October 16 Celebration of Saints
October 16 Celebration of Saints
Saint Hedwig
Saint Hedwig of Silesia was born in Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) in 1174.
She lived a pious life with her husband, Henry. After he died in 1238, Hedwig entered the Cistercian monastery (which was led by her daughter Gertrude). She took the habit of a lay sister but never took the vows of a nun.
Hedwig is remembered as someone who lived modestly and always cared for the poor and others who needed assistance, especially orphans and widows.
Saint Hedwig of Silesia died on October 15, 1243 at the age of 69. She was canonized a saint in 1267 by Pope Clement IV.
Read more about Saint Hedwig of Silesia.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Margaret Mary Alacoque, V.H.M., was born on July 22, 1647, Verosvres, France. She was a French Roman Catholic Visitation nun and mystic who had visions of the sacred heart of Jesus and Mary and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Margaret Mary began wearing the religious habit on August 25, 1671 and took her vows on November 6, 1672. While in the monastery Margaret had several visions of the Sacred Heart, starting in 1673.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque died on October 17, 1690 in Paray-le-Monial, France. She was buried in the Chapel of the Apparitions in Fátima, Portugal.
In 1765, 75 years after her death, Pope Pius XI announced that Jesus Christ had “manifested Himself” to Margaret Mary, and the church began the practice of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Margaret Mary was beatified on September 18, 1864 by Pope Pius IX and canonized a saint on May 13, 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Read more about Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.
Saint Gerard Majella
Gerard Majella, C.Ss.R., was born on April 6, 1726 in Muro Lucano, Italy. He was an Italian lay brother of the Congregation of the Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists.
Gerard joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749, an order focused on preaching the word of God to the poor. He was known for having performed several miracles, having the power of bilocation and the ability to read souls.
Gerard Majella died at age 29 from tuberculosis on October 16, 1755 in Materdomini, Italy. He was beatified on January 29, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII and canonized a saint on December 11, 1904 by Pope Saint Pius X.
Read more about Saint Gerard Majella.
Other Saints for Today
Other saints for this day include:
Saint Ambrose, Saint Anastasius XX, Saint Balderic, Saint Baldwin, Saint Bercharius, Saint Bertrand of Comminges, Saint Colman of Kilroot, Saint Conogon, Saint Dulcidius, Saint Eliphius, Saint Eremberta, Saint Florentinus of Trier, Saint Junian, Saint Kiara, Saint Lull, Saint Magnobodus, Saint Maxima, Saint Mummolinus, Saint Saturninus & Companions, Saint Vitalis.
