Today, I will start my November Saints with the letter 'A' and Blessed Alan (or Alain) de le Roche (also known as Alanus de Rupe). I chose Bl. Alan for my brother-in-law and my nephew who share the middle name of Alan.
Alan was born around 1428. Various sources put his birthplace in Germany or Belgium, but the most reliable source says he was born in Brittany. He entered the Dominican Order in 1459. He was well known for his teaching in philosophy and theology and he was a renowned preacher. His special passion, and what he is most remembered for, was the preaching and re-establishment of the rosary.
Pious tradition says that the Rosary was given to St. Dominic in the thirteenth century, but the devotion was nearly lost by Bl. Alan's time two centuries later. Alan supposedly heard the Lord and His Blessed Mother speaking to him telling him to preach this devotion. He is also said to have heard St. Dominic speak to him. Whether or not these "visions" were real (there is some doubt), Alan's preaching bore much fruit and devotion to the Holy Rosary spread.
Alan died in 1475. His feast day is October 26.
No comments:
Post a Comment