MEMORIAL OF SAINT PATERNUS (PADARN), BISHOP AND SAINTS BASILISSA AND ANASTASIA, MARTYRS AND SAINT HUNNA, THE HOLY WASHERWOMAN – FEAST DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Paternus (Padarn), Bishop; Saints Basilissa and Anastasia, Martyrs, and we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Hunna, Known as “the Holy Washerwoman”. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on feast day, we humbly pray for the Church, for persecuted christians and the conversion of sinners and for Christians all over the world.
SAINT PATERNUS (PADARN), BISHOP: St. Paternus (482-565), also known as Pair or Padarn, Bishop of Avranches lived in the fifth-sixth centuries. He built a monastery in Vannes and is considered one of the seven founding saints of Brittany. He was known for his preaching, charity and mortifications. St. Paternus was born around the year 482, at Poitiers. His mother gave his father, also named Paternus, permission to leave the family and go to Ireland where he lived and died as a holy recluse. St. Paternus was inspired by his father’s example of piety and decided to enter a monastery. St. Paternus emulated his example and embraced monastic life in the diocese of Poitiers. He joined the monks at the abbey of Ansion. In his zeal and desire to attain the perfection of Christian virtue, he went to Wales where he founded a monastery called Lian-patern-vaur (The Church of the great Paternus). His father was still living at this time and St. Paternus visited him in Ireland. He was soon called back to his first monastery of Ansion. After a few years, he and another monk named Scubilion (later St. Scubilion) after receiving permission from the Bishop, retired to a remote area where there were many Druids. They embraced a hermit’s life in the forest of Scicy, forest of the diocese of Coutances near the sea, they embraced an austere anchorite’s life resembling that of Angels more than of men. Here he converted a number of idolaters and was able to bring them many idolaters to the Faith and extended his apostolic labors as far as Bayeux, with several priest as his fellow laborers. Paternus was able to convince the people there to tear down a pagan temple, which had been held in great veneration by the ancient Gauls. An abbot of that region who knew of him recommended Paternus to the bishop of Coutances, who ordained him a deacon and then a priest in 512. He and Saint Scubilion then evangelized the western coasts and established several monasteries, of which he was the abbot general. Many miracles honored his apostolate among the pagan populations.
At an advanced age St. Paternus was consecrated Bishop of Avranches by Bishop Germanus of Rouen. While his former companion, Saint Scubilion, had become abbot of a monastery founded by the two missionaries. St. Paternus shepherded his flock for thirteen years before he fell ill and he felt his end was near, and he sent to his dear friend to come and assist him in his last illness. But the same fate had befallen St. Scubilion, who for his part had sent a messenger to St. Paternus. The two hermit-missionaries, Sts Paternus and Scubilion, each of whom had become the spiritual father of many, departed this life on the same day, April 16, 565, the thirteenth year of the pontificate of Saint Paternus. They were afterwards buried on the same day in the church of the monastery of Scicy, a region they had evangelized together, which is now the parish of the Church of St. Pair (Paternus). Apart from in Wales and Brittany, St. Paternus is also venerated in some regions of England, especially in the West Country (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset) where his name was included in the early calendars of a number of churches. The relics of St. Paternus, along with the relics of St. Gaud are found in his church, the Church of St. Pair in Scicy.
Reflection. God richly blesses the friendships of those who love and fear Him, for He Himself is its source and the bond which unites.
PRAYER: God, You made St. Paternus an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and the Faith that conquers the world, and added him to the roll of saintly pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in Faith and love and become sharers of his glory. Amen. Holy Father Paternus, pray to God for us!
SAINTS BASILISSA AND ANASTASIA, MARTYRS: Saints Basilissa and Anastasia (died 68 AD) are early Christian martyrs of Rome, put to death during the reign of Nero. They were among the first converts to Christianity in the 1st century after Christ. They were noble Roman women, who were converted to the Christian Faith by Saints Peter and Paul. The Holy Women Martyrs Basilissa (Vasilissa) and Anastasia lived in Rome where they were converted to Christianity by the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. They devoted themselves to the service of the Lord. Sts. Basilissa and Anastasia were described as “Roman matrons of high rank and great wealth”. They were disciples of and might have been baptized by the apostles Peter and Paul and might have given them “honorable burials” after Peter and Paul’s martyrdom in Rome on the same day in 67 AD. The location of the two tombs eventually became St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
According to history, when the emperor Nero (54-68) persecuted Christians and gave them over to torture and execution, Saints Basilissa and Anastasia took the bodies of the holy martyrs and gave them reverent burial. They recovered the remains of martyred Christians including the remains of Sts. Peter and Paul for burial. The burials might have exposed Sts Basilissa and Anastasia to more persecution, and they were arrested for collecting the relics of and burying the bodies of other martyred Christians. Rumors of this reached Nero, as a result, they were arrested, tortured but refused to forsake Christianity. Saints Basilissa and Anastasia were locked up in prison. They subjected them to cruel tortures but the holy martyrs remained unyielding, they refused to recant their Christian faith and bravely confessed their faith in Christ the Savior. By Nero’s command, they were beheaded with the sword (+ ca. 68AD) after being tortured, including scourged with whips, having their tongues torn out, their skins scraped with hooks, being burned with fire, and their breasts and feet cut off. Their relics are at Santa Maria della Pace Church in Rome. Their feast day is April 15, are venerated by both the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church, and are honored as the Patron Saints of tailors. A statue of Basilissa is among the statues that line the colonnade overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
PRAYER: Lord, hear our prayers, which we offer on the commemoration of Saints Basilissa and Anastasia, Holy Martyrs. May we be inspired by their humility and sacrifices. Through their teachings and intercession, may we faithfully serve You all the days of our lives… Amen. Saints Basilissa and Anastasia ~ Pray for us
SAINT HUNNA, THE HOLY WASHERWOMAN: St. Hunna, Known as “the Holy Washerwoman”, was a 7th century noblewoman who cared for and bathed the poor of Strasbourg, France. St. Hunna (d. 679 A.D.) was born in Alsace, France. She was the virtuous daughter of a duke, and she married a similarly virtuous nobleman and aristocrat, Huno of Hunnaweyer. St. Hunna and her husband did not indulge in unnecessary luxuries according to their high state in life, and instead detached themselves from their riches by opening their home to the poor and assisting them in their need. St. Deodatus, a bishop who resigned from his See, came to live with the holy couple for a time. St. Hunna and her husband greatly profited from his religious instruction and grew in sanctity as a result. When Hunna bore a son, she named him after St. Deodatus. This child, raised by such holy parents, later joined a monastery and also became a saint. After her husband’s death Hunna continued to spend her life serving the poor, especially women. No task was too menial for her. She tended to the poor and the sick and regularly, including their laundry and mending, even to the point of exhaustion. For this she was nicknamed the “Holy Washerwoman.” She also gave away her wealth and property to build churches and monasteries. So many miracles were attributed to her that Pope Leo X canonized her in 1520. St. Hunna is the Patron Saint of laundresses and her feast day is April 15th.
PRAYER: Lord God, You showered heavenly gifts and humility on St. Hunna. Help us to imitate her virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with her in heaven. Amen