Saint Joseph the Worker

In art, Saint Aldebrandus is portrayed as an old, ill bishop in bed raising to life the cooked partridge which has been brought to him on a fast day. (This tale is also told of Saint Benedict, while Saint Hugh of Grenoble is said to have turned the roast partridges at the Grande Chartreuse into tortoises.) Aldebrandus is the patron of Fossombrone and is venerated at Rimini and Sorrivoli (Roeder).

Brioc appears to have worked in southwestern Britain before migrating to Brittany; there is a place called Saint Breock or Breoke in Cornwall and Saint Briavels in the Forest of Dean is at root the same name. Saint Brioc's medieval biography contains a number of particulars and marvelous tales, but its historicity is slight. It says, for instance, that Brioc was trained in Gaul by Saint Germanus of Auxerre, who died in 448, which makes it highly unlikely.

Brioc is reputed to have built a famous church called Grande-Lann, where he gathered a number of disciples. In Tréguier, he converted a wealthy nobleman named Conan who provided the funds to build a monastery in northern Armorica. Then Brioc is said to have returned to Britain and with the help of his relative, Prince Rigald of Domnonia, built the church of Saint Stephen there.

Brioc is styled a bishop in an inscription in marble at his shrine built in 1210, but it is not certain that he was a bishop; more likely he was an abbot of the Celtic type who kept a bishop in his monastery as one of his subjects because no legend claims his successor in the see, which dates only to 844. Brioc's relics were translated to the abbey of Saint-Sergius in Angers in the mid-9th century to protect them from Norse invaders. Saint Henry II was present for their translation in 1166. In 1210, an arm, two ribs, and some cervical bones were given back to Saint Brieuc's (Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Farmer, Gill, Husenbeth).

In art, Saint Brioc is a bishop with a fiery pillar above him. He is venerated in Treguier, Brittany, and Cornwall (Roeder). Because of the legends regarding his great charity, Brioc is considered the patron of purse-makers (Farmer).

Anonymous Roman fresco (12 Century)
From Breviary of Martin of Aragon (15 Century): Saint Peter with Jeremiah

O glorious patriarch, Saint Joseph, humble and just craftsman of Nazareth, you gave to all Christians, but particularly to us, an example of a perfect life of assiduous work and of admirable unity with Mary and Jesus. Help us in our daily work so that we might find in it an effective means of glorifying our Lord, of sanctifying ourselves and of being useful to the society in which we live. Obtain for us from our Lord, O beloved protector, humility and simplicity of heart, attachment to work, benevolence towards those who work with us, compliance with the divine will in the difficulties of this life and joy in bearing them, consciousness of our specific social mission and the sense of our social responsibility, a spirit of discipline and prayer, docility and respect for our superiors, fraternity towards our equals, support in times of stress, charity and indulgence for our dependents. Help us to follow your example and to keep our sight fixed on Mary, our Mother, your gentle wife, who wove silently in a corner of your humble shop, smiling sweetly. May we never avert our eyes from Jesus, who worked with you at your carpenter's bench, so that we may in like manner lead peaceful and holy lives on earth, the prelude to the eternally happy one which awaits us in heaven for ever more. Amen.

Although the monastery grew, many of Marculf's monks continued to live as hermits. Several of them, including Saint Helier, settled on the island of Jersey. Marculf is said to have stayed there with them and saved the inhabitants from a raid of marauding Saxons by praying for a violent storm, which dashed the invaders against the rocky shore. It is said the two of Marculf's most faithful disciples--Saints Domardus and Cariulfus (Criou)--died on the same day that he did.

In 898, Marculf's relics were enshrined at Corbigny, diocese of Laon, to where the kings of France would proceed after their coronation at Rheims. There the new king would observe a novena in person or through his almoner. After touching the relics of the saint they were able to heal those afflicted with "the king's evil" (scrofula; a skin disease). He is commemorated in the martyrologies of Coutances and Evreux among others. His shrine was destroyed during the Reformation (Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer, Husenbeth, Walsh).

In art, Saint Marculf is portrayed as an abbot touching the chin or elbow of a suppliant (curing the king's evil). At times he may be depicted (1) confirming the king with power to touch for scrofula; (2) holding a plantain (herbe Saint Marcoul); (3) as a woman with devil's foot stands before him or is put to flight as he blesses bread; or (4) with Saint Cloud (Clodoaldus) (Roeder). His relics lie at Corbigny. Marculf is invoked against scrofula and all skin diseases (Roeder).

Peregrine is generally portrayed as a penitent with clasped hands before a picture of the Blessed Virgin. He has a bandage around his leg and foot (because he was cured of a cancer of the foot). He might also be shown with Saint Philip Benizzi or as a Servite with a book and crucifix (Roeder). He is venerated at Forli and Siena, Peregrine is invoked against cancer and foot troubles (Roeder).

Erminio, the son of Angela and Innocente Filippo, was orphaned early. His mother died when he was three; seven years later his father was killed in an accident on the road. In 1915, Erminio entered medical school at the University of Pavia. Following his graduation in 1921, he worked in Milan, where his faith was exhibited in the care he rendered his patients. At the same time he fostered the growth of a parish youth group of Catholic Action under the patronage of Pope Saint Pius X.

In 1927, he more firmly linked his piety to his practice of medicine by joining the Hospitallers of Saint John of God at Brescia and taking the name Richard. He professed his initial vows the following year. The renown of his sanctity grew as he continued his work in the order's hospital at Brescia. Mothers brought their babies to him to be touched and blessed.

Meanwhile, John suffered from some lung disease which was aggravated by an illness contracted while he was in military service during World War I. His health deteriorated rapidly. Although he was taken back to Milan for treatment, he died at the age of 32. His body was returned to his home town for burial. There it has been venerated in a chapel dedicated to him (Walsh).

Sigismund succeeded his father in 516. Although he had intellectually become a Christian, his temper and savage ways remained those of a Vandal pagan. He had been king for scarcely a year when his son Sigeric fell out with his stepmother, Sigismund's second wife, who accused him of conspiracy to kill his father. The king took the stepmother's part. So great became his rage during the course of the quarrel that he ordered his officers to strangle the prince.

When Sigismund's temper cooled, he was appalled at what he had done to his son. He strove to make amends. He retired to the monastery of Saint-Maurice, bringing with him enough monks to ensure that the voice of praise could be heard at all times.

The king became a lover of the poor, liberally distributing his goods in their service. But still he felt he had not properly made amends for the murder of Sigeric. Only some great calamity, he felt, could atone for such an action; and in his prayers Saint Sigismund welcomed anything that might happen to him by way of punishment in this life that he might not suffer in the next.

Gunebald had killed the grandfather of three royal sons of Clovis, king of the Franks. They decided not only to take revenge by attacking Sigismund; they also aimed at overrunning Burgundy, too. The three men conquered Sigismund in battle.

Sigismund disguised himself in a monk's habit and hid in a cell near the abbey of Agaunum. For some time Sigismund escaped their swords, but he was eventually found, captured, and taken to Orléans for execution. His corpse was flung down a well at Columelle. His shrine is near the Abbey of Agaunum, where he is honored as a martyr; however his relics were translated to the cathedral of Prague by Emperor Charles IV (Benedictines, Bentley, Husenbeth).

Sigismund is depicted in art as an old king with a sword and well or font near him. At times he may be shown (1) with his two sons by him; (2) enthroned with royal regalia, a greyhound at his feet, Sigismondo Malatesta before him; (3) with a sword and palm, armor by him; or (4) as a young ruler, crowned holding an orb and scepter (Roeder). Sigismund is venerated at Rimini (Templo Malatestiana) and is invoked against fever (Roeder).