Calendar Saints - The Month of June Quiz

Answer: He was beheaded

Justin was born about 100 AD into a pagan family. At age 30, Justin desired to discover the truth about the universe. So, he tried out some Greek philosophies and finally converted to Christianity. He became a prolific author, and some of his works did survive the ages.
About 165, a philosophical opponent denounced Justin as an individual who would not respect the Roman gods. At that time, the Roman authorities tolerated any religion on a base of reciprocity: one had freedom of religion, in as much as one respected all the other pantheons and especially the ancient Roman deities (Jupiter, Mars, Vesta, Minerva,...) But Jewish and Christian people did not approve of polytheism. Both venerated only one God, and would never make a sacrifice to idols such as Jupiter. This provoked from time to time the persecution of those monotheists. Justin was one of the victims of such a persecution.
Records on the trial and execution of Justin and his companions are still extant. They relate that at least seven Christians, including Justin, were beheaded.
Saint Lawrence (feast day August 10th) was roasted. Saint Peter (venerated June 29th) was crucified upside down. And Saint Bartholomew (celebrated August 24th) was flayed.

Answer: Servant girls

The information on Saint Blandina is very scarce. We only know that she was a slave, and that she was tortured.
A substantial number of Christians were rounded up in Lyons and put in jail, where they were submitted to various tortures.
Christians were accused of cannibalism, among other things. This accusation finds its origin in the fact that Roman pagans didn't grasp the Christian meaning of the expression "The Body of Christ" frequently heard at communion.
The hagiography of Saint Blandina states that she endured torture all day, and her torturers gave up, exhausted.
At a Roman high day, the Christians (including Blandina) were brought into the arena to be attacked by wild animals. But none of the animals dared touching Blandina. A few days later, Blandina was whipped, partially roasted and trapped in a net. Then a bull was driven into the arena, and would toss around the net until Blandina lost consciousness. One source states that she was then given the coup de grace with a dagger.
Her profession explains her patronage.
The other options (bankers, accountants and tax collectors) all refer to Saint Matthew, the evangelist who once was a tax collector.

Answer: Uganda

Charles Lwanga was a Ugandan Christian working at the court of King Mwanga II, who had paedophilic lusts. In 1886, Mwanga condemned 13 Christians (including Charles Lwanga) to death. After a long march, they were covered with reeds and burned to death.
The Martyrs of Paraguay were three Spanish Jesuit missionaries named Roque Gonzalez, Alphonsus Rodriguez and Juan de Castilo. These three died in 1628.
The Martyrs of Corfu were seven robbers living in the start of the Second Century (probably under the Empire of Trajan). While in prison, they repented and converted to Christianity.
The Martyrs of Vietnam are a group of 117 people (selected from an estimate of several myriads) who died for the Christian faith in Vietnam between 1625 and 1886. These included 96 local people, 11 Spanish Dominicans and 10 French missionaries from the order Mission Etrangères de Paris.

Answer: Norbert

The Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as Premonstratensians, are a congregation founded in the Twelfth Century according to the Rule of Saint Augustine. They live in a community but go out to preach and to settle disputes.
Saint Norbert was born in Xanten, Germany, around 1080. He spent his youth tasting the good things of life. But in 1113, after a near-fatal accident in a thunderstorm, he decided to alter his way of life. He was ordained a priest, gave away all his earthly possessions and started the life of an itinerant preacher. In 1120, he founded an abbey in the French valley of Prémontré near Laon (in the very north of the country). He accepted the Bishopric of Magdeburg, Germany, where he died in 1134.
The Premonstratensians, also named Norbertines after their founder, spread over Europe and later all over the world. There are Norbertine priories and abbeys in about 25 countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, the USA, South Africa, Brazil, India and Australia.
Saint Benedict started one of the first monasteries in Monte Cassino, Italy about 529. The Order of Saint Benedict is not a hierarchical conglomeration: each monastery, abbey or priory is quite independent, but the Rule to obey is the same to all.
Saint Dominic founded the Order of Preachers, also named Dominicans after their founder, in response to the Cathars in 1216. The Dominicans are known in England as Blackfriars, after their uniform (white tunic and black scapular).
Saint Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuit Order, in 1534.

Answer: Greece

Saint Peter of Mount Athos lived in the Eighth Century. He decided to live as a hermit on the slopes of Mount Athos, thus starting a tradition that lead to the foundation of twenty main monasteries and several dependencies in this region.
Mount Athos is situated on the eastern most tip of the Chalcidice peninsula. Although it borders continental Greece, it can only be reached by boat. The religious communities at Mount Athos have decreed that no woman will ever be allowed to visit the region. The male tourists desiring to visit Mount Athos, need a special permit (which is more easily granted for devote Orthodox Christians than for other males).
Mount Athos should not be confused with the mountainous region in Thessaly called Meteora, situated roughly 120 miles or 200 km to the southeast. Meteora too is famous for its monasteries, where women are denied access.
Mount Athos is an autonomous region in Greece. The government is in hands of the monks, whereas only a governor appointed by the Foreign Ministry of Greece acts as a liaison with the Greek government.
France has one autonomous region, the territorial collectivity of Corsica.
Denmark has two regions that enjoy a large autonomy: the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Russia has several autonomous republics. Some of the better known of these autonomous republics are Chechnya and Dagestan.

Answer: Levitation

Saint Luthgard was born in Tongres. When the date for her marriage came, it was revealed that her family had squandered the dowry. So her marriage was cancelled and she was put in a convent instead. She had mystical visions, developed some stigmata and levitated.
Levitation is the miraculous ability to lift from the ground without scientific explanation. It is documented in a few saints, including Saint Joseph of Cupertino and Saint Padre Pio.
Inedia is the miracle of surviving without touching any food (except the Holy Communion) for long periods. This gift is documented in only very few saints: Saint Mary Ann de Paredes and Saint Nicholas of Flue.
Bilocation is the ability of appearing in two different locations at the same time. Whereas the Saint in question is at one place physically, he or she appears spiritually in a different and distant place. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, Saint John Joseph of the Cross and Saint Padre Pio have known to use this ability.
Physical immortality is contrary to historic experience. No human has ever been physically immortal. But the doctrine of the Christian Church tells us that everyone (not only the saints) has an immortal soul, that will undergo its fate at Judgment Day.

Answer: Silverius

Silverius was Pope from 536 until 537. There is very little factual information on him.
Silverius would have been the legitimate son of Pope Hormisdas (who ruled from 514 until 523). The rule of celibacy was already established, but Hormisdas took the Holy Orders only after the death of his wife.
Pope Silverius was never beatified nor canonized by the Church. However, popular acclaim suffices to mention him in a calendar of saints.
Silverius is remembered for one miracle: when a ship with fishermen from Ponza got caught in a tremendous storm, the deceased Silverius called them from a safe harbour. This also explains why Silverius is patron saint of the inhabitants of the Italian island Ponza.
There was a Pope with the birth name Mercurius, but this name sounded too pagan to use as a papal name. So this Pope chose the name John II.
Aureus and Alumnus, referring to gold and aluminium, have never been associated with any papal name.

Answer: St. John the Baptist

When the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the two women discovered they both were pregnant. Indeed: "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb;" (Luke 1:41, KJV). Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, and a few months later Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.
When he was thirty years old, John decided to live in the wilderness near the river Jordan, and he spoke out to many that the Messiah would come. "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Luke 3:16, KJV).
John's fate is quite famous. He continued preaching, and scolded King Herod Antipas for his love affair with Herodias. Herod committed adultery with Herodias (the wife of his half-brother), and then divorced his wife in order to remarry with Herodias. When John the Baptist criticised Herod, John was arrested and beheaded - according to legend after Herod promised his daughter anything she wanted for an exquisite dance act. Herod's daughter, commonly known as Salome, would have asked for John's head on a platter, and this upon instigation by Queen Herodias.
The other saints I've mentioned here are also relatives of Christ. Joseph was Christ's foster father. Zechariah was John's father and thus Christ's uncle. Joachim was the Mary's father and thus Christ's grandfather.

Answer: Alexandria

Cyril was born about 376. In 412 he was appointed Patriarch of Alexandria, the office he held until his death in 444.
Cyril gained fame as a prolific writer. His points of view were highly esteemed by later clericals, but Cyril's behaviour was (let's put it euphemistically) criticised.
One of the most controversial episodes during Cyril's time as Patriarch, was the riot in which the pagan philosopher Hypatia was lynched by a mob of Christian people. Hypatia was a quite influential philosopher and mathematician, and many wealthy people came to Alexandria to study her theories. The Prefect of Alexandria (we would nowadays probably call him a police chief superintendant) had a good relationship with Hypatia, but Cyril didn't approve of this protection of a pagan. Rumour has it that the mob who killed Hypatia acted as desired by Cyril.
Luxor, Gizeh and Sharm el Sheikh are tourist attractions in Egypt, but do not relate to any Christian Saints. Luxor is an ancient temple, Gizeh is the place with the Great Pyramids and Sharm el Sheikh is a luxury resort on the Red Sea.

Answer: Hermit

Saint Salome was an Anglo-Saxon princess in the Ninth Century. When she went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was temporarily blinded by some accident, she decided to settle in the vicinity of a convent in Bavaria, Germany. Her aunt Judith went to visit her and stayed there as well.
An anchorite is the unusual name for a female hermit, mostly used for lay people. The word is not derived from the word anchor (as one could expect), but from the Greek words for "to retire". This is really what an anchorite did: she retired from society, to dedicate the rest of her life to prayer.
Contrary to nuns (who live in a religious community), anchorites lived secluded from other people. Nuns might also work as (for example) teachers or nurses, while anchorites usually don't exercise any profession.
A copyist was a scribe employed in a cloister or convent to transcribe (copy) old manuscripts. They might have lived secluded from the lay world, but were indeed members of their community.
Pilgrims are people visiting places of religious importance. During the Middle Ages, all pilgrims travelled in large groups for reasons of security. Today, most pilgrims travel in small groups.