April 22 - Alexandre is a saint of the Lyon hagiographic tradition. He is said to have been martyred in Lyon in 178, one year after the group of martyrs of Lyon.

21 aprily - Saint Anselm of Canterbury, known as the "Magnificent Doctor", is a Benedictine monk born in Aosta (Italy) in 1033. Also called Anselme of Aosta because of his birth in Valle d'Aosta, he is better known as Anselme du Bec because he belonged as a Benedictine monk to the Abbey of Notre Dame du Bec in Normandy.

20 April - Odette is a nun who died in 1158. Born into an illustrious family from Brabant, Belgium, her parents wanted to marry her to the knight Simon. Dragged to the altar, she refused before the congregation when she declared whether she would take her suitor as her husband.

19 April - Saint Leo IX, born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg in Eguisheim on 21 June 1002 and died in Rome on 19 April 1054, is a pope of the Central Middle Ages. Born to the high nobility of Alsace and bishop of Toul, he was appointed pope by the German Emperor and accepted by the clergy of Rome.

18 April - Parfait of Cordoba was a Christian priest from Cordoba, Spain. A monk ordained priest, he sat in the Basilica of  Saint-Aciscle in Córdoba. Since Andalusia was under Muslim political authority, Christians were tolerated under certain conditions of discretion.

April 17 - Anicet is the 11th pope, who sat from 155 to 166. He was born in Emesa in Syria and suffered martyrdom under Marcus Aurelius. Anicet is particularly venerated in Quebec (Canada).

16 April - Benoît-Joseph Labre, born on 26 March 1748 in Amettes (Pas-de-Calais), which belonged to the diocese of Boulogne-sur-Mer (France) and died on 16 April 1783 in Rome, was a French mendicant pilgrim who travelled the roads of Europe.

15 April - Born in Armorica at the beginning of the fifth century, Paterne went to England to live a monastic life, where he took an active part in the foundation of churches and monasteries. He was the first bishop of Vannes and died between 490 and 511.

14 April - Maximus, a Christian martyr, was put to death and buried in the cemetery of Pretextat la via Appia in Rome. He is celebrated on 14 April together with the two other saints associated with his story, Valerian and Tiburce.

13 April - Martin I was Pope in July 649. Originally from Todi (Umbria), he was also legate to Constantinople. In the first year of his pontificate he convened a Lateran Council, which condemned monotheism and the Byzantine doctrine spread in 638 by the Emperor Heraclius.

12 April - Julius of Rome or Julius I, born in Rome around 280 and died in the same city in 352, is a bishop of Rome who acceded to the episcopate on 6 February 337. According to Catholic tradition, he is the 35th pope.

11 April - According to tradition, Stanislaus was born in Szczepanów, a village near the small town of Brzesko in Lesser Poland. The exact date between 1034 and 1040 is not certain, probably in 1039.

Diocese of Miarinarivo

Pope Francis has accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Miarinarivo, presented by H.E. Mgr Jean Claude Randrianarisoa. At the same time, the Supreme Pontiff has appointed H.E. Mgr Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, as Apostolic Admnistrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese.

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Love and Salvation

Christmas is a great joy, because it is the love of God that has come to us, proclaims Fr. Bizimana Innocent, Provincial Superior of the Salesians Don Bosco of Madagascar and Mauritius, presenting his Christmas greetings. Salvation is accomplished, so life is not in danger of disappearing. It is this love and this salvation that we wish to fill our life so that we have peace.

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Zatti, our brother

The short film "Zatti, our brother" (Argentina, 2020) focuses on one of the most difficult episodes of his life. We are in Viedma, in 1941: at the age of 60, Zatti is forced to leave the hospital he has attended for decades. His faith and strength are tested.

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