373 A.D.
Death of Syrian-born Saint Ephrem, deacon and Doctor of the Church who fostered devotion and writings on the Immaculate Heart of Mary, specifically the Immaculate Conception which would not be proclaimed dogma for nearly fifteen centuries. He died as a hermit in a cave during the great famine of that time. For more, see DAILY LITURGY
597 A.D.
Death of Saint Columba, Irish monk and missionary to Scotland, who was also known as Colum or Colm. Though he did much to foster the faith, he clashed with many of the Irish saints of his time on the debate of the Celtic liturgy versus the Roman Liturgy. Over the years, after his death, the latter became the staple throughout the British Isles.
1198 A.D.
Otto of Brunswick was elected on this day to become Otto IV in succeeding Henry VI as king of Germany. Within six months he would be excommunicated by Pope Innocent III for invading Sicily. He would be forgiven in future years and Innocent would crown Otto the Holy Roman Emperor in 1209.
1247 A.D.
The Papal Legate Cardinal Carpini, returning from his mission work among the Mongols enters the city of Kiev, Russia, bringing the faith to the Ukraine.
1832 A.D.
Pope Greorgy XVI issues his second encyclical titled Cum primum to the bishops of Poland on civil obedience.
1998 A.D.
Death of former Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Agostino Casaroli at the age of 83. He was Pope John Paul II's mastermind of the Church's great role in bringing Communism to its knees, especially in Eastern Europe. Cardinal Casaroli served under four popes and was John Paul's closest diplomatic aid when he was shot on May 13, 1981. It was Casaroli who set up the historic meeting between John Paul II and Mikhail Gorbachev in December of 1989, the first ever between a Supreme Pontiff and the head of the Kremlin.