Pope Martin IV

Apr 042012
 

[Pope Martin IV]
Also known as

  • Simon de Brie

Profile

Chancellor to King Louis IX of France. Created cardinal-priest by Pope Urban IV. Papal legate to France, where he pushed for reforms. Chosen 189th pope in 1281.

Due to anti-French sentiment in Rome, he was unable to return to the Vatican. His papacy became known for political machinations. He supported the Angevin dynasty in Sicily and southern Italy. Supported Charles of Anjou’s attempt to restore the Latin Empire of Constantinople. Excommunicated Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII, which sacrificed the 1274 union of East and West made at Lyons. After the revolt known as the Sicilian Vespers, he turned his power against Peter III of Aragón who had been chosen king of Sicily.

De Brie adopted the name Martin IV because two popes named Marinus were thought to have been named Martin. He is actually only the second pope named Martin.

Birth

  • in Montpensier, France as Simon de Brie

Papal Ascension

Died

MLA Citation

  • “Pope Martin IV”. Saints.SQPN.com. 4 April 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/pope-martin-iv/>

Pope Nicholas III

Apr 042012
 

[Pope Nicholas III]
[coat of arms of Pope Nicholas III]
Also known as

  • Giovanni Gaetano Orsini

Profile

Cardinal in 1244 by Pope Innocent IV. Papal diplomat. Close confidant of popes for 30 years. The Holy See was vacant for six months before his election. Worked to free the Papal States and the papacy from the influence of foreign rulers. Temporarily reunified the Franciscans who had split during an internal dispute over the definition of perfect poverty. Made the Vatican the permanent papal residence. At the request of the Tatar khan he sent Franciscan missionaries to Persia and China.

Born

Papal Ascension

Died

Works

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Pope Nicholas III”. Saints.SQPN.com. 4 April 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/pope-nicholas-iii/>

Pope Honorius IV

Apr 042012
 

[Pope Honorius IV]
Also known as

  • Giacomo Savelli

Profile

Born to a wealthy and influential family. Grand-nephew of Pope Honorius III. Studied at the University of Paris. Canon of the cathedral of Châlons-sur-Marne. Rector at the church of Berton, diocese of Norwich. Created cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in 1261 by Pope Martin IV. Papal prefect in Tuscany. Captain of the papal army. One of the cardinals who elected Pope Gregory X. Attended the 14th General Council at Lyons in 1274. 190th pope.

Honorius suffered terribly from gout, could neither stand nor walk, and had to sit on a stool to celebrate Mass. Much of his papacy was involved in the endless disputes with the rulers of Sicily, but Rome and the Papal States enjoyed a period of unusual calm, and Honorius moved his court to Rome, a rarity in the time. He settled disputes with surrounding city-states, and extended the power of the papacy throughout southern Italy. He approved privileges granted to the Carmelites and Augustinian hermits, supported the Williamites, and condemned the Apostolics sect. Supported the increased study of Eastern language at the University of Paris so that missionaries could work for conversion of Muslims and reconciliation of the Eastern churches.

Born

Papal Ascension

Died

MLA Citation

  • “Pope Honorius IV”. Saints.SQPN.com. 4 April 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/pope-honorius-iv/>

Pope Nicholas IV

Apr 042012
 

[Pope Nicholas IV]
Also known as

  • Girolamo Masci

Profile

Born poor. Franciscan monk at an early age, he was known throughout his life as a pious and learned man. Papal legate to Constantinople in 1272 for Pope Gregory X. General of the Franciscans in 1274. Worked for peace between France and Castile. Elevated to Cardinal-priest in 1278 by Pope Nicholas III. Chosen Latin Patriarch of Constantinople by Pope Nicholas III. Created Cardinal-bishop of Palestina by Pope Martin IV in 1281. Reluctant pope after a ten-month inter-regnum caused by disputes and disease. First Franciscan pope.

He tried to stay out of secular political matters and focus his energy on the good of the Church, but was greatly influenced by the Colonna faction in Rome. Crowned Charles II king of Naples and Sicily on 29 May 1289 after Charles agreed to loyalty to the Vatican. He issued a constitution on 18 July 1289 that gave new financial control to the college of cardinals, making them much more independent. For years Nicholas quietly laid the groundwork for Crusade, but the loss of Ptolemais in 1291 led him to call for Christian princes to reclaim the Holy Lands. He outfitted twenty ships, preached the Crusade, and made plans, but his appeals were ignored. He preached against heresy, and particularly condemned the Apostolici in 1290. He dispatched missionaries to Bulgaria, Ethiopia, and China, and financed building and artistic programs in Rome.

Born

Papal Ascension

Died

Additional Information

Canonizations

    MLA Citation

    • “Pope Nicholas IV”. People of the Faith. Saints.SQPN.com. 4 April 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/pope-nicholas-iv/>

    Pope Nicholas IV

    Apr 032012
     

    [Pope Nicholas IV]
    [coat of arms of Pope Nicholas IV]
    Article

    Reigned from 15 February 1288 to 4 April 1292. Born on 30 September 1227 in Ascoli, Italy as Girolamo Masci; died on 4 April 1292 in Rome, Italy. He was a Franciscan, general of his order, mediator between France and Castile, and cardinal-bishop of Palestrina. As pope he was unduly influenced by the Colonna, and supported the Angevins in Sicily against James of Aragon, while opposing Rudolf of Hapsburg in Hungary. During his pontificate, missionaries were sent to Bulgaria, Ethiopia, China, and the Tatars.

    MLA Citation

    • “Pope Nicholas IV”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 3 April 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/pope-nicholas-iv-ncd/>

    Saint Isidore of Seville

    Apr 032012
     

    [Saint Isidore of Seville]
    Article

    Confessor, Doctor of the Church, Bishop of Seville, born Cartagena, Spain, 560; died Seville, Spain, 636. He was younger brother to Saint Fulgentius of Astigi and Saint Florentina, and succeeded his brother Leander to the See of Seville in 599. During his episcopacy he devoted his energies to promoting science, establishing schools and convents, and welding into a homogeneous nation the various peoples composing the Hispano-Gothic kingdom. He presided over the synod of Seville, 619, and the synod of Toledo, 633. He is important for his literary work, and mastered all branches of knowledge of his day. Emblems: bees and a pen. Relics in own church, Leon. Feast, Roman Calendar, 4 April.

    MLA Citation

    • “Saint Isidore of Seville”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. April 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-isidore-of-seville-ncd/>

    Guido d’Arezzo

    Mar 302012
     

    [Guido d'Arezzo]
    Also known as

    • Fra Guittone
    • Guido Abetinus
    • Guido of Arezzo
    • Guy of Arezzo

    Profile

    Reformer of musical notation. Educated by the Benedictines at Paris, France he became a monk there, moving later to the monastery of Pomposa, near Ferrara, Italy, and thence to Arezzo, Italy where he probably died as prior of the neighboring monastery of Santa Croce. Called to Rome c.1022 by Pope Benedict VIII to explain his new teaching method of staff notation, he was later invited by Pope John XIX to instruct the clergy there, but the unfavorable climate prevented his acceptance. A transcription of the Antiphonarium from sign to staff notation was his text-book of the system, since called Guidonian, though his employment and improvement of the four-lined stave must not be confounded with the invention of melodic recording. His Micrologus and Epistola were written at Pomposa.

    Born

    Died

    MLA Citation

    • “Guido d’Arezzo”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 30 March 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/guido-darezzo/>

    Emperor Henry III

    Mar 302012
     

    [Emperor Henry III]
    Profile

    German king and Roman emperor. Son of Conrad II. He obtained the imperial crown in 1039. Early in his reign he checked Bohemia and made Hungary his vassal. A man of profound piety, he looked on himself as a priest-king, like David. He aimed at Church reform, presided over synods, passed sentence in ecclesiastical affairs, and held inflexibly to the right of investiture. He put an end to the papal troubles caused by the resignation of Pope Benedict IX, but claimed control of nominations to the papacy. Towards the end of his reign Hungary revolted, and Saxony, Lorraine, and Tuscany were disputing his authority when he died.

    Born

    Died

    MLA Citation

    • “Emperor Henry III”. New Catholic Dictionary. Saints.SQPN.com. 30 March 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/emperor-henry-iii/>

    New Catholic Dictionary: Saint Hyacinth

    Dec 192010
     

    Article

    Greek: purple

    Confessor, apostle of the North, born castle of Lanka, Kamin, Silesia, Poland, 1185; died Krakow, Poland, 1257. He was a relative of Saint Ceslaus. He studied at Krakow, Prague, and Bologna and received the title of Doctor of Law and Divinity. Accompanying his uncle, Bishop Ivo Konski of Krakow, to Rome, he there met Saint Dominic and was among the first to be enrolled in the new Order of Friars Minor. After his profession he was appointed head of a band of missionary preachers sent into Poland. There he established numerous communities and preached in Prussia, Pomerania, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Lower Russia. Many miracles are credited to him. Canonized, 1594. Relics at Paris, France. Feast, 17 August.

    MLA Citation

    • “Saint Hyacinth”. People of the Faith. Saints.SQPN.com. 19 December 2010. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-hyacinth/>
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