Saint Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira

Religious

April 1: Celebrated as a Memorial with proper texts or from the Common of Men Saints (Religious).

Nuno was born in 1360, and for many years pursued a military career, becoming the champion of Portuguese independence. After the death of his wife he joined the Order in 1423 at the monastery of Lisbon which he had founded, and took the name of Nuno of St. Mary. There he lived until his death in 1431. He was noted for his prayer, his practise of penance and his filial devotion to the Mother of God. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 26 April, 2009.

Prayer

Lord God,

you called Saint Nuno Alvarez Pereira

to put aside his sword and follow Christ

under the Patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Through his prayers may we too deny ourselves,

and devote ourselves to you with all our hearts.

We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.

Scripture Readings

Ephesians 6:10-18b; Gospel - Luke 14:25-33.

Texts taken from the “Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours,”

Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome: 1993.

Image courtesy of the Carmelnet webmaster, USA.