I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
Bruno of Cologne, venerated as Saint Bruno, was the founder of the Carthusians - a Latin enclosed religious order of the Catholic church. It was founded by Bruno in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns. Their motto in English means The cross is steady while the world turns.
I have included notes about both Bruno and the Carthusians (Wikipedia).
His disciples praised his three chief virtues - his great spirit of prayer, extreme mortification and devotion to th e blessed virgin.
He has long been regarded and as the patron saint of Calabria and one of the patron saints of Germany.
Saint Bruno obviously lived a very active Christian llfe in the eleventh century AD
Saint Nicodemus is mentioned 3 times in St. John’s Gospel.
He is not mentioned in the synoptic gospels of Matthew. Mark or Luke.
He visits Jesus one night to discuss Jesus’ teaching. Here he is referred to as being a prominent leader among the Jews John ch 3 v 1-21
Nicodemus makes a statement
v2 Rabbi, we know that thou are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
V3 Jesus replies, Verily , verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
v4 Nicodemus asks, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb?
v5 Jesus replies, *Except a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
v6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
v7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again *
The importance ofBeing born again is often mentioned in the epistles.
He is mentioned when Jesus faced the Sanhedrin. Here he is referred to as being a ruler and Pharisee. John ch 7 v 50-53
After Jesus’ crucifixion he provided the customary spices for anointing the dead when he assists Joseph of Arimathaea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial - John ch.19 v 39-42
He was a Pharisee , a ruler and a member of the Sanhedrin.
Although there is no explicit mention of him as a follower or disciple of Jesus in the New Testament he is considered to be a secret disciple of Jesus by both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches based on the narrative of John ch 19.
The name Nicodemus means ‘victory of the people’
I had already written over 600 profiles of Saints and other famous Christians when I came across a list of 40 martyrs for England and Wales. (See List)
I have simply copied parts from Wikipedia for the first 10. If a number of you are interested download the first 10- I will then do the other 30.
Saints Almond, Arrowsmith, Barlow, Boste, Briant, Campion, Clitherow, Evans , Gernet and Lloyd (Evans and Lloyd are combined).
Christmas Evans (1766-1838) was born on Christmas day, December 25th 1766.
He was Welsh nonconformist minister who has been described as ‘the greatest preacher that the Baptists have ever had in Great Britain’ known by D.M. Lloyd-Jones.
Christmas was born near the village of Llandysul, Cardiganshire. His father, a shoemaker, died when his son was 9 years of age.
He grew up as an illiterate farm labourer. He stood about 7 feet tall and lost an eye during a youthful brawl.
Aged 17 he became the servant of David Davies, a Presbyterian minister, who taught him to read and write in English and Welsh. Visiting Calvinistic Methodist preachers and members of the Baptist church in Llandysul influenced him, so he joined the Baptists.
Career
In 1789 he settled for 2 years on the remote Llyn Peninsula in Caernarfonshire.
He then moved to Llangeful in Anglesey. here on a stipend of £17 a year,he built up a strong Baptist community. Many new chapels were built, the money being collected on preaching tours which he undertook in South Wales.
In 1826 he moved to Caerphilly, where he stayed for 2 years. In 1828 he moved to Cardiff. In 1832, responding to an urgent call, He settled in Caernarfon and again took undertook the old work of building and collecting.
Style of preaching
Christmas was a remarkably powerful preacher. With a natural aptitude for his calling he united a nimble mind and an inquiring spirit. His chief characteristic was a vivid and affluent imagination, which absorbed and controlled his other abilities, he earned the name ‘The Bunyan of Wales’. His sermons enlightened the understanding and warmed the heart. His piety humble and his faith fervently evangelical.
His famous ‘The Graveyard Sermon’ was included in Grenville Kleiser’s 1909, 9 volume The World’s Great Sermons. .
In 1838 he was taken ill, in the house of Daniel David,while on another tour of South Wales. He died in Swansea on 19th July 1838. His funeral was one of the largest ever attended in the country. He is buried in the grounds of Swansea’s Bethesda Chapel.
His works were edited by Owen Davies in 3 volumes and published in Caernarvon between 1895-7.
Christmas Evans came on the scene in the late 18th century and became one of the greatest preachers in the national history of powerful Gospel preaching in Wales
(It is believed to bring good luck to kiss his headstone - making it the Swansea version of the Barney Stone.)
Source
Wikipedia
Desiderius Erasmas Roterodamus is considered to be one of the most influential thinkers of the Northern Renaissance because of his vast number of translations, books, essays, prayers and letters. He was one of the major figures of Dutch and Western culture.
His medieval Dutch childhood ended in him being orphaned and impoverished.
He went to Paris, Queen’s College Cambridge and Turin universities.
He wrote in a spontaneous, copious and natural Latin style. He prepared new Latin and Greek scholarly editions of the New Testament with annotations and commentary. He wrote a vast number of books.(See list of Books by Erasmus)
*His influential middle road approach disappointed, and even angered, partisans, in both camps.
He remained a member of the Catholic church all his life, remaining committed to reforming the church from within.
Sources
Wikipedia
The story of Dymphna and her friends was first recorded in the 13th century after their bodies were discovered.
Oral Tradition says Dymphna’s father, Damon, was a petty king of Oriel in Ireland ; her mother was a devout Christian.
When she was 14 years of age she consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity.
Her father’s mental health deteriorated when his wife died. His counsellors pressed him to remarry. He agreed on the condition the new wife looked like his first wife. Searching proved fruitless and he began to desire his daughter because of her resemblance to her mother.
The daughter learned of his intentions and fled the court with her confessor Father Gerebemus , two trusted servants and the king’s fool. They went to Gheel (now Geel) in Belgium.
Tradition says she built a hospice for the poor and sick in Geel. Her father’s agents eventually found her. Damon had Gerebemus killed. She refused to return so he drew his sword and struck off his 15 year old daughter’s head. Residents initially buried the two friends in a nearby cave; later moved to a more suitable location.
1349, nearly 700 years later, a church honouring Dymphna was built in Geel.
By 1480 pilgrims were coming from all over Europe seeking treatment for psychiatric disorders. This tradition is still on going. Patients are called ‘boarders’. They become part of the community.It has continued for over 500 years. ( Read paragraph which begins with In 1349 for more information.)
Dymphna w as beheaded on May 30th. The year of her death is uncertain.
Dymphna is the Patron saint for the insane.
Sources
Wikipedia
Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
Edmund Campion died a martyr because his conscience was unable to accept the offer of freedom he was offered by the 3 privy councilors while being held in the Tower of London for treason… He was happy to accept Elizabeth 1 as queen but unable, in good conscience, accept the validity of the Anglican Church.
In his Decern Rationes ( Ten Reasons) he explained his arguments against the validity of the Anglican Church.
He had been educated in England at Oxford University. In 1564 he had received Holy Orders as a deacon in the Anglican Church but inwardly he took a remorse of conscience and detestation of mind.
Religious difficulties arose.
He moved to Ireland (1569-1570) where he helped establish the University of Dublin.
He moved to Douai (1571-1573) in the Low Countries (France) where he was reconciled to the Catholic Church. He gained his Bachelor of Divinity degree while hr taught rhetoric. He received minor orders after this and was ordained sub-deacon.
He travelled, on foot, as a pilgrim, to Rome in 1573 to join the Jesuits as a novice.
In Prague (1573-1580) he was ordained a deacon and priest. For 6 years years he was professor of rhetoric and philosophy.E
In 1580 the mission to England began badly. Before they left they learned that a letter detailing the mission had been intercepted.
Edmund, in the guise of a jewel merchant.arrived in London on 24th June 1580.
His presence soon became known but he began his task of administering the sacrament and preaching. In Norfolk, on 15th July, he was captured by George Eliot, a spy, and taken to London.
He was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Interrogated.
14 th November indicted
20th November found guilty
1st December hung, drawn and quartered ( This is his Feast Day)
Edmund was 41 years of age
23 educational institutions are named after him.
Sources
Wikipedia
Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
Eugenia’s feast is celebrated on Christmas Day, December 25th.
Her legend states that she was converted by and martyred with Protus and Hyacinth, her Chamberlains, during the persecution of Valerian.
She is said to have been the daughter of Philip, ‘duke’ of Alexandria and governor of Egypt.
.
She fled her father’s house dressed as a man and was baptised by Helenus the bishop of Heliopolis. Dressed.as a man she became an abbot
One of the stories tells of her curing a woman of an illness who made sexually advances towards her, which she rebuffed, while dressed as a man. She was accused of adultery. It went to trial. Her own father was the judge. In court she was exonerated when her true identity was revealed.
Her father converted to the faith and became bishop of Alexandria. The emperor had him executed.
Eugenia and the rest of the family fled to Rome but this did not prevent their martyrdom. Protus and Hyacinth were beheaded on September 11th AD 258.
Eugenia, after Christ had appeared to her in a dream, was told she would die on the Feast of the Nativity. She was beheaded on Christmas Day, December 25th AD 258.
Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
Saint Frances of Rome was an Italian saint who was a wife, mother (six children), organizer of charitable services and a Benedictine oblate (a person dedicated to a monastic or religious life).
As an 11 year old she had wanted to be a nun but within a year she was forced to marry Lorenzo Ponziani, a commander of the papal troops in Rome. They were happily married for 40 years- he was frequently at war, she spent her time visiting the poor and taking care of the sick. Twice she turn her home/castle into a hospital. She lost two children because of the plague.
With Lorenzo’s approval she founded on August 15th, 1425 the Oblates of Mary. In March 1433 she founded a monastery at Tor de’ Specchi in Campidoglio.
For a number of years she looked after Lorenzo after he had been seriously wounded. After his death in 1436 she moved into the monastery and she became the superior. She died in 1440 and was buried in Santa Maria Nova.
On May 9th, 1608 she was canonised by Pope Paul V in recognition of her life’s work.
In 1925 Pope Pius XI declared her the patron saint of automobile drivers because of a legend that an angel used to light the road before her with a lantern when she traveled keeping her safe from hazards.
She was born Francecesca Cabrini in a village near Milan in Italy. She was a sickly child and had frail health for the rest of her life. She found disappointment and difficulties with every step. She wished to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart but was told she was too frail for their life style. But this did not deter her from founding 67 institutions ( orphanages/schools/hospitals) all over the world over a period of 35 years.
In 1877 she went to Rome to seek permission to work in China instead Pope Leo XIII sent her to America. In 1909 she became a naturalized American citizen
As a child she was frightened of drowning but she crossed the Atlantic 30 times.
There is a great deal of information on the wikipedia web site. I have chosen to include work from Historica’s Women, Church Pop and 8 interesting facts plus franciscanmedia.
There are two Christians called Erasmus in the history of Christianity
Saint Elmo is venerated as the patron saint of sailors and abdominal pain. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
He was Bishop of Formia, Italy, during the persecution of Christians by emperors
Diocletian and Maximian Hercules. He went to Mount Libabus where he hid for 7 years. An angel counseled him to return to the city.
The Acts of Saint Elmo compiled from Legends tell us that
on his way back to the city he met some soldiers who questioned him. He admitted to being a Christian. He faced Diocletian. He was bound with chains and thrown into prison- an angel helped him escape.
He continued to confess his faith and Maximian had him enclosed in a barrel with protruding spikes and rolled down the hill - an angel intervened.
He must eventually have died a cruel martyr’s death
A number of unreliable legends fill Erasmus’ story.
Sources
Wikipedia
Saint Florin was a Roman soldier who advanced through the ranks to commander. He also was responsible for organizing and leading firefighting brigades.
He was a Christian who did not enforce proscription ( public identification and official condemnation of enemies of the state) of Christians in his territory. Aquilinus was sent to investigate these reports.
He refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and he was sentenced to be burned at the stake.
Standing on the funeral pyre he is reputed to have said, If you wish to know that I am not afraid of your torture, light the fire, and in the name of the Lord I will climb onto it.
The apprehensive soldiers decided to drown him instead. They drowned him in the Enns River with a millstone around his neck. ( See painting by Albrecht Altdorfer)
The name ‘Florin’ is given to many boys in Bavaria and Austria to secure the saint’s patronage against fire.
Saint Florin is the patron saint of Poland and Austria. He is also celebrated in Hungary.
Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
Saint Francis was a friar and founder of Order of Minims.
His parents were pious: they prayed for years, through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, for a son.
As a child he showed a preference for abstinence and prayer.
Aged 13 he was placed in a convent and was taught to read. He abstained from wearing linen or eating meat.
Aged 14 he went on a pilgrimage with his parents to the Portiuncula at Assisi and then on to Rome.
Aged just 15 he became a hermit. He made a cave and stayed alone for 6 years devoting himself to prayer and self-mortification…
In 1436, aged now 20, he was joined by 2 other devoutly inclined persons. 3 cells and a chapel was built by local people. The 3 sang divine prayers every day in the chapel. A priest from the village celebrated mass with them. This marked the beginning of the order Hermits of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Within 17 years the numbers had grown. In 1454 a large monastery and church were sanctioned by the Archbishop of Cosenza.
Francis and his companions sought to live unknown and hidden from the world.
To the 3 rules of Evangelical council - poverty, chastity and obedience they added fasting for Lent.
On May17th 1474 Pope Sixtus IV gave his approval to the order.
On July 28th 1506 Pope Julius 11 simplified the name of the community to Order of the Minims.
Saint Francis died at Piessis on April 2nd aged 91
The order soon spread to France, Germany and Spain and continues to exist today.
minims -meaning - least of the faithful – many at the beginning were laypersons not priests
Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
I have put together some information and some work sheets about St. George, the patron saint of England.
The first sheet is a cover. The next two are information sheets followed by two large font sheets showing basic data. These are followed by two ‘gap’ pages which are differentiated. There is then a crossword which needs a picture answer followed by a word search. The next page is about St. George’s flag and the Union Jack. The last two pages are for the child’s diary - the first sheet gives ideas what to write about, the second is a clip art page for his ‘best’ copy.
David Woodroffe, a professional illustrator, created the original art work.
6 extra pictures added by Super Coloring
Tertullian was born in Carthage, modern Tunis in North Africa about 160 AD. He was fluent in Greek and Latin. He moved to Rome where he practiced as a lawyer
He became a Christian about 195 AD and he began to use his legal and writing skills to champion his new faith.
At some point he returned to Carthage and threw himself into the life of his local church as a layman who taught and occasionally preached. Several of his writings, that remain, are in sermon form. He acted as the church’s
spokesperson against the heresies within Christendom.
At some point he joined the Montanists - an ascetic break-away group.
Over 36 treatises are attributed to his name. His style of writing
earned him the title 'the fierce Tertullian - he wrote with zeal and passion
He was one of a group of second century writers known as ‘apologists’ who on intellectual grounds put together s defence for Christianity. Up to this point believers had suffered without protests. Apologists countered by explaining the case for Christianity and refuting the false charges against them.
He was the first to use certain terminology ** New Testament, penitence, resurrection, sacrament, Trinity
Tertullian is remembered as the most prolific Christian writer of the second century and the major theologian of the West until the time of Augustine in the fourth century. 70 Great Christians by Geoffrey Hanks
Sources
Wikipedia
70 Great Christians by Geoffrey Hanks
Saint Cyprian of Carthage was a bishop of Carthage in the third century. He was brought up in a rich, heathen family and became a lawyer. Apparently he enjoyed arguing with Christian converts. Middle aged (35) he was converted and became a Christian ( See Early life to read his thoughts about his conversion and baptism) .
In 249, three years after his conversion, he became bishop of Carthage having first served as a deacon and priest.
When Christian persecution in 250 AD broke out, lead by the Emperor Decius ,he left the city. Some thought him a coward but he quoted Scripture to them. On his return he quickly built up a Christian community. He treated with justice and mercy those who had been frightened by the threats of the persecutors and had given up their faith. ( See * Bishop during the Decian persecution and Contested election as bishop )*.
In 256 a new persecution of Christians broke out under Emperor Valerian. Pope Sixtus 11 was executed in Rome. Saint Cyprian was brought before the Roman proconsul Aspasius Paternus . He refused to sacrifice to the pagan deities and firmly professed Christ. In 257 he was banished to Korba. A year later he was recalled and house bound.
On September 13th, 258 he was imprisoned by the new proconsul, Galerius Maximus. On the 14th he was beheaded by the sword. He had stood the test well and departed this life in a blaze of glory - Geoffrey Hanks
He had been bishop of Carthage for 10 years using his time and energy dealing with troubles within the church as well as facing the constant threat of persecution.
He had also become a notable Christian writer and many of his Latin works still exist. Saint Cyprian’s works were edited in volumes 3 and 4 of the* Patrologia Latina.(See Writings ) His skillful rhetoric led to him being considered the
pre-eminent Latin writer of Western Christianity of his day.
In my research I found two accounts about his martyrdom. Both contain the trial and conversation between Saint Cyprian and the governor Galerius Maximus. I have included both - it is incredible how much has survived approximately over nearly 1800 years ago.
His martyrdom at Carthage established his reputation and proved his sanctity in the eyes of the church.
Cyprian regarded Tertullian, the great second century Christian writer, as his ‘master’.
There is another Cyprian - Cyprian of Antioch who was reputedly a magician before his conversion.
Sources used Wikipedia
The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Crossroads Initiative
Constantine Flavius Valerius Constantinus was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. He was a Roman emperor from AD 306-337 (alone from 19th September 324 after defeating Maxentius and Licinius and ending the civil war).
He played a pivotal role in elevating the status of Christianity in Rome by decriminalizing Christian practice and ceasing Christian persecution in a period referred as the Constantinian shift. This initiated the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
He spent much of his life as a pagan.
Sources differ on when he was baptised
2 sources suggest In 312 he became a Christian and was baptised by either Eusebius of Nicomedia or Pope Sylvester1.
Another source suggests he was baptised just before he died.
In 313 he played an influential role in the proclamation of the Edict of Milan
which declared tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire.
In 321 he legislated that the venerable Sunday should be a day of rest for all citizens
In 325 he convoked the First Council Nicaea - result the Nicene Creed.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built in Jerusalem on his orders and declared to be the holiest place in all Christendom.
Before Constantine fought Maxentius in 324 he is said, by Lactantius, to have had a dream. He was told to put the Greek letters Chi Rho, Christ’s initials, on the shields. He won the battle.
( Read Constantine adopts the Greek Letters Chi Rho for Christ’s initials)
The Historiography I have included has different historians rating the greatness of Constantine. They come to different conclusions.
I am not an historian -read their thoughts and come to your own conclusion.
Nevertheless he is venerated as a saint in Eastern Christianity, and he did much to push Christianity toward the mainstream of Roman culture
Wikipedia
Sources
Wikipedia
70 Great Christians by Geoffrey Hanks
Augustine of Hippo is one of the 4 Doctors of the church.
He was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived
He was born in Numidi (now Algeria) in 354. His parents were Saint Monica and Patricius, a pagan. His father, on his death bed became a Christian and died in 373 when Augustine was just 19.
Augustine was rebellious and his mother prayed for 17 years before he became converted. He was educated in Cathage, then went to Rome, followed by moving to Milan where he taught rhetoric. For 10 years he was interested in Manichaeism (see notes).
In Milan he listened to the sermons of Saint Ambrose. To his mother’s joy he was converted and baptised. He was 33. He and Saint Ambrose probably composed the * Te Deum.*
The year was 387 when Saint Monica died. She had spent many years praying for her son before he was converted. In her last two years she saw her prayers wonderfully answered.
Saint Monica died in Ostia as she and her son gazed at the sea and discoursed about the joys of the blessed.
He returned to Africa. H e spent several years in communal living, teaching, meditating, fasting and praying. He ended up becoming a priest and went to Hippo as an assistant to bishop Valerius and established a monastic community.
On the bishop’s death he became bishop - Augustine of Hippo.
He was bishop for 35 years
He began to write. He wrote over 100 treatises. Many of his books, all in Latin, are still available to read. Confessions and City of God are his most famous books.
Confessions looks at his childhood and conversion. (See list of books)
He died in 430 ,aged 76, when his city was being besieged by Vandals who had invaded the Roman Empire.
Saint Augustine is considered by many to be the greatest teacher of Christian Truth after Saint Paul - writer of the epistles in the New Testament. The church is in debited for his defence of the gospel.
I have included a list of his books his ideas, plus definitions for Manichaeism and Filique
Gold from Dark Mines by Irene Howart ch1 pages 7-44
Sources Wikipedia and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander
Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
Palladius was the first bishop of the Christians of Ireland, preceding Saint Patrick.
He was a deacon and member of one of the prominent families in Gaul (France). Pope Celestine 1 consecrated him a bishop and sent him to Ireland to the Scotti believing in Christ
It is possible that the life stories of Palladius and Saint Patrick became conflated (muddled) since they were alive about the same time. Palladius was born first.
Source
Wikipedia
Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been venerated since early Christianity.
According to Christian theology, Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit whilst still a virgin. Both the gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament, and the Quran, describe Mary as a virgin, and as being betrothed to Joseph.
Over the centuries she is said to have appeared to many believers.
6 Fascinating facts found in ‘Beliefnet’
Her life was foreshadowed in the Old Testament
Virgin Mother of Emmanuel Isaiah ch14 v7
2.She was a woman of great Courage and Character
When the angel Gabriel came and told she was to be the mother of God’s son she showed great courage and character Luke ch 1 v38
3.Believed by many to be the greatest of all saints
She was chosen and prepared by God to be the mother of his son.
4.She was Instrumental in Jesus’ Life
She was there throughout his lifetime -birth to Ascension
5.The true meaning of the Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception deals with the conception of Mary herself, not that of her son.
A Life of Witness
Her life was to witness to the glory of her Son and we can’t help but admire her for that.
I have included Bible references, 2 copies of the Magnificat - traditional and modern, information about Jewish betrothal and marriage plus Catholic Mariology
I hope these sheets prove useful.
DATES
2nd February The Purification of St. Mary the Virgin
25th March The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2nd July Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8th September The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8th December Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Note
Mary is mentioned by name on more occasions in the Quran than in the Bible.
Source
The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander 1950