MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRUMENTIUS OF ETHIOPIA, BISHOP; SAINT ODRAN, ABBOT AND BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF VICENZA, BISHOP – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 27TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia, Bishop; Saint Odran, Abbot and Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, Bishop. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏
SAINT FRUMENTIUS OF ETHIOPIA, BISHOP: St. Frumentius was called “Abuna” or “the father” of Ethiopia, he was sent to that land by St. Athanasius. St. Frumentius helped in a great capacity to bring Christianity to Ethiopia. He was born in Lebanon, and was shipwrecked in East Africa while voyaging on the Red Sea with St. Aedesius, possibly his brother. Only St. Frumentius and his brother, St. Aedeius, survived the shipwreck. They were taken to the king at Axum, Ethiopia, and became members of the court. Taken to the Ethiopian royal court at Aksum, they soon attained high positions. St. Aedesius was royal cup bearer, and St. Fruementius was a secretary. When the king died, the two brothers stayed on as part of the queen’s court. She permitted them to introduce Christianity to the country, as well as opening up trade between Ethiopia and the West. They introduced Christianity to that land.
When Abreha and Asbeha inherited the Ethiopian throne from their father, St. Frumentius went to Alexandria, Egypt, to convince St. Athanasius to send missionaries from Alexandria to Ethiopia and he was later consecrated as the bishop of Ethiopia. He converted many people to Christianity before his death in 380. St. Frumentius’ brother, Aedeius, was also canonized. He’s the Patron Saint of Ethiopia.
Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT ODRAN, ABBOT: St. Odran, also known as Oran, is an Irish missionary. St. Oran or Odran, an Irish Abbot was born in Ireland and served as Abbot of Meath. He was one of the twelve who volunteered to accompanied St. Columba to Scotland as one of his companions (and blood relatives) to bring the faith to Iona, landing in Iona in 563 AD. He is said to have been the first to die on Iona. The group set out in 563 in a small wicker boat covered with leather and on the eve of Pentecost arrived at the island of Iona. St. Odran and his companions quickly set about building a monastery, which went on to become famous throughout the centuries. However, Odran soon became deathly ill and told St. Columba that he would be the first to die there under the Covenant of the Kingdom of God. Columba said to him: “I will gibe you that Kingdom.” Then he blessed Odran and went outside. While walking, Columba gazed upward and had a vision of Odran’s soul being taken to heaven by a band of Angels. Thus, St. Odran was the first of the Irish monks to give his life for the conversion of the people there.
According to Legend, suggests that the chapel which Columba began to build could not stand until someone was buried in the foundations. Odran consented to being buried alive, although some days later Columba uncovered his face to see his friend one last time and Odran tried to climb out of his grave, saying “There is no Hell as you suppose, nor Heaven that people talk about”. Shocked, Columba is said to have quickly obtained more soil to cover the body! St. Odhran died in an efforts to spread the faith in Ireland. St. Odran is said to have founded a monastery at Latteragh in Tipperary. His death occurred around 563. The oldest remaining church on Iona is dedicated to Saint Odran. The surrounding cemetery is called Reilig Odhráin in his memory. St. Odran is the Patron Saint of the parish of Silvermines, County Tipperary. He is regarded as the Patron of Waterford, Ireland, chosen by the Vikings as patron of the city of Waterford in 1096 and later chosen as patron of the diocese.
PRAYER: Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. Odran the Abbot. Amen 🙏
BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF VICENZA, BISHOP: Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza (1201-1270), also known as Bartholomew of Braganca or Breganza, was born to a noble family in Vicenza, Italy. While studying in Padua he entered the newly established Dominican Order as one of their first friars, receiving the habit from St. Dominic himself. Bartholomew quickly advanced to positions of prominence within the Order, becoming prior and then overseeing several convents. He was sent to preach against the heretics in Lombardy, and was so successful that in 1235 the Holy Father made him Master of the Sacred Palace (an office known as “The Pope’s Theologian”) a position which was first held by St. Dominic. In this role he also founded a military order of knights for the purpose of maintaining civil order and peace throughout Italy called the Order of the Knights of the Mother of God (or the Knights of St. Mary). He was later made bishop of Cyprus, and also served as papal legate and confessor to St. Louis King of France, who was then leading a crusade in the Holy Land. From this friendship Bartholomew received the gift of a relic of the True Cross and a thorn from the Crown of Thorns. When Bartholomew returned to his native Vicenza as the city’s bishop he built a church to house the precious relics called the Church of the Holy Crown. Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza was an effective mediator between the factions and feuds of his day, even converting the leader of a heretical party back to the Catholic faith. His feast day is October 27th.
Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏