SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 19TH

MEMORIAL OF SAINT CANUTE IV OF DENMARK, KING AND MARTYR; SAINT HENRY OF UPPSALA, BISHOP AND MARTYR AND SAINTS MARIUS, MARTHA, AUDIFAX AND ABACHUM, MARTYRS: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Canute IV, King of Denmark, Martyr; Saint Henry of Uppsala, Bishop and Martyr and Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum, Martyrs.

SAINT CANUTE IV OF DENMARK, KING AND MARTYR: St. Canute (1042 – 1086 A.D.), also known as Canutus or Canute the Holy, was one of thirteen sons born to the king of Denmark. St. Canute later succeeded his brother to the throne and reigned as king from 1080 to 1086. Saint Canute, King of Denmark, was endowed with excellent qualities of both mind and body. He was a devout Catholic, a zealous propagator of the faith, and a brave warrior, in addition to being a man of prayer, penance, austerity, and charity towards the poor and weak among his people. The happiness of his people and the interests of the Church were his motivation, often putting him in opposition to the aristocracy. He fought against the barbarian nations and worked to strengthen the power of the monarchy, but some of his laws were unpopular and caused unrest among the people. Canute sought to expand Denmak’s territory and believed he had a claim to the English throne. After having provided for the peace and safety of his country, he married Eltha, daughter of Robert, Earl of Flanders, who proved herself a spouse worthy of him. They are the parents of Blessed Charles, Count of Amiens and Flanders, a martyr for his faith, brutally slain like his father, while in prayer.

In 1085 he gathered his fleet and planned an invasion of England to overthrow William the Conquerer, a plan which was never realized. Instead, a revolt broke out against St. Canute, causing him to take refuge inside St. Alban’s Priory in Odense, a monastery which he had founded. Perceiving his danger, he confessed his sins at the foot of the altar and received Holy Communion. Stretching out his arms before the altar, the Saint fervently recommended his soul to his Creator; in this posture he was struck down on his knees by the enemies of his Christian reign. St. Canute, his brother, Prince Olaf, and seventeen of his men – the entire royal party were assassinated by rebels in front of the altar. St. Canute was buried in St. Alban’s, renamed c. 1300 St. Canute’s Cathedral. He was named a martyr for the faith and miracles were recorded at his tomb, and, at the request (1099) of King Erik III Evergood of Denmark, he was canonized in the year 1101 by Pope Paschal II, the first Danish saint. St. Canute is the Patron Saint of Zeeland, Denmark.

Saint Canute IV of Denmark, King and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINTS MARIUS; MARTHA; AUDIFAX AND ABACHUM, MARTYRS: Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum (died 270) were, according to their largely legendary passio of the 6th century, four saints of the same family (a married couple and their two sons). They came from Persia to Rome, and were martyred in 270 for sympathizing with Christian martyrs and burying their bodies. Marius, a Persian nobleman, his wife Martha, and his sons Audifax and Abachum came to believe in Christ and became Christians. In imitation of the early Christians of Jerusalem, they gladly gave away their fortune to the poor. Then the family traveled to Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270) to venerate the tombs of the Apostles and lend their aid to the persecuted Christians. They visited the Christians in prison, encouraged them by word and deed, and shared with them their goods. And like Tobias of old, they buried the bodies of the saints and among other things, they gathered the ashes of the Martyrs and buried them with respect.

It was not long before they themselves were arrested; and when neither threats nor allurements could make them offer sacrifice to the idols, they were savagely flogged. Martha was the first to die, but not before she had fervently exhorted her husband and sons to endure steadfastly whatever tortures might be inflicted for the faith. Martha was drowned thirteen miles from Rome in a place known as Santa Ninfa. Marius and his sons were beheaded in the same place and their bodies thrown into the fire. Felicitas, a saintly Roman woman, succeeded in recovering the half-burnt bodies and buried them on her estate. The Roman Martyrology says this happened about the 4th century. These Saints are mentioned in all the western martyrologies.

PRAYER: Lord, we devoutly recall the sufferings of Sts. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum. Give success to our joyful prayers and grant us also constancy in our Faith. Amen🙏

SAINT HENRY OF UPPSALA, BISHOP AND MARTYR: St. Henry also known as Henrik was born in 1100 in the Kingdom of England. St. Henry was an Englishman living in Rome. He accompanied the papal legate and fellow Englishman Nicholas Cardinal Breakspear (later Pope Adrian IV) to Scandinavia in 1151 and was consecrated bishop of Uppsala, Sweden, the next year by the cardinal. St. Henry accompanied King Eric of Sweden on his crusade to Finland, where he converted many pagans. However, remaining behind after the king had returned home to Sweden. St. Henry was murdered on January 20, 1156 by a Finnish convert named Lalli, on whom he had imposed a penance for a murder he had committed. Reputedly, the murderer put on the bishop’s birretum, but when he tried to take it off his flesh adhered to it. This is noted as one of the saint’s outstanding miracles. The saint’s cult spread rapidly in Sweden and Finland, and with the growth of the bridgettine convents it was carried to the European continent. One historia rhythmica, Gaude cetus fidelium, and one Sequence, Cetus noster, are known. His epitaph may be found in Nousis, Finland, where his relics were kept, until they were translated in 1300 to the cathedral in Abo (Tartu). He was canonized in 1158. He is the national Patron Saint of Finland and one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, and of today.

St. Henry of Uppsala, Bishop and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏