January Holy Days

Holy Days no work was to be done, people were to attend mass.

Tuesday 13th - Sts. Hilary & Remigius
St. Hilary of Poitiers b. 315, d. 368, fought against and persecuted by the Arians, exiled to Phrygia, eventually returned to Poitiers where he served as bishop.  Patronage against rheumatism, snakes and snake bite.  Patron of backward children, children learning to walk, mothers, the sick, La Rochelle & Poitiers, France and Arugusto & Vervio, Italy.

St. Remigius of Rheims b. 437, d. 533, son of the Count of Laon, elected archbishop of Reims at age 22, worked to Christianize the Franks.  Patronage against epidemics, fever, plague, religious indifference, snakes, sore throat.  Patron of France and Rheims in particular.



Thursday 15th - St. Maurus b. 512 Rome, d. 584, served at Monte Cassino Abbey in Italy and Glanfeuil, France.  It is said that he could heal by prayer.  Patronage against colds, goiter, gout, hoarseness and rheumatism.  Patron of candle makers, charcoal burners, cobblers, coppersmiths, lantern makers, porters, tailors and tinkers.  Patron of the Azores, Badajoz, Spain; Casoria, Italy; and Saint-Bonnet-de-Vieille-Vigne, France.

Friday 16th - St. Marcellus of Die, d. 510 Bishop of Die, province of Lugdunense, Gaul, exiled by Eurico for defending orthodox Christianity.

Tuesday 20th - Sts. Sebastian & Fabian

St. Sebastian, d. 288 roman martyr, tradition says that he was an officer in the imperial bodyguard.  Attacked by archers when discovered to be a Christian, but healed by St. Irene, he was eventually clubbed to death.  Patronage against cattle disease, plague and heretics. Patron of the dying, plague victims, archers, athletes, bookbinders, arrowsmiths, gardeners, hardware stores, ironmongers, lace makers, masons, police, soldiers.

St. Fabian, b. ?, d. 250, a farmer who was said to have been chosen pope when a dove descended upon his head.

Wednesday 21st - St. Agnes virgin martyr killed at age twelve for refusing to sacrifice to a  pagan god.  Patron of engaged couples, purity, chastity, crops, gardeners, Girl Scouts, girls, and virgins.

Thursday 22nd - St. Vincent of Saragossa, d. 304 ordained a deacon and imprisoned and tortured by Governor Dacian.  Patron of vine dressers, vinegar makers and vintners.

Sunday 25th - The Conversion of St. Paul - commemoration of Paul's Damascus road conversion