December 1 – Blessed Anuarite Nengapeta Marie-Clementine
(1964 virgin and martyr, a member of the Holy Family Sisters in Kinshasa, Zaire, martyred by the Simba rebels).

Anuarite was a virgin and martyr. She was a member of the Holy Family Sisters in Kinshasa, Zaire. Anuarite was of the Babudu tribe, born in Wamba, and passed all her religious life in Bafwabaka, the first mission in that area. At birth, she received the name of Nengapeta, which in the language of the Babudu means, “wealth is deceptive.”

When she started primary school she was registered by error with the name Anuarite. That was the name of her sister. In her language the name meant, “I laugh to myself about war.” The error was providential. At baptism, she received the name of Alfonsina, and in religious life, the name Marie-Clemintine.

She was raped and killed by the Simba rebels on December 1, 1964.

Pope John Paul II went to Kinshasa, Zaire and celebrated the beatification ceremony on August 15, 1985. She was the first Bantu woman elevated to the altars, and like in the first centuries Christianity, a virgin consecrated to the Lord. She followed in the footsteps of great women like Saints Cecilia, Agnes, Lucy, and so many others.

Anuarite’s life was a lesson of modesty, love, fidelity and valor. In her life one sees a wonderful example of the freedom of the children of God, freed from all manner of disagreements and impositions. She demonstrated how God chose the weak of this world to shame the strong.

December 3 – St. Cassian of Tangiers
(298 a lawyer who resigned and became a Christian and died as a martyr).

Martyr mentioned in a hymn by St. Prudentius, also called Cassian of Tangiers. He was a court recorder at the trial of St. Marcellus the Centurion. Aurelius Agricola, deputy prefect in the Roman province in North Africa, conducted the trial. When the death penalty was imposed on St. Marcellus, Cassian threw down his pen and declared that he was a Christian. He was arrested immediately and put to death. Cassian is patron of modern stenographers.

December 10 – St. Miltiades
(One of the Church’s Black Popes)

Miltiades occupied the papacy from 311 to 314 A.D. serving four years, seven months and eight days. Miltiades decreed that none of the faithful should fast on Sunday or on the fifth day of the week, because this was the custom of the pagans. He also found residing in Rome a Persian based religion call Manichaenism. He furthered decreed that consecrated offerings should be sent throughout the churches from the Pope’s consecration. This was called leaven. It was Miltiades who led the Church to final victory over the Roman Empire. Miltiades was buried on the famous Appian Way.