1st APRIL - SAINT NONIUS ALVARES PEREIRA Rel, Prior ON

Today we honour of our new saint, canonised by the Holy Father in 2009.  His feast is a Memorial in the New Rite of Mass, and kept as a commemoration in the Extraordinary Form, as it always falls in Lent.

He was born Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira on 24 July 1360 at Santares, Portugal and he died Easter Sunday, 1 April 1431.  He was a cousin of the founder of the Braganza family, the royal house of Portugal. 

He entered the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes at the age of 23.  At the age of 25, while serving King John I as Constable he defeated a much larger invading Castilian army, thereby assuring Portugal’s independence. Renowned as one of the most famous knights of his age in all of Europe, he was Constable of the Kingdom of Portugal and also Prior of our Order in Portugal.

He was outstandingly generous and charitable towards the poor, and in later life became a lay-brother in the Carmelite Order where he was remarkable for his devotion to Our Lady and humbly undertook the meanest of duties.

Blessed Nonius, you protected a kingdom but also served the lowest.  Pray for Our Grand Master and for our Order, for all our members and benefactors and for those whom we strive to serve.

Collect from the Missal of the Order

O God, who called Saint Nuno to lay down the weapons of this world

and follow Christ under the protection of the Blessed Virgin,

Grant through the intercession of this former member of our Order

that we too may deny ourselves and cling to you with all our hearts.

Through the same Jesus Christ your Son,

who lives and reigns with you an the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.