Daily Martyrology for October 9

The commemoration of the patriarch Abraham, father of all believers.

In the first century, St. Dionysius the Areopagite. He became a Christian when Paul visited Athens. Late legend has him as the first bishop of Athens. Later still he was connected with a third-century martyr named Dionysius who was a missionary bishop in Paris. Around 500, an unknown writer, perhaps a Syrian monk, wrote under the pen name Dionysius the Areopagite. These influential writings are now called the works of Pseudo-Dionysius.

In 1581, in Valencia, St. Louis Bertrán. He was a very conscientious Dominican priest. Because of his heroic work among plague victims in Valencia in 1557, St. Teresa of Avila (October 15) approached him regarding her projected reform. From 1562-1568, he worked as a missionary in Columbia and the Caribbean islands. He returned to Spain, where he lobbied on behalf of the native people in America and promoted the missions.

In 1609, in Italy, St. John Leonardi. A native of Lucca, he became a priest and served in the hospitals and prisons of the city. A group of young lay people helped him. He was assiduous in preaching and implementing the teachings and reforms of the Council of Trent. St. Philip Neri (May 26) and St. Joseph Calasanctius (August 25) helped him form a religious congregation. He promoted the Forty Hours’ Devotion and frequent communion.

In 1934, in Spain, St. Cyril Bertrand Sanz Tejedor and companions, martyrs. They were members of the Brothers of Christian Schools and were killed during a rebellion. The man in charge of their execution testified to the calm dignity they showed as they were led to execution.

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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.