Historical Events in Church Annals for April 3:

304 A.D.


Death of Saint Pancras A Syrian from Phrygia who was a convert to Christianity and martyred for his faith in Rome during the persecution of Diocletian.

999 A.D.


Archbishop Gerbert of Aurillac is consecrated the first French Pope, taking the name Pope Sylvester II.

1245 A.D.


Birth of Philip III, nicknamed "the Bold" who would become the King of France.

1287 A.D.


Death of Pope Honorius IV, the 190th successor of Peter who sought to establish closer relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as the leaders of the Islam world.

1312 A.D.


Pope Clement V, the first of the Avignon Popes, dissolves the Knights Templar who had grown increasingly in power and abuse of their privileges.

1367 A.D.


Birth of Henry IV who would become King of England

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 4:

304 A.D.


Deaths of Saint Agape and her sisters Saint Chionia and Saint Irene who were burned alive by the evil Roman emperor Diocletian because they would not renounce their faith or break their virginity.

397 A.D.


Death of Saint Ambrose the pagan from Gaul who converted, became a great bishop, baptized Saint Augustine, and was named a Doctor of the Church in 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII.

636


Death of Saint Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (see This weekend's Liturgy.

896 A.D.


Death of Pope Formosus, the Ostian-born pontiff and 111th successor of Peter who was largely responsible for converting Bulgaria.

1284 A.D.


Death of King Alfonso X, monarch of Castile-Leon.

1292 A.D.


Death of Pope Nicolas IV the first Franciscan pope who was the 191st successor of Peter who brought order to the Court of Portugal.

1297 A.D.


Pope Boniface VIII deeds Corsica and Sardinia to James II, King of Aragon.

1305 A.D.


Death of Queen Joan, wife of Philip "the Fair", King of France.

1406 A.D.


Death of Robert III, the King of Scotland.

1490 A.D.


Death of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary

1581 A.D.


Death of Saint Benedict the Moor, a humble Franciscan servant and confessor who preferred the obscure chore of cooking over teaching. He was noted for many miracles and is considered one of the patron saints of African Americans.

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 5:

823 A.D.


Pope Pascal I crowns Lothair, son of Louis Holy Roman Emperor.

1355 A.D.


Pope Innocent VI, the fifth in the line of Avignon Popes, crowns Charles IV of Bohemia as the Holy Roman Emperor.

1419 A.D.


Death of Saint Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican who played a key role in ending the Western Schism.

1494 A.D.


The Florentine church Santa Maria del Fiore is struck by lightning. It would be refurbished by works of Michelangelo and Raphael who were commissioned the project before being called to Rome.

April 3-5, 1998 volume 9, no. 67        ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME       DAILY CATHOLIC