October 21 Celebration of Saints
October 21 Celebration of Saints
Saint Nicholas Barré
Priest and Friar Saint Nicholas Barré, O.M. was born on October 21, 1621 in Amiens, Kingdom of France.
Nicholas received his childhood education from the Jesuits and in 1640 joined the Minims Friars. The Minims, founded by Saint Francis of Paola, led a very austere and penitential lifestyle.
In 1640, he chose to join the Minims friars, founded by St. Francis of Paola, whose friars lead a very austere and penitential life. He professed religious vows in 1642.
Barré was sent to Paris in 1643 to pursue his theological studies in preparation for Holy Orders. While still a deacon, he was asked to teach philosophy at the monastery on the Place Royale (now Place des Vosges).
He was ordained a priest in 1645 and became professor of theology at Place Royale and the librarian for its famous library.
In 1655 he was sent to the monastery in Amiens to recover from an illness. There, he became the sacristan, in charge of the house.
Barré was sent to Rouen in 1659, where he saw the suffering of the impoverished local population and their need for more accessible education. There were very few schools, teachers were poorly educated and there was no religious education.
He invited some young women who were Minim tertiaries and others to help, and in 1662 they opened the first two free schools for girls in Rouen. In addition, he established free trade schools so girls could learn skills to make a living.
While there, St. John Baptist de la Salle consulted with Barré before founding a boys’ school, the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
The women in charge of the schools began living together as a community in 1666, forming a religious order whose primary task was the education of the poor – the Congregation of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus.
Barré returned to Paris in 1675 and continued to open schools, which he called the Schools of the Holy Infant Jesus.
Nicolas Barré’s health worsened until he was admitted to the infirmary in his Minim community. He died in Paris on May 31, 1686 at the age of 64.
Saint John of Bridlington (John Twenge)
Saint John of Bridlington was born John Twenge in 1320 in Thwing, England. He began his childhood education in the village of Thwing and completed his studies at Oxford University.
Following graduation, he entered the Augustinian Canons Regular community of Priory of Bridlington. There, he humbly and diligently served the community as novice master, almsgiver, preacher and sub-prior before becoming the Priory’s Canon in 1346.
Ten years later, he was elected Prior in 1356, which he declined because of his humility. After a second election to Prior in 1361, he accepted and became Prior in January of 1362.
Several miracles were attributed to John Twenge during his lifetime, and he developed a reputation for holiness and having miraculous powers.
Saint John died on October 10, 1379, at the age of 50. He was canonized by Pope Boniface IX in 1401. His feast day is October 21, although it is celebrated by the canons regular on October 9.
The attributes of his image can include a fish, book, crozier, fur amice and a muzzled animal at his feet. He is the patron saint of women in difficult labor and fishermen.
Other Saints for Today
Other saints for this day include:
Saint Agatho, Saint Astericus, Saint Berthold, Saint Cilinia, Saint Condedus, Saint Dasius, Saint Gaspar, Saint Gebizo, Blessed Giuseppe “Pino” Puglis, Saint Hilarion, Saint Hugh of Ambronay, Blessed Josephine Leroux, Saint Laura of Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Maichus, Saint Maurontus, Saint Tuda, Saint Ursula, Saint Viator and Saint Wendolinus.
