July 8th - St. Kilian By: Jaiden Puthenkalam

St. Kilian was born into a high-class family in the year of 640 in Cloughballybeg, Ireland. St. Kilian served as a monk in the monastery at Hy, now known as Iona. In 686, St. Kilian was consecrated bishop at the Apostle of Franconia, the northern part of Bavaria where he started his work. In the summer of 686, Kilian and eleven others traveled through Gaul to Rome to receive permission from Pope Conon to evangelize Franconia and to receive missionary capabilities from the pope. He achieved this goal with Colman, a priest, and Totnan, a deacon. After that they went to the castle of Würzburg, occupied by the duke Gozbert who was pagan just like the people. The group separated into 2, where some were looking for other missionary work while St. Kilian, Colman and Tontnan stayed in Würzburg. St. Kilian made this town the foundation of his activity which spread over an increasing area in East Franconia and Thuringia, and converted Duke Gozbert with a large part of his subjects to Christianity. St. Kilian told the duke that he was in violation for being married to his brethren’s widow, Geilana. When she heard this, she got angry and had St. Kilian killed along with Colman and Totnan. 

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

O dearest St. Kilian. You converted the lives of the non-believers to believe. Help us also to believe in the importance of the lord and praise his name. We ask this in Jesus Christ name we pray, Amen.

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