Saints March 8-March 14

I went on the hunt for crowd pleasers as last week’s list went over so well.  What I found were Matilda, Serafina, Julian and Frances– all of which are on our radar already.  Consider this the saints’ week of celebrity babies.  The devil’s in the details here: be sure to check out the names of their family members.

March 8

Julian- From the Ancient Roman Julius, meaning “downy bearded.” Seventh century archbishop of Toledo, Spain.  He established Toledo as the primal papal see of Spain and Portugal, and helped to revise the Mozarabic liturgy.

Ogmund- “Young protector.” Twelfth century bishop of Iceland, who is also considered one of the country’s apostles.

March 9

Frances - “Frenchman” or “free.” St. Frances, or Francesca, as she was likely known, came from a 14th century noble Roman family.  She was very hesitant to marry because she preferred to live a life of piety.  Yet she acquiesed to her father’s blessing, and marrried the kind and wealthy Lorenzo Ponziani.  Having to attend numerous parties and banquets nearly led to her undoing, until she realized she could use her fortune to help the poor.  With Lorenzo she had three children, Battista, Giovanni Evangelista, and Agnese.  Two of her children were torn away from her in times of war, and near the end of her life she founded a secular order related to the Benedictines called the Oblates of Mary. They housed widows, and she lived amongst them in her final years when she herself became a widow.  I’d always associated Frances with the male St. Francis, but her story is equally inspiring.

March 10

Anastasia- Greek, “resurrection.”  A noblewoman of Istanbul (now Constantinople), she was the object of Emporer Justinian‘s fervent desires.  After the passing of Empress Theodora, he stepped up his pursuit, but she escaped to the desert instead to live as a Hermitess.

March 11

Aengus- “One strength.”  An Irish hermit who suffered a bit from his own notoriety during his lifetime.  He is the author of The Martyrology of Saints and The Felire, or the Festology of the Saints of Ireland. This spelling may be foreign to our eyes, but it does help get away from the steak association.

March 12

Serafina- Derived from Seraphim, the highest order of angels, and means “ardent, fiery one.”A young pious girl who suffered terrible illness, she lay nearly paralized in the form of a cross for six years.  After her mother passed away, she prayed to St. Gregory, who was known for having had to endure horrific pain.  She died on his feast day, and it is said that white violets grew from where she lay.  To this day, the people of San Giminiano, Italy, bring white violets to her grave.  In a different stratosphere since Seraphina Affleck’s birth.

March 13

Euphrasia- Also known as Euphraxia, she was raised by Emporer Theodosius in Ancient Rome.  Her widowed mother entered a convent in Egypt when she was five.  Euphrasia soon followed at the age of twelve, preferring a life of piety to marriage, as so many of our saints do.  ”Eu” may get a bad rap, but she’s due for a comeback.

Roderigo- Germanic, “famous power.”  An Andalusian priest who was beaten by his brothers for his failure to adhere to the Muslim faith.  He was imprisoned and eventually beheaded for his rejection of the Moors’ faith.  Roderic is the handsome Catalan form, and Roderick the English.

March 14

Matilda- Germanic, “strength in battle.”  Matilda, also known as “Maud“, married Henry the Fowler, son of Duke of Saxony in 909.  She allowed peace and charitable works to lead her in tumultuous times.  She was criticized by her family for her kind works.  After the death of her husband she built three convents and a monastery.  Of note are Maud’s family members: father German King Conrad I, father-in-law Otto, daughter-in-law (married to son Otto) Edith.  Matilda may be spotted in name nerd circles, but it’s still much up for grabs on this side of the pond.

Above: The Image of St. Fina by Domenico Ghirlandaio