- December 3, 2023
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
Jane was born in 1464, the daughter of King Louis XI of France. Because she was female, sickly, and suffered a deformity from birth, the King sent her away with her sister to be raised by a devout noble couple, who had no children of their own. The pious Jane was eventually married off to her father’s young second cousin, Duke Louis of Orleans, who hated the arranged marriage and often publicly disparaged his wife. Joan was nonetheless a devoted and dutiful spouse, and even helped free her husband from prison during a temporary conflict with Jane’s brother King Charles VIII. When Charles died, Duke Louis inherited the throne as King Louis XII, making Jane briefly the Queen of France. Almost immediately, however, Louis obtained an annulment from Rome. Though she contested his claims, Jane humbly accepted the ruling, and was made Duchess of Berry, where she retired to joyfully pursue the monastic life. Already a Third Order Franciscan, she followed a childhood spiritual directive from Our Lady and founded the Order of the Annunciation, or the Annonciades. Jane died on this day in the year of Our Lord 1505, at the age of forty.
AT Florence, St. Andrew Corsini, bishop of Fiesoli, whose birthday is the 6th of January.
At Rome, St. Eutychius, who endured a glorious martrydom, and was buried in the cemetery of Callistus. Pope St. Damasus wrote an epitaph in verse for his tomb.
At Fossombrone, the holy martyrs Aquilinus, Geminus, Gelasius, Magnus and Donatus.
At Thmuis, in Egypt, in the persecution of Diocletian, the passion of blessed Philaeas, bishop of that city, and of Philoromus, military tribune, who rejected the exhortations of their relations and friends to save themselves, offered themselves to death, and so merited immortal palms from God. With them was crowned with martyrdom a numberless multitude of the faithful of the same place, who followed the example of their pastor.
The same day, St. Rembert, bishop of Bremen.
At Troyes, St. Aventin, confessor.
At Pelusium, in Egypt, St. Isidore, a monk renowned for merit and learning.
The same day, St. Gilbert, confessor.
In the town of Amatrice, in the diocese of Rieti, the decease of St. Joseph of Leonissa, of the Order of Minorite Capuchins, who suffered many afflictions from the Mahometans. As he was celebrated for his apostolic labors and miracles, he was placed on the list of holy confessors by the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XIV.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
