Berkeley, Thursday, April 16, 2026 2:36 am
Feast day: April 24
Day 1: Thu April 16 2:36 am. The name of the job position itself has some good flavor and uniqueness itself. Saint Mellitus was alive around the years 600s. He died on 624. He was a Roman abbot, probably from the monastery of Saint Andrew, whom Pope Saint Gregory the Great dispatched to England in 601 at the head of second band of missionaries to assist Saint Augustine (of Canterbury?) The answer to the position is yes, by Google search, missing in the great reference [1]… More to follow on next days.
Gregorian chants are from the times of Pope Saint Gregory the Great (?)
Saint Mellitus, flag carrier of the Lord’s Word, faith, and from the Vatican missions, founder or bearer of faith in a new territory until your own office was split by literal divorce from La Roca (Piedra), Peter’s seat about a millennia after you were alive. Guide me with that zeal on this intense day to day life, while I can.
Day 2: Fri April 17 0:14 am. He baptized King Sabert. After the King’s death, hiss three sons reverted to idolatry. They have never been baptized. My understanding is that they demanded to receive the Holly Host or communion as his father did. That is my understanding after a quick read. However, after Saint Mellitus refused, Saint Mellitus was expelled out of the kingdom. He went to France. But, it seems that then he was asked to go back to Kent, to succeed Saint Laurence as Archbishop of Canterbury. This even happened in 619. [1]. I will need to clarify several details.
Day 3. Friday, April 17. Most of the information is above. A few corrections with place’s names of his time, and a few additional data from [4]. Saint Mellitus was Bishop of London from 604 to 6198, and Archbishop of Canterbury from 619 until 624… To be continued, but he baptized the King of Essex, and exiled to Gaul when King was succeeded by his pagan sons. Then, he came back again for the positions mentioned above.
Day 4. Sunday, April 19. 0:08 am. Of course time flies. Did you write some documents Saint Mellitus? This journey through the saints, also have taught me or make me reflect how tough was for lay people to be admitted in the religious order. They had to master latin. Still today, they need some eloquence to preach. But as Saint Therese said, no everyone is a rose, and the Lord loves His little flowers as well.
“Saint Mellitus was the first Bishop of London an the third Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a Roman abbot of noble birth.” [5] Well all this information is already know above, that he was Sent by Pope Gregory the Great “at the head of a group of missionaries in 601 to reinforce Augustine of Canterbury. After he he had left, Pope Gregory sent to Saint Mellitus a famous letter, which modified previous ruling of Saint Augustine of Canterbury. He now told Saint Mellitus to tell Augustine to not destroy the temples of the Saxons but only their idols” [5] (What about the idols nowadays?) “On the contrary, the temples should be converted into churches and their feasts taken over and directed to Christian purposes such as dedications. this directive was important in the whole history of the missionary activity.” [5]
Day 5. Tuesday, April 21. 2:30 am. Saint Mellitus. There are days where the heart is fully connected with the spirit and with things to do, but then I realize a few things I might have screwed up, or lost time. Lord, provide me the strength, courage, energy, and diligence to move ahead with my daily tasks.
“In 604 Augustine consecrated Mellitus bishop of the East Saxons, with his see at London, where Ethelbert (king of Kent and overlord of Souther England) had built the first church of St. Paul” [5]
True that story is beautiful. Wow. I just learned, from reference [7] that Aethelberht (Ethelbert) is a Saint. He was the first Christian King of Kent (616). Saint Aethelberht, I might have written wrongly your name in one of the first days. It was because the reference was incorrect. I just learned your name which is hard to spell, Adalberto o Etelberto, Ethelbert. Saint pray for me. And Saint Mellitus pray for me.
Day 6. Wednesday, April 22. 1:59 am. “As bishop of London, Mellitus went to Rome to consult with Pope Boniface IV about the Church in England; while there, he took part in a synod of Italian bishop concerning the life of monks and (presumably) their peaceful relations with bishops” [5]
Day 7. Thursday, April 23. 1:30 am. One day more. Update at 4.20 am, number which some how had some significance in this area. But back home, April 20, 1906, it was a significant religious appearance. Though, but good times might come ahead. Who knows. I skipped today’s prayer. St. Mellitus, help me on my daily tasks and with my schedule.
Day 8. Friday, April 24. 5:29 am. “Today”, time flew away! Saint Mellitus. Ok. A few learnings from what I read in reference [5] Saint Mellitus went back to England with orders from the Pope, or carrying letters from the Pope to archbishop Laurence and King Ethelbert [5]. Plenty of things in the Gospel this week is about being sent. I am just thinking about a person bring the letter to you, against receiving the email from that person. Particularly, if the person bringing the Pope’s news is a bishop. I saw how influential was the Pope in those times who had some orders for the King I believe. Normally, that would be a collaborating. But it was great from the King to respect the Holy man, Pope Saint Gregory the Great. The King is also a Saint, Ethelbert. His sons were harsh against Saint Mellitus, who hold his ground in not giving communion to them, because they wanted to do it by tradition, not because they were baptized. The three sons are described as pagans in reference [5].
That triggered the exile of Saint Mellitus. See some of the references above. He came back in 619 to succeed Saint (?) Laurence as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Saint Mellitus died on April 24, 619ish (?). Thenceforth his name has been kept on this date as his feast in numerous English calendars before and after the Norman Conquest. [5]
“Saints Laurence, Justus, and Mellitus are mentioned in the commemoration of the dead in the Stowe Missal.” [5]
Saint Mellitus was buried near Saint Augustine of Canterbury, in the abbey church of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury. [5]
Saint Mellitus pray for us.
Day 9. Saturday, April 25. 00:06 am. A minutes after the feast time. Happy feast Saint Mellitus. Please pray for me to the Lord to do His will.
References:
[1] Thurston, Herbert S.J. and Donald Attwater. 1963 Butler’s Lives of the Saint. Complete Edition. Edited, revised and supplemented by Herbert Thurston, S.J. and Donald Attwater. PJ Kenedy & Sons. New York
[2] https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-story-of-st-mellitus.html
[3] https://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/feast-of-st-mellitus-april-24/
[4] Cannon, John, and Robert Crowcroft. “Mellitus.” A Dictionary of British History. : Oxford University Press, , 2015. Oxford Reference. Date Accessed 18 Apr. 2026 <https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191758027.001.0001/acref-9780191758027-e-2307>.
[5] Farmer, David. “Mellitus.” The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. : Oxford University Press, , 2011. Oxford Reference. Date Accessed 19 Apr. 2026 <https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199596607.001.0001/acref-9780199596607-e-1140>.
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