Today - St. Anthony the Great or Antony the Great (ca. 251–356), also known as Saint Anthony, or ‘Anthony of Egypt’, Abba Antonius (Ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος), and Father of All Monks, was a Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers. The biography of St. Anthony’s life by St. Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of monasticism, particularly in Western Europe through Latin translations. /1

Another Saint today; Gregory of Nyssa; this saint came from a notable family of early Christians in Asia Minor. Along w/ older brother, St. Basil the Great and their friend, theologian Gregory of Nazianzus, he is remembered as one of the Cappadocian Fathers. /1 #CatholicChurch Among other doctinres, they asserted the superiority of Christian teachings over those of traditional Greek philosophy. /2

Today's Saint; Marguerite Bourgeoys - Patron Saint of Orphans, those living in poverty, those rejected by religious orders. /1 #CatholicTwitter Born in the Champagne region of France, Marguerite Bourgeoys was the first female saint of Canada. Born into a middle-class but socially connected family, her father was a candlemaker and cointer at the Royal Mint. /2

TODAY: Adrian of Canterbury; The chronicles of the Venerable Bede attest that Adrian was a Greek speaking North African Berber, who became abbot of a monastery near Monte Cassino in Italy. #CatholicTwitter 1/ He was twice offered and twice declined, the archbishopric of Canterbury by Pope Vitalian. Instead, he suggested a Greek monk named Theodore of Tarsus for the position.

#Catholic Saint Thread, 6th January; André of Montreal, born Alfred Bessette, Saint André of Montreal was revered for his miraculous healings. Illness followed André throughout his life, such that he was once rejected from the Congregation of the Holy Cross due to his frailty. 1/ At the insistence of the Archbishop at the time, he was later accepted, taking the name Brother André. The greatest focus of Andrés work in the church was to care for the sick and he quickly became known for his miraculous oil healings.

THREAD; John Nepomucene Neumann. Born in Europe to German/Czech parents, John Nepomucene was named after the patron saint of Bohemia and was destined to enter the church. #Catholic 1/ The Austro-Hungarian government suspended ordinations, however, so in 1836, John emigrated to the United States in order to undertake missionary work.

THREAD; Elizabeth Ann Seton, Widow & founder - Patron Saint of Catholic schools, seafarers, widows, loss of a child or parent, Shreveport; Louisiana and the State of Maryland.

How many of American #Catholic Twitter know about Elizabeth Ann Seton? 1/ Elizabeth Ann Seton, regarded as creator of the US Catholic parochial school system, Elizabeth Ann Seton is the earliest born of the American saints. Elizabeth was raised in a wealthy Episcopalian family, and married a merchant when she was 20, raising five children.

Saint #Basil, o great follower of God, help all as well as me. Defender of orthodoxy, defend us too, that follow your faith & stand beside you... Saint Basil, o miracle worker, father of our spirit, listen & hear your children's spirits in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thread. Basil was born to a strongly Christian family, his parents are both revered as saints in the Eastern Orthodox churches, as were his brothers St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Peter of Sebaste.

1/ John of Matha; Patron Saint of Prisoners.

While celebrating his first Mass after his ordination in 1197, John had a vision of an angel with two captives, one a Christian, the other a Moor. A year later the Order of the Most Holy Trinity was founded... 2/ ... it's purpose was to free Christians from the "capitivity they groaned under the infidels", in other words, to free those Crusaders held prisoner by the Muslims.

Saint Margaret Clitherow

- converted to Catholicism, husband remained a Protestant
- not one of her children were under her care after the age of 12
- risked her life by harbouring priests
- executed by 'peine forte et dure'
- canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 Saint John Rigby

- worked as a steward for Sir Edmund Huddleston
- never married or had children
- refused to renounce his Catholic faith
- refused to name the priest in order to not implicate him
- hanging didn't work, neck was stood on, butchered while still conscious