St. Katharine Drexel
Feastday: March 3
1955
Saint Katharine Drexel, Religious (Feast Day-March 3) Born in 1858, into a prominent Philadelphia family, Katharine became imbued with love for God and neighbor. She took an avid interest in the material and spiritual well-being of black and native Americans. She began by donating money but soon concluded that more was needed - the lacking ingredient was people. Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People, whose members would work for the betterment of those they were called to serve. From the age of 33 until her death in 1955, she dedicated her life and a fortune of 20 million dollars to this work. In 1894, Mother Drexel took part in opening the first mission school for Indians, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools quickly followed - for Native Americans west of the Mississippi River, and for the blacks in the southern part of the United States. In 1915 she also founded Xavier University in New Orleans. At her death there were more than 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country. Katharine was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1988.
St. Cunegundes
Feastday: March 3
Patron of Lithuania
1040
St. Cunegundes, Empress (Patroness of Lithuania) Feast - March 3
The father of St. Cunegundes was Sigfrid, first Count of Luxemburg. After a pious education, she was married to St. Henry, Duke of Bavaria, who, upon the death of Emperor Otho III, was chosen King of the Romans. St. Cunegundes was crowned at Paderborn in 1002. In 1014 she went with her husband to Rome and became Empress, receiving together with him the imperial crown from the hands Pope Benedict VIII. Though married, she lived in continence, for, with her husband's consent, she had made a vow of virginity before marriage. Calumniators accused her of scandalous conduct, but her innocence was signally vindicated by Divine Providence, as she walked over pieces of flaming irons without injury, to the great joy of the Emperor. Her husband, Henry II, died in 1024, leaving his widow comparatively poor, for she had given away nearly all her wealth in charitable works. In 1025, on the anniversary of his death, and on the occasion of the dedication of a monastery which she had built for Benedictine nuns at Kaffungen, she clothed herself with a poor habit, adopted the veil, which she received from the hands of the Bishop, and entered that same monastery. Her occupations consisted in prayer, reading, and manual labor, and thus she spent the last fifteen years of her life. She died in 1040, and her body was carried to Bamberg, where it was laid near that of her husband, St. Henry.
St. Anselm of Nonantola
Feastday: March 3
803
Benedictine abbot and duke. He was born in Forum Juhi, modern Friuli, Italy, heir to a local title and brother-in-law of King Aistulf, the Lombard ruler who married Anselm's sister, Gisaltruda. Anselm left his titles and power, and in 750 founded a monastery at Tanano, Italy. Two years later he built the monastery of Nonantola near Modena, Italy. He then went to Rome where Pope Stephen II invested him with the habit of the Benedictine Order. Anselm founded many charitable institutions; however, he lost his patronage when Aistulf died. Desiderius, the new Lombard ruler, banished Anselm from his kingdom in 756. He went to Monte Cassino for seven years, until Desiderius fell to the armies of Charlemagne. Anselm remained in Nonantola until his death. He is patron of the region.
St. Arthelais
Feastday: March 3
6th century
Virgin and patron of Benevento, Italy. She is recorded as having fled Constantinople, to escape the attentions of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Arthelais was the daughter of Proconsul Lucius and his wife, Anthusa. When Arthelais fled from the emperor, she went to her uncle, Narses, in Benevento. Tradition states that the entire population of the city welcomed her. Arthelais died at the age of sixteen.
St. Winwaloc
Feastday: March 3
6th century
Abbot-founder, also called Wonnow, Wynwallow, and Gwenno. Born at Ploufragen, in Brittany, France, he was ofAnglo-Saxon descent. At the age of fifteen he entered the monastery on Lauren Island under Abbot Budoc. Several years later he and eleven monks founded Landevenne Monastery near Brest, in Brittany on land donated by Prince Gallo. Winwabe died there. As there are several churches in Cornwall, England, dedicated to him, it is possible that he had some connection with that region or that some of his relics were translated there in later years.
St. Camilla
Feastday: March 3
437
Recluse and disciple of St. Germanus of Auxerre, at Ravenna, Italy. She was born in Civitavecchia, became St. Germanus' disciple, and accompanied his missions to Auxerre, France. There she became a hermitess.
St. Non
Feastday: March 3
Mother of St. David of Wales also called Nonnita or Nonna. Perhaps born of noble descent in Dyfed, Wales, she was seduced by or possibly married a local chieftain named Sant. The result of their union was St. David. She supposedly went to Cornwall and died in Brittany Her relics were enshrined in Cornwall until the Reformation.
