Saint Waldetrudis

Here is a splendid saint of the day:

Also known as Waltrude or Waudru, she was the daughter of Saints Walbert and Bertilia and sister of Saint Aldegunus of Maubeuge. Marrying Saint Vincent Madelgarius, she became the mother of Saints Landericus, Madalberta, Adeltrudis, and Dentelin. When her husband chose to become a  monk about 643 in the monastery of Hautrnont, France, he had founded, she established a convent at Chateaulieu, around which grew up the town of Mons, Belgium.

What a holy family!

St. Gerard Majella

What do you mean, you've never heard of him?

St. Gerard Majella is the patron of expectant mothers. He was born at Muro, Italy, in 1726 and joined the Redemptorists at the age of 23, becoming a professed lay brother in 1752. He served as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, and tailor. However, because of his great piety, extraordinary wisdom, and his gift of reading consciences, he was permitted to counsel communities of religious women. 

Now, that's a job I would have been ideally suited for... Who knows, there might even have been a St Scrote's Day for you all to celebrate.

Guess whose day it is today!

For the spiritually-starved among you, here is a tasty saint of the day. St. John, named Chrysostom (golden-mouthed) on account of his eloquence, came into the world of Christian parents, about the year 344, in the city of Antioch. His mother, at the age of 20, was a model of virtue. He studied rhetoric under Libanius, a pagan, the most famous orator of the age. In 374, he began to lead the life of an anchorite in the mountains near Antioch, but in 386 the poor state of his health forced him to return to Antioch, where he was ordained a priest.
The rest of his life is a bit sad, so I will stop here. By the way,I wish people would call me "Chrysostom" - sounds much better than "Scrote".

St Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.
So, anyone here struggling with a particular vice or nasty habit? I have given all mine up, mainly from lack of energy. Something I like about St Augustine of Hippo is the text he had on the wall of his room: "Here we do not speak evil of anyone."
Maybe that's where the Gautama Buddha got it from.

The Cure of Ars

For those in need of a saint, I offer St. John Vianney, Priest,  Feast day - August 4 Universally known as the Cure of Ars, St. John Mary Vianney was ordained a priest in 1815. Three years later he was made parish priest of Ars, a remote French hamlet, where his reputation as a confessor and director of souls made him known throughout the Christian world. His life was one of extreme mortification.
And you'll get no puns from me.

Chrysologus

I think I have found my patron saint at last: St Peter Chrysologus. Today is his feast day, and he's called Chrysologus - golden-worded - because of his "exceptional oratical eloquence." Someone once said of me "This man could talk for England", which might have been a compliment, though I doubt it.
I'd much rather they'd just called me Chrysologus.

Saint Rita

If you are looking for a really helpful saint, I can recommend today's saint, Saint Rita, because she is known as "the saint of impossible cases".
Get in line, though, my need is probably greater than yours right now!

Every day something new

Know what's special about today? Me neither, but I have just learned that 22 December is the Feast Day of none other than St Hunger, 866AD. Who he? All I can find out is that he was Bishop of Utrecht, Netherlands, who fled the diocese during an invasion by Normans. He died in Prüm, Germany.

Prüm? Hell's bells, I'd never heard of that either. We miss out on a lot here in the remote East Anglian fens.

St Boniface of Crediton

Of course you know Boniface! His feast day is June the Fifth, the same day as my birthday! (Steady on, Allsop, that's two exclamation marks already! No, three! No, ...)
He was born in 675 and was christened Wynfrith, but is always known as Boniface. I was christened Jack, but am always known as Old Scrote.
Among his many achievements was the compilation of the first Latin grammar written in English. One of my few achievements was the publication of my Student's Grammar of English.
He left England to go to convert the heathen tribes of Germany, and was finally murdered, put to the sword by Friesian barbarians. The nearest I got to emulating Boniface in this respect was trying to teach English to assorted German-speaking students. As to the manner of my death, I would prefer to be shot by a jealous husband on my ninety-fifth birthday.
All of this is a way of letting you know that it is my birthday on Saturday, just in case you want to propose me for canonisation, or whatever.

Saint Boniface of Crediton

As you all know, the fifth of June is the saint's day of St Boniface of Crediton. Boniface, missionary and martyr, was born near Crediton c 675 AD. When he was 40, he left England to bring the gospel to the heathen tribes of Germany. He carried on his missionary work well into his seventies, but was martyred when he and his party were set upon by "heathen Frieslanders" and put to the sword. He is described as "a great and lovable man", which is why I am telling you about him, seeing that his saint's day coincides with the birthday of another great and lovable man: me. All presents welcome, and remember: it's not the thought, it's the gift that counts.