Saint of the Day: St. Ithamar of Rochester

Bishop (d. ca. 660)

His life

+ According to Saint Bede, Ithamar (or Ythamar) was born in Kent and was consecrated bishop of Rochester before 655.

+ Remembered as the first Saxon-born bishop in England, he stands as an important figure in the history of the Catholic Church in England because he was not one of the Irish or Roman missionaries serving in England in the seventh century.

+ Little information survives about his service, although it is recorded that he consecrated Deusdedit as the first Saxon archbishop of Canterbury in 255.

+ Saint Ithamar died between 655 and 660.

For prayer and reflection

“Who is the steward who must be both faithful and wise? The apostle Paul tells us when he says of himself and his companions: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”—Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe

Spiritual bonus

On this day, we also remember Blessed Joseph Kugler. A member of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God, he served his community in various capacities, including more than two decades provincial during which time he established two hospitals. Blessed Joseph died in Regensburg, Germany in 1946 and was beatified in 2009.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, who chose blessed Ithamar to preside as Bishop over your holy people, we pray that, by his merits, you may bestow on us the grace of your loving kindness. 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 Pastors—For a Bishop)

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