Daily Martyrology for October 3

In 1923, at Maredsous in Belgium, Blessed Columba Marmion. He was born of an Irish father and a French mother. He studied for the priesthood in Dublin and Rome and was ordained in 1881. He served as a parish priest, chaplain and seminary professor for five years, then entered Maredsous. He helped found the abbey on Mont César at Louvain, serving as prior and professor there. He preached retreats and edited several publications, including the Revue Bénédictine. He was elected abbot in 1909. He helped repopulate the Monastery of the Dormition in Jerusalem after the British expelled the German monks. His retreats formed the basis for his several popular books. He was beatified in 2000.

In 1828, in Bavaria, Blessed Utto, the founder and first abbot of Metten, which was suppressed in 1803, but repopulated in 1830. Many monks came from Metten to the United States to serve German immigrants, and from that beginning arose the American-Cassinese Congregation.

In 959, near Namur, St. Gerard of Brogne. He was ordained in 919 and founded a monastery on his estate at Brogne. He spent several decades reforming many monasteries according to the Rule of St. Benedict.

In 1281, St. Thomas Cantilupe, bishop of Hereford. He was born into a prominent family, and studied at Oxford, Paris and Orleans. He was ordained and served several terms as chancellor of Oxford, and in 1275 was appointed bishop of Hereford. He was an energetic and effective bishop, affable and austere, who worked to assure high quality pastoral care. He quarreled with Archbishop Peckam of Canterbury, who excommunicated him. He went to Rome to appeal his case and died there. He was canonized in 1320 after a thorough inquiry.

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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.