, where the monastery of St John de Ia Peña (of the Rock) was later built. This is famous in Spanish history, since the monastery became the cradle of the Kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon.

Maximinus of Trier May 29
+ c 349. Born in Silly near Poitiers in France, he was a brother of St Maxentius of Poitiers. In 333 he became Bishop of Trier in Germany and was the valiant defender and host of St Athanasius of Alexandria and St Paul of Constantinople, exiled by the Arian Emperor. He was a prominent opponent of Arianism at the Councils of Milan, Sardica and Cologne and one of the most courageous bishops of his time.

Maximus May 29
? 6th cent. Bishop of Verona in Italy.

Restitutus May 29
+ c 299. A martyr in Rome under Diocletian.

Sisinius, Martyrius and Alexander May 29
+ 397. By tradition from Cappadocia, they were received by St Vigilius of Trent in Italy on the recommendation of St Ambrose. They were sent to enlighten the Tyrol in Austria and martyred by pagans.

Ulric of Einsiedeln May 29
+ c 978. Son of St Gerold, he became a monk at the monastery of Einsiedeln in Switzerland. After his father's death he retired to live as a hermit in the latter's cell.

Votus, Felix and John May 29
+ c 750. Votus and Felix were brothers from Saragossa in Spain who found a hermitage in the Pyrenees which was already inhabited by John. The three lived together and reposed at about the same time. The hermitage was situated beneath a huge rock (Peña) where the monastery of St John de la Peña later grew up.

May 30

Anastasius May 30
+ 680. A convert from Arianism, he became Bishop of Pavia in the north of Italy in 668. He is often called Anastasius II to distinguish him from one of his predecessors.

Exuperantius May 30
+ 418. Bishop of Ravenna in Italy from 398 to 418.

Felix I May 30
+ 274. Born in Rome, he was Pope from 269 to 274. He was the first to condemn the heresy of Paul of Samosata. He may have been martyred.

Gabinus and Crispulus May 30
+ c 130. The Protomartyrs of Sardinia. They suffered in Torres where they had preached the Gospel under Hadrian.

Gamo May 30
8th cent. Monk and then Abbot of Brétigny near Noyon in France.

Hubert (Hugbert) of Bretigny May 30
+ c 714. Aged twelve he became a monk at Brétigny near Noyon in France.

Madelgisilus (Mauguille) May 30
+ c 655. Born in Ireland, he was disciple of St Fursey. After some years of monastic life at St Riquier in France, he went to live as a hermit with St Pulgan near Monstrelet.

Venantius May 30
+ c 400. Elder brother of St Honoratus, founder of Lérins in France. After living as hermit on an island near Cannes, both travelled to the East to learn the monastic life.

Walstan May 30
975-1016. Born at Bawburgh in Norfolk in England, he spent his life as a farm labourer in Taverham and Costessey, being remarkable for his charity to all in need.

May 31

Cantius, Cantian, Cantianilla and Protus May 31.
+ c 304 Two brothers and their sister, martyred in Aquileia in Italy where they had gone with their tutor, Protus.

Crescentian May 31
+ c 130. A martyr in Sassari in Sardinia, at the same time as Sts Gabinus and Crispulus under the Emperor Hadrian.

Lupicinus May 31
5th cent. Bishop of Verona in Italy, described as 'the most holy, the best of bishops'.

Paschasius May 31
+ c 512. A deacon in Rome who wrote theological works.

Petronilla May 31
1st cent. (?). A virgin in Rome venerated from the earliest times.

Winnow, Mancus and Myrbad May 31
Probably 6th cent. Three saints from Ireland who lived in Cornwall where churches are dedicated to them.