include the eleventh century saint
Leonard of Noblac, whose feast day
is November 6th and was prayed to
by many a crusader who was waylaid
before they got to the holy lands.
St Daniel of Padua, who was martyred in 168 AD,
has been venerated ever since as the deacon
of the first Bishop of Padua. Daniel is invoked
by women whose husbands are at war.
Daniel was similar to Portugese priest Anthony of Padua
who is also invoked by those who are confined or imprisoned,
of which there have been many down the centuries.
Whether we subscribe to those ancient figures,
or declare them lost to a history we choose to forget,
we still have to face our own willfull loss of choice,
and recognise the loss of liberty of others - daily.
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