Saint of the Day: St. Otto of Bamberg, 1060-1139; born in Swabia; served under Emperor Henry IV, but disagreed with Henry's policies toward the Holy See; thus, when Otto was appointed bishop of Bamberg in 1103, he refused to be consecrated until receiving approval from Pope Paschal II who consecrated him in 1106; Otto headed a missionary effort to Pomerania where he found considerable success in making converts among the local inhabitants; he is thus known as the Apostle of Pomerania
Optional Memorial of St. Junipero Serra, 1713-1784; for 18 years he worked in Mexico and the Baja Peninsula; traveled with Jose de Galvez to present-day Monterey, California; the first mission founded was San Diego; other missions followed--Monterey/Carmel (1770), San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771), San Luís Obispo (1772), San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776), Santa Clara (1777), San Buenaventura (1782); ywelve more were founded after Serra’s death; he baptized over 6,000 people, and confirmed 5,000; he brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith, but also a decent standard of living
Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, 64 A.D.; Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome and executed many of them, likely including Peter and Paul
Memorial of St. Irenaeus, 130-202; as bishop of Lyons, he was especially concerned with the "Gnostics," who claimed "secret knowlege" which Jesus had imparted to only a few disciples; Irenaeus compared their "secret" with Holy Scripture, and showed a system of theology of great importance to subsequent times; his work gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics
Saint of the Day: St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, 1902-1975; born in Barbastro, Spain, the second of six children of Jose and Dolores Escriva; in 1915, he observed the fresh footprints in the snow of a barefoot monk, and wondered what God wanted of him; in 1928, as a priest, he solved the mystery, seeing holiness all around him, and founded Opus Dei; Monsignor Escriva died at the age of 73 in 1975
Saint of the Day: St. William of Vercelli, 1085-1142; became a hermit on Monte Vergine, Italy after a pilgrimage to Compostella and attracted so many followers that a monastery was buillt; by 1119 his followers were united in the Benedictine congregation; but William's rule was so austere that it caused dissension; to keep peace, he left, and was taken under the protection of Roger I of Naples, who built a monastery for him; William founded monasteries throughout Naples, and died near Nusco, Italy
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