Daily Martyrology for April 11

In Gaza, around 550, St. Barsanuphius, monk. After joining a monastery, he became a hermit. Many people came to him for advice, but he communicated with them only indirectly through two associates, Serios and John the Prophet. He left behind some 850 letters whose spiritual teachings on prayer, the presence of God, humility and obedience were very influential.

In 714, at Crowland, in East Anglia, St. Guthlac, hermit. After fighting as a brigand on the Welsh border, he became a monk at Repton, After two years he became a hermit, taking St. Antony of Egypt (January 17) as his model.

In 1079, St. Stanislaus of Krakow, bishop and martyr. From a knightly family, he became a priest and canon at Krakow Cathedral, and was appointed bishop there in 1072. He was a zealous reformer of his clergy and patron of the poor. He fell afoul of King Boleslaus II, who killed him. He is patron of Poland.

In 1903, in Italy, Gemma Galgani. She wanted to be a Passionist nun, but suffered from spinal tuberculosis, from which she died when she was twenty-five. The publication of 250 of her letters to her spiritual director make clear her robust and level-headed sanctity. She experienced many strange physical and psychical phenomena.

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Our daily martyrology was written by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB. Copyright © 2008 by the Monastery of the Ascension, Jerome, ID 83338.