African Saints
3rd: St. Martin de Porres was born in Peru, son of a Spanish father and an African slave mother, who became a pharmacist at an early age and later joined the Dominican Order, where he continued to dispense medicine to the poor, while living a humble and austere life, with great devotion to the Eucharist, died in 1369 |
4th: St. Pierius was head of the Catechetical School in Alexandria, died in the 4th Century |
7th: St. Achilias was head of religious instruction in Alexandria, died in 312 |
11th: St. Nennas was an Egyptian soldier in Phygia, who fled from persecution and became a hermit, died in 300 |
13th: St. Arcadius and companions were Martyrs, victims of the Arian Kind of the Vandals, Genseric, died in 437 |
21st: St. Gelasius was Bishop of Rome and third African Pope (492-496), liturgical reformer, who ordered the reception of Communion under both species, died in 496 |
25th: St. Cathrine of Alexandria was a virgin and martyr who suffered martyrdom in Alexandria. Her relics are said to be kept in the monastery of St. Catherine on Sinai, died in the 4th Century |