Saints of 28 April

St Paul of the Cross, confessor, founder of the Passionists

ST. PAUL of the Cross, a man remarkable for innocence of life and for the spirit of penance, and Founder of the Congregation of the Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Consumed with a burning love for Christ crucified, illustrious by his heavenly gifts and the working of miracles, and blessed with a perfect and finished virtue, he went to his repose in the Lord.

St Vitalis of Ravenna

At Ravenna, the birthday of St. Vitalis, martyr, father of the saints Gervasius and Protasius. When he had taken up and reverently buried the body of blessed Ursicinus, he was arrested by the ex-consul Paulinus, and after being racked, and thrown into a deep pit, was overwhelmed with earth and stones, and by this kind of martyrdom went to Christ.

St Valeria of Milan

At Milan, the martyr St. Valeria, who was the wife of St. Vitalis.

St Mark of Atina

At Atinor St. Mark, who being made biship by the blessed apos tie Peter, was the first to preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of that region, and received the crown of martyrdom in the persecution of Domitian, under the governor Maximus.

Ss. Theodora and Didymus, martyrs (Alexandria)

At Alexandria, the martyrdom of the virgin St. Theodora. For refusing to sacrifice to idols, she was led to a place of debauch; but. a Christian, named Didymus, through the admirable providence of God, delivered her by quickly exchanging garments with her. He was afterwards decapitated, and crowned with her in the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Eustratius.

Ss. Aphrodisius, Caralippus, Agapius, and Eusebius, martyrs

The same day, the saints Aphrodisius, Caralippus, Agapius, and Eusebius, martyrs.

St Pollio of Pannonia

In Pannonia, St. Pollio, martyr, under the emperor Diocletian.

Ss. Patritius, Acatius, Menander and Polyenus (Prusa)

At Prusa, in Bithynia, the holy martyrs Patritius, bishop, Acatius, Menander, and Polyenus.

St Prudentius of Tarazona

At Tarrazona, in Spain, St. Prudentius, bishop and martyr.

St Pamphilus of Pelino

At Pelino, in Abruzzo, St. Pamphilus, bishop of Valva, illustrious by his charity towards the poor, and the gift of miracles. His body was buried at Solmona.

St Peter Chanel

On the island of Futuna in Oceania, St Peter Chanel, priest of the Society of Mary and protomartyr of the South Seas. Canonised 1954.

St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

At Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, priest, preacher of true devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Canonised 1947.

St Gianna Beretta Molla

At Magenta in Lombardy, St Gianna Beretta Molla, physician, wife and mother, who preferred the life of her unborn child to her own. Canonised 2004.