Representation: Benedictine nun with heart in her hand
Please tell me this isn’t Irmengard’s.
Unfortunately, we may never know. There’s not a lot out there on her. Or, as one of the sites I Google-translated from the German puts it, “The life and work of the blessed few historical sources have survived.”
We do know that she was a princess, as well as a Benedictine and abbess. She lived in the 9th Century, in Germany.
#9 Plechelm of Guelderland (July 15)
I’m not sure if that first bit is a real saint or just someone clearing their throat.
I do know that the second bit is a province of the Netherlands though. And after a little research, I can also tell you that Plechelm was an English monk, priest, and bishop, as well as a missionary to the Dutch.
He was also buds with the wonderfully named Wiro, Otger, and Willibrord of Echternach. In fact, that last one, Plechelm, Bavo of Ghent, and Andrew the Apostle are all patron saints of the Netherlands. It’s not usually seen as a Catholic country, but Catholicism actually is the largest religion there.
#8 Rufillus of Forlimpopoli (July 18)
Poetry, pure poetry.
Rufillus was actually Formlimpopoli’s first bishop. Like St. George, Rufilius supposedly drove a dragon from the area. We’re talking 4th Century here.
Look closely. I think that’s an extremely small, very poorly rendered dragon under Ruffy’s foot
Believe it or not, Forlimpopoli is an actual Italian town, situated in the province of Emilia-Romagna. The name comes from the Latin Forum Popilii - i.e., a marketplace most likely named after the consul Publius Popilius Laenas.
#7 Fredegand of Kerkelodor (July 17)
The opposite of poetry.
Fredegand lived in the 7th and 8th Century. Born in Ireland, he later moved to Belgium, where he was abbot of the monastery of ... Kerkelodor.
His relics are in a church in the little town of Moustier, also in Belgium. They have a procession with his statute every year to commemorate his having saved them from the plague.
Oh, almost forgot … Sounds like Fredegand might have actually hung out with our old friend Willibrord of Echternach. Wiro, Otger, Plechlem, Willibrord, Fredegand – what a team!
#6 Tarsykia Matskiv (July 17)
Even more so.
Tarskyia is our first saint this week who was alive in the last thousand years. In fact, she was lived and died within the last 100 years.
Born in 1919 in Ukraine, Tarskyia would become a nun in the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate in 1940. At the end of WWII, when Soviet soldiers came to destroy her convent, she answered the door, and was shot on the spot.
#5 Kenelm (July 17)
Representation: boy king trampling his disloyal sister
And this is how you get to be a saint?
Kenelm was a boy king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. He was also a martyr, murdered by a scheming relative.
As with any story from the Anglo-Saxons, Kenelm’s is filled with wonderful names, such as:
- Coenwulf
- Cwenthryth
- Quendryda
- Burgenhilda
- Askobert
Sorry, really couldn’t find anything about the representation.
#4 Elijah the Prophet (July 17)
Patronage: Romanian Air Force
Well, you’ll be happy to know that it’s just not the Romanian Air Force, but all air forces in general. Not too sure why the Romanians were called out specifically.
You’re probably familiar with Elijah, possibly the major prophet from the Old Testament. You may, though, not be aware that there are indeed some OT figures who have become saints. Others include Moses, David, Daniel, and Abraham.
As for the air force bit, I have a funny feeling it’s from the way Elijah ascended into heaven:
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)
Probably something like this
#3 Joseph Barsabas (July 17)
Representation: child blowing bubbles
Poor Joseph will always be known for coming in second. When the Apostles looked to replace Judas Iscariot, they narrowed it down to two guys, Matthias and Joseph. Guess who won?
Other than that very slim fact, we really don’t know a lot about this guy. As for the bubbles, this is just so darn weird that I have a funny feeling that representation might even be a typo. I only found it mentioned on one site, and that with no explanation whatsoever.
And this is as close as I could come image-wise
#2 Daminh Dinh Dat (July 18)
Did Daminh do dat? He did, he did! Daminh did do dat!
Another Martyr of Vietnam. Apart from their interesting (to our ears at least) names, we really don’t know that much about them. I actually had to translate a page from the Vietnamese to learn that Daminh was:
- Also known as Dominic
- Born in 1803
- Martyred in 1838
And with that last bit by strangulation, by the way
That page also had the following passage, which might just as well have been in Vietnamese, for all I could make out of it:
Written communication card he finished broadcasting watchdog Scoring for handling forensic taken away. Along the way he just say prayers. Upon arrival processing, mat leggings were available there, he knelt on mats Scoring still continued prayers forever. One time, remove the shackle TV, projector made him lie down, then tie the soldiers in his neck. When ready, supervisors give commands. Zipper executioners until he dies
Google Translate – time to step up our game, huh?
#1 Pambo of the Nitrian Desert (July 18)
Hmm. Sounds like one of those cheezy 1950s B movies.
Pambo is actually one of the Desert Fathers, a bunch of hermits who hit the deserts in Egypt in the 4th Century and thereabouts. Pambo himself was a founder of monasteries, spiritual guide, and mentor to St. John the Dwarf.
Actually, I’m surprised anybody is named that
The Nitrian Desert? Just head left from Cairo. Can’t miss it.
Honorable Mention
- Arbogast of Strasburg
- Bernard of Baden
- Felix of Tubzak
- Ambrose Autpertus
- Gumbert of Ansbach
- Szymon of Lipnicza
- Abudemius of Bozcaada
- Elisabeth Qin Bianshi Elisabeth
- Kragon
- Barhadbescialas
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