Dunstan

The Lives Of The Saints: Volume 05, May · S. Dunstan, ArcJib. of C Canterbury , a.d. 968.

S. Dunstan, ArcJib. of C Canterbury , a.d. 968.

S. Peter Ccrlestine, Pofe of Rome, a.d. 1296.

S. Yvo, P.C. at Treguier, in Bi ittany, a.d. 1303.

SS. PUDENS AND PUDENTIANA.

(2ND CENT.)

[Roman Martyrology. Mentioned in the Sacramentary of Pope Gela- sius. S. Pudens her father also in the Roman Martyrology, and in that of Usuardus, Ado, Bellinus and Maurolycus. S. Praxedis, the sister of S. Pudentiana, is commemorated on July 21st. Authority : — The Acts, which purport to be written by S. Pastor (July 27th), a contemporary. But their authenticity is very questionable.]

AINT PUDENS was a Roman senator, who had the honour of receiving S. Peter into his house, when the prince of the Apostles came to Rome. He was probably converted by S. Paul, for that Apostle mentions him as his disciple in his second Epistle to S. Timothy. He died in the inno- cence of his baptismal condition, and left behind him two daughters, Praxedis and Pudentiana. These saintly virgins gave great alms to the poor, and their palace was used for the celebration of the Divine Mysteries. S. Pudentiana is said to have died a martyr’s death in the year 160,1 but this is hardly possible, and it is more probable that there were two saints of the same name, and that a similar confusion has been made in her case to that which exists

1 The Acts by S. Pastor say nothing about her dying by martyrdom, but simply state that she died at the age of sixteen. Consequently the Pudentiana who died in 160 must have been another.

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Biographical overview

Dunstan (c. 909 – 19 May 988) was an English bishop and Benedictine monk. He was successively Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, Bishop of Worcester, Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury, later canonised. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church. His 11th-century biographer Osbern, himself an artist and scribe, states that Dunstan was skilled in "making a picture and forming letters", as were other clergy of his age who reached senior rank. Dunstan served as an important minister of state to several English kings. He was the most popular saint in England for nearly two centuries, having gained fame for the many stories of his greatness, not least among which were those concerning his famed cunning in defeating the Devil.

Martyrologium Romanum · Latin witness

Cantuariae, in Anglia, sancti Dunstani Episcopi.