Saint Alban

His life:

+ Saint Alban is venerated as the first recorded British martyr.

+ According to tradition, he was a Roman soldier stationed in Britain.

+ During the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian, he was denounced as a Christian and was beheaded near what is modern-day St. Albans.

+ Devotion to Saint Alban began immediately after his death and he is honored as one of the patrons of Great Britain.

For prayer and reflection:

“You have rescued me according to your abundant mercy
from the snare of those who look for my downfall,
and from the power of those who seek my life.
From many dangers you have saved me,
from flames that beset me on every side.”—Sirach 51:3-4a

Spiritual bonus:

On June 20, the Church also remembers Blessed Margaret Ball. A married laywoman in Dublin (her husband was mayor of Dublin for many years), she was one of many Irish Catholics who suffered persecution during the early years of the English Reformation (which also outlawed Catholicism in Ireland). Blessed Margaret was died in 1564 in Dublin Castle, having suffered three years of abuse and neglect. Honored as a martyr, she was beatified with other Irish Martyrs in 1992.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift blessed Alban fought for righteousness' sake even until death, grant, we pray, through his  intercession, that we may bear every adversity for the sake of your love and hasten with all our strength towards you who alone are life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.