CAECILIUS (CAECILIAN) of CARTHAGE, (Third Century), a priest in Carthage, Africa Proconsularis. In his last years St. Caecilius catechised and then baptised St. Cyprian of Carthage (16th September). Always more than a spiritual father to St. Cyprian, following St. Caecilius’ repose St. Cyprian cared for his wife and children. St. Jerome (30th September) says that the saint was the reason St. Cyprian added Caecilius to his name.

CLOTILDE of FRANCE, the daughter of Chilperic I, King of Burgundy (r. 473–480), and wife of Chlothar I, King of the Franks (r. 558–561). Chlothar was a pagan at the time of their marriage, and St. Clotilde taught her husband about Christ, resulting in Chlothar becoming a Christian himself, as well as the first Christian King of the Franks. Following the repose of Chlothar in 511, St. Clotilde retired to the tomb of St. Martin (11th November) in Tours, where she devoted the rest of her life to a life of charity and piety. St. Clotilde reposed in 545.

CRONAN, St. Cronan was a disciple of St. Kevin (vide infra) at Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and reposed in 617. Nothing further is known of his life.

DAVINUS of LUCCA, a native of Armenia, who sold all his possessions, giving the proceeds to the poor. St. Davinus then set out on a pilgrimage to Rome and then on to Compostela (north-west Spain). Stopping along the way at Lucca in Tuscany (Italy), St. Davinus was stricken by an ailment which proved to be fatal. St. Davinus reposed in 1051, and was buried in one of the town’s churches.

GAUSMARUS of SAVIGNY, Abbot of the Abbey of St. Martin of Savigny (abbaye Saint-Martin de Savigny) in Savigny (eastern France) from 954 until his repose in 984.

GENESIUS of CLERMONT, upon completion of his education St. Genesius renounced the world for an ecclesiastical life. He served as Archdeacon of Clermont, in Auvergne (central France), then in 656, St. Genesius was consecrated Bishop of Clermont. While Bishop, St. Genesius fought the heresies of Novatian and Jovinian, founded a hospital at Clermont, the Monastery of Our Lady of Manglieu (monastère de Manglieu) for men, the Abbey of Chantoin (abbaye de Chantoin) for women, as well as the church of St. Symphorian, now called St. Genesius. St. Genesius reposed in 662 and was buried in the church of St. Symphorian.

GLUNSHALLAICH, St. Glunshallaich is famous in Ireland for having repented of his evil ways; he was converted by St. Kevin (vide infra), with whom he was buried at Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. St. Glunshallaich reposed in 617.

HILARY of CARCASSONNE, a fourth century Bishop of Carcassonne in the Occitanie (France). While Bishop, St. Hilary worked to prevent the spread the Arianism in his diocese.

ISAAC of CÓRDOBA, a native of Córdoba (Spain), and a Christian. St. Isaac’s proficiency in Arabic enabled him to have a high-ranking position in the Moorish government. Nevertheless, he resigned to enter monastic life, entering a monastery in Tabanos not far from Córdoba. A few years after he was tonsured, St. Isaac got caught up in a public debate on religion, during the course of which he denounced Mohammed, for which he was martyred in 852. St. Isaac is numbered amongst the 48 Martyrs of Córdoba of the reign of Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba (r. 852–886).

Icon of St. Kevin of Glendalough

KEVIN (COEMGEN, CAOIMHGHIN) of GLENDALOUGH, our venerable father Kevin of Glendalough, Wonderworker of Ireland, was the founding Abbot of Glendalough and is one of the patron saints of Dublin. Though sources for his Life are late and unreliable, it is generally believed he was born in Leinster to a noble family, and was educated by St. Petroc (4th June) during the latter’s stay in Ireland. After ordination to the priesthood, St. Kevin spent seven years as an anchorite in a cave now known as St. Kevin’s Bed near Glendalough. He went on to found what grew into the famous monastery of Glendalough, parent of several other monasteries and destined to become, with its seven churches, one of the chief centres of pilgrimage in Ireland. It is said he reposed 618 at the age of one hundred and twenty.

LIPHARDUS (LIFARD) of ORLÉANS, after a successful career in the Orléans (north-central France) government, in which he held several high-level positions, St. Liphardus left the world to enter the Church. After ordination to the Deaconate, he withdrew to live as a hermit just outside of the city. Later after being ordained to the Priesthood, disciples began to gather round St. Liphardus for whom he founded a monastery at Meung-sur-Loire, and served as its first Abbot. St. Liphardus reposed circa 550.

OLIVA of ANAGNI, (Date Uncertain), a nun at Anagni near Rome, of whom nothing further is known.

PERGENTINUS and LAURENTINUS of AREZZO, two brothers who were martyred in Arezzo (Tuscany central Italy) in 251, during the Decian Persecution.

ACTINEA and GRAECINA of VOLTERRA, two martyrs of the Diocletianic Persecution (303–313). No further information is extant.

AURELIAN, Archbishop of Arles (southern France), and Papal Vicar of Gaul (France) from 546 until his repose in 551. While Archbishop, St. Aurelian founded a monastery for women and another one for men, and assisted at the Fifth Council of Orléans which was held in October 549.

AUREUS, JUSTINA, and COMPANIONS of MAINZ, (Date Uncertain), St. Aureus was a Bishop of Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) who was murdered at the altar by Huns whilst saying the Mass. His sister St. Justina, and all in attendance were slaughtered at the same time.

BERTHALDUS (BERTAUD), an anchorite in the Ardennes region (north-eastern France), St. Berthaldus was priested by St. Remigius (1st October). The village of Chaumont in the Archdiocese of Rheims, France grew up around his titular abbey and church. St. Berthaldus reposed circa 540.

CETTIN (CETHAGH) of ORAN, St. Cettin was a disciple of St. Patrick of Ireland (17th March), who consecrated him bishop to assist with the latter’s apostolic work. St. Cettin reposed in the fifth century; his shrine at Oran, Co. Roscommon, Ireland survived until the end of the eighteenth century.

COLMAN MCROI, (Sixth Century), St. Colman was a deacon and disciple of St. Columba of Iona (9th June) and the founder, circa 530, of a monastery on Lambay Island, off the coast of north Co. Dublin in Ireland.

CURIG of WALES, it is generally believed that St. Curig was a sixth century Bishop of Llanbadarn in Wales, where there are several churches dedicated to him. It is extremely difficult to accurately trace his history. Even distinguishing him from other saints bearing similar names is problematic.

FELIX and MAURUS of SAN FELICE, (Sixth Century), father and son originally from the Holy Land who, after a pilgrimage to Rome, settled at the place now called San Felice, after St. Felix, near Narni in central Italy. A few sources list them as bishops, albeit without further details.

FERREOLUS and FERRUTIO of BESANÇON, St. Ferreolus, a priest or possibly a bishop, and Ferrutio, a deacon, were two brothers sent by St. Irenaeus of Lyons (28th June) to preach the Gospel in Besançon and environs near the present-day border of France and Switzerland. After a very fruitful three decades evangelising, SS. Ferreolus and Ferrutio were martyred circa 212.

ISMAEL of MENEVIA, (Sixth Century), St. Ismael was a disciple of St. Teilo of Llandaff (9th February), and was consecrated bishop by him. No further information on his life remains.

SIMILIAN (SAMBIN) of NANTES, St. Gregory of Tours (17th November) testified to the holiness of St. Similian, the third Bishop of Nantes (western France). He reposed 310.

SIMPLICIUS of BOURGES, a layman whose reputation for holiness of life led to him being chosen Bishop of Bourges (central France). St. Simplicius was a staunch defender of the Church against the Arian Visigoths, he reposed in 477.

URSICINUS of RAVENNA, the reliability of extant acta of St. Ursicinus is questionable. However, according to tradition, St. Ursicinus was a physician in Ravenna (northern Italy) who was arrested and sentenced to death for being a Christian. Whilst in prison awaiting execution, St. Ursicinus is said to have struggled with the temptation of renouncing Christ, but encouragement from St. Vitalis of Milan (28th April) gave St. Ursicinus the strength to accept martyrdom, circa 67.