APRIL 15, 2025 – TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK – ST. PATERNUS, BISHOP.
- St. Paternus (550). (Historical)
- Sts. Basilissa & Anastasia (68). (Historical)
ST. PATERNUS was born at Poitiers, about the year 482. His father, Patranus, with the consent of his wife, went into Ireland, where he ended his days in holy solitude. Paternus, fired by his example, embraced a monastic life in the abbey of Marnes. After some time, burning with a desire of attaining to the perfection of Christian virtue, he passed over to Wales, and in Cardiganshire founded a monastery called Llanpaternvaur, or the church of the great Paternus. He made a visit to his father in Ireland; but being called back to his monastery of Marnes, he soon after retired with St. Scubilion, a monk of that house, and embraced an austere anchoretical life in the forests of Scicy, in the diocese of Coutances, near the sea, having first obtained leave of the bishop and of the lord of the place. This desert, which was then of great extent, but which has been since gradually gained upon by the sea, was anciently in great request among the Druids. St. Paternus converted to the faith the idolaters of that and many neighboring parts, as far as Bayeux, and prevailed upon them to demolish a pagan temple in this desert, which was held in great veneration by the ancient Gauls. In his old age he was consecrated bishop of Avranches by Germanus, Bishop of Rouen.
Some false brethren having created a division of opinion among the bishops of the province with respect to St. Paternus, he preferred retiring rather than to afford any ground for dissension, and, after governing his diocese for thirteen years, he withdrew to a solitude in France, and there ended his days about the year 550.
REFLECTION: The greatest sacrifices imposed by the love of peace will appear as naught if we call to mind the example of our Saviour, and remember his words, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
WORD OF THE DAY
VOLUNTARIETY. Will power or the activity of the human will in desiring, choosing, or loving some real or apparent good. On our side, voluntariety is the response of the free will to God’s grace and the reason for supernatural merit when the action is morally good and performed in the state of grace. It is also the cause of sin when the will deliberately chooses to do something contrary to the known will of God. Degrees of voluntariety are one of the factors that determine the extent of merit for good actions, and the extent of guilt for sinful actions.
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
HOLY WEEK MEDITATIONS
Special meditations focused on Holy Week: TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
LENT MEDITATION DAY 42
Enjoy daily meditations this lent from Fr. Richard Clarke, SJ. Short and powerful, written in 1880 for busy lay people to reap rewards through lent. (includes audio): Lent Day 42: Tuesday in Holy Week— The Thirst upon the Cross.
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