St. Apollinaris
Born Antioch, Syria (now Antakya, modern-day Turkey)
Died Ravenna, Italy
Venerated in Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast July 20 (in Roman Rite of Catholic Church)
July 23 (pre-1969 General Roman Calendars, Eastern Orthodox Church)
Attributes Sword
Patronage epilepsy; gout;
Emilia-Romagna region (Italy)
Aachen, Burtscheid, Düsseldorf, Ravenna, Remagen
Bishop, martyr, and possible disciple of St. Peter. Apollinaris was born in Antioch, Turkey, and became the first bishop of Ravenna, in Italy. He suffered exile because of his preaching and converts. When Emperor Vespasian banished Christians, Apollinaris was beaten by a mob and reputedly died soon after from his wounds. His shrine in the Benedictine Abbey of Classe in Ravenna was once a popular pilgrimage destination. Apollinaris was credited with many miracles. He also appeared to St. Romuald, the founder of the Camaldolese. He is patron of Ravenna, Burthscheid, Aachen, Remagen, and Düsseldorf, and he is invoked against gout, epilepsy, and diseases of the sexual organs. Apollinaris is depicted as a bishop in liturgical art. His cult was confined to local calendars in 1969.
St. Liborius of Le Mans
Born unknown
Gaul
Died 396
Le Mans (modern-day France)
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrine Paderborn
Feast 23 July
Attributes pebbles on a book; peacock; episcopal attire [1]
Patronage against calculi; against colic; against fever; against gall stones; Paderborn Cathedral; Paderborn
Patron saint of Paderborn, Germany, and the bishop of Le Mans, France. His cult is now confined to local calendars.
Liborius of Le Mans (c. 348–397) was the second Bishop of Le Mans. He is the patron saint of the cathedral and archdiocese of Paderborn in Germany. The year of his birth is unknown; he died in 397, reputedly on 23 July.[2]
Le Mans and Paderborn
As for other fourth-century saints, little is known of his life. He was a Gaul, influenced by Latin culture. He is said to have been Bishop of Le Mans for 49 years. He built some churches in its neighbourhood, an indication that his missionary activity was limited to the Gaul of his time. He is said to have ordained, in the course of 96 ordinations, 217 priests and 186 deacons. Saint Martin of Tours assisted him when he was dying. He was buried in the Apostle Basilica of Le Mans, beside his predecessor, Julian, the founder of the bishopric.[2]
Miracles are said to have occurred at his tomb. In 835 Bishop Aldrich placed some relics of his body into an altar in the cathedral, and in the following year, on the instructions of Emperor Louis the Pious, sent the body to Bishop Badurad of Paderborn [de], a diocese founded in 799 by Pope Leo III and Emperor Charlemagne that had no saint of its own.[2]
From this arose a "love bond of lasting brotherhood" that has survived all the hostilities of the succeeding centuries and is considered to be the oldest contract still in force. Both churches bound themselves to help each other by prayer and material assistance, as they have in fact done on more than one occasion.[2]
In view of the power that veneration of Saint Liborius has had in binding peoples together, Archbishop Johannes Joachim Degenhardt of Paderborn established in 1977 the Saint Liborius Medal for Unity and Peace, which is conferred every five years on someone who has contributed to the unity of Europe on Christian principles.[2]
Patronage and symbology
Since Liborius died in the arms of his friend Martin of Tours, he is looked to as a patron of a good death. Since the thirteenth century he is prayed to for assistance against that gallstones that are caused by the water of the limestone area; the first account of a healing of this kind concerns the cure of Archbishop Werner von Eppstein, who came on pilgrimage to the saint's shrine in 1267. This is the origin of the saint's attribute of three stones placed on a copy of the Bible. In the same period he became the patron of the cathedral and the archdiocese, rather than the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Kilian, who were previously in first place. And as stated above, he is seen as a patron of peace and understanding among peoples.[2] He is invoked against colic, fever, and gallstones.
As well as being shown as a bishop carrying small stones on a book, Saint Liborius is also shown with the attribute of a peacock, because of a legend that, when his body was brought to Paderborn, a peacock guided the bearers.
The popularity of the saint in Paderborn is shown in the week-long yearly festival that begins on the Saturday after his 23 July feast day.[2]
Liturgy
St Liborius is a recognized saint of the Roman Catholic Church,[3] but his feast day was not included in the Tridentine Calendar. It was added in 1702 as a commemoration within the 23 July celebration of Saint Apollinaris of Ravenna. The 1969 Mysterii Paschalis revision judged that he was not of sufficient universal importance for insertion in the General Roman Calendar and that it should be left to local calendars to include him.
Saint Bridget of Sweden
புனித பிரிஜித்தா
இவர் தனது 14 ஆம் வயதி லேயே ஸ்வீடன் நாட்டு அரசர் மாக்னஸ்(Magnes) என்பவரை திருமணம் செய்தார். பின்னர் 8 பிள்ளைகளைப்பெற்று தாயானார். தன் பிள்ளை களை ஆன்மீக காரியங்களில் ஈடுபடுத்தி வளர்த்தார். சிறுவயதிலிருந்தே இறைவன் மீது தணியாத தாகம் கொண்டு வாழ்ந்தார். திருமணத்திற்கு பின்னும் ஆலயப் பணிகளில் தன்னை ஈடுபடுத்திகொண்டு, பல துறவற சபைகளுக்கு உதவி செய்தார். அப்போது தன் கணவர் இறந்துவிடவே, தன்னை புனித பிரான்ஸ்கன் 3 ஆம் சபையில் இணைத்துக்கொண்டு ஆன்ம வாழ்வில் வளர்ந்து, பிறருக்கு வழிகாட்டியாகவும் இருந்தார். இளம் வயதிலிருந்தே கடுமையான தவ வாழ்வில் வளர்ந்த இவர் சபையில் சேர்ந்தபின்னும் அதை மிக கடுமையாக கடைபிடித்து வாழ்ந்தார்.
இவர் அரசர் மனைவி என்பதால், கணவருக்கு சொந்தமான சொத்துக்கள் அனைத்தும் இவருக்கே கொடுக்கப்பட்டது. இவர் அவை அனைத்தையும் வைத்து இவர் பெயரில் ஒரு துறவற மடத்தை நிறுவினார். அதன்பிறகு உரோமைக்கு சென்று, அந்நாட்டில் உள்ள மக்களுக்கு ஆன்ம வாழ்வில் எடுத்துக்காட்டாய் வாழ்ந்தார். தான் மேற்கொண்ட கடுந்தவத்தின் காரணமாய், பல நாட்டிற்கு திருப்பயணம் சென்றார். அப்பயணங்களில் பல நூல்களையும் எழுதினார். இளம் வயதிலிருந்தே இறைவனிடமிருந்து தான் பெற்ற காட்சிகள் அனைத்தையும், புத்தகங்களில் வடிவமைத்தார்.
புனிதர் பிரிட்ஜெட், ஒரு ஆன்ம பலம் கொண்ட கைம்பெண்ணும், புனிதரும் ஆவார். இருபதே வயதான தமது கணவரின் மரணத்தின் பின்னர், “ப்ரிட்ஜெட்டைன்ஸ் அருட்சகோதரியர் மற்றும் துறவியர்” (Bridgettines nuns and monks) எனும் பெயர்கொண்ட துறவற சபையை தோற்றுவித்தார். ஸ்வீடனுக்கு வெளியே, “நெரீஷியாவின் இளவரசி” (Princess of Nericia) என்று அறியப்பட்ட இவர், “புனிதர் கேதரினின்” (St. Catherine of Sweden) தாயாருமாவார். இவற்றின் காரணமாகவே இவர் “ஸ்வீடனின் பிரிட்ஜெட்” (Bridget of Sweden) என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றார். ஐரோப்பாவின் பாதுகாவலர்களான ஆறு புனிதர்களான "நர்சியாவின் பெனடிக்ட்" (Benedict of Nursia), "சிரில் மற்றும் மெத்தோடியஸ்" (Saints Cyril and Methodius), "சியன்னாவின் கேதரின்" (Catherine of Siena), "எடித் ஸ்டீன்" (Edith Stein) ஆகியோருள் இவரும் ஒருவர் ஆவார்.
“பிர்ஜிட்டா பிர்கேர்ஸ்டாட்டர்” (Birgitta Birgersdotter) எனும் இயற்பெயர் கொண்ட பிரிட்ஜெட், கி.பி. 1303ம் ஆண்டு, ஜூன் மாதம், பிறந்தவர் ஆவார். தமது 14ம் வயதிலே “நார்கே” பிராந்திய பிரபுவான (Lord of Närke) “உல்ஃகுட்மார்ஸ்ஸோன்” (Ulf Gudmarsson) என்பவரை திருமணம் செய்தார். நான்கு ஆண் குழந்தைகளும், நான்கு பெண் குழந்தைகளுமாக 8 குழந்தைகளுக்கு தாயானார். ஸ்வீடனின் புனிதர் கேதரின் (St. Catherine of Sweden) இக்குழந்தைகளில் ஒருவராவார். தன் பிள்ளைகளை ஆன்மீக காரியங்களில் ஈடுபடுத்தி வளர்த்தார். சிறுவயதிலிருந்தே இறைவன் மீது தணியாத தாகம் கொண்டு வாழ்ந்தார். திருமணத்திற்கு பின்னும் ஆலயப் பணிகளில் தன்னை ஈடுபடுத்திக் கொண்டு, பல துறவற சபைகளுக்கு உதவி செய்தார். இவர் தமது தொண்டுப்பணிகளுக்காக நன்கு அறியப்படுபவர் ஆவார்.
கி.பி. 1341ம் ஆண்டு, பிரிட்ஜெட் தமது கணவருடன் ஸ்பெயின் நாட்டின் வடமேற்கு பிராந்தியமான “கலீசியாவின்” (Galicia) தலைநகரான “சாண்டியாகோ டி கம்போஸ்டெல்லாவிற்கு” (Santiago de Compostela) புனித பயணம் சென்றார். கி.பி. 1344ம் ஆண்டு, புனித பயணத்திலிருந்து திரும்பி வந்த சிறிது காலத்திலேயே இவரது கணவர் மரித்துப்போனார். கணவரின் மரணத்தின் பின்னர், தம்மை ஃபிரான்ஸிஸ்கன் 3ம் நிலை சபையில் (Third Order of St. Francis) இணைத்துக்கொண்டு ஆன்மீக வாழ்வில் தம்மை அர்ப்பணித்தார். இளம் வயதிலிருந்தே கடுமையான செபம் மற்றும் தவ வாழ்வில் வளர்ந்த இவர், சபையில் சேர்ந்தபின்னும் அதை மிக கடுமையாக கடைபிடித்து வாழ்ந்தார். ஏழை மற்றும் நோயுற்றோருக்கு சேவை புரிவதில் தம்மை முழுதும் அர்ப்பணித்தார்.
பிரிட்ஜெட்டுக்கு 7 வயது முதலே ஆண்டவர் இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவின் சிலுவைப்பாடுகளின் தரிசனம் கிட்டியது. அவருக்கு கிட்டிய இறைவனின் தரிசனங்களே அவரது நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கு அடிப்படையாக அமைந்தன. எப்பொழுதும் ஆன்மீக அன்பைக் காட்டிலும் தொண்டுப் பணிகள் மீது கவனம் செலுத்தினார்.
கி.பி. 1350 – ஒரு ஜூபிலி ஆண்டில் (Jubilee Year), ஐரோப்பா முழுதுமே பிளேக் நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த வேளையில், தைரியமாக ரோம் பயணித்தார். இருப்பினும் அவர் தமது நாடான ஸ்வீடனுக்கு திரும்பவேயில்லை. கடன்களாலும், திருச்சபை முறைகேடுகளுக்கு எதிரான அவரது பணிகளுக்கு எதிர்ப்பினாலும், மகிழ்ச்சி என்பது அவருக்கு இல்லாமலேயே போனது.
புனித நாட்டிற்கு பயணம் செய்யும்போது தன்னுடைய மகன்களில் ஒருவர் இறந்துவிட்ட செய்தியை கேட்டார். இதனால் மிகவும் மனத்துயர் அடைந்து, புனித நாட்டிற்கு செல்லாமல் மீண்டும் உரோம் நகர் திரும்பினார். தனது மற்ற பிள்ளைகளை சந்திக்க திட்டமிட்டார். ஆனால் அத்திட்டம் நிறைவேறாமல் போகவே, மனத்துயர் அடைந்து நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டு இறைவனடி சேர்ந்தார். இறக்கும்வரை இறைவனை மட்டுமே இறுகப் பற்றிக்கொண்டிருந்தார். இவர் தியானம் செய்யும்போது பலமுறை இயேசுவின் திருப்பாடுகளை காட்சியாக கண்டார்
Also known as
• Bridget of Vadstena
• Birgit, Birgitta, Bridgid, Brigida
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Daughter of Birger Persson, the governor and provincial judge of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter. Her father was one of the greatest landowners in the country, her mother was known widely for her piety, and the family were descendants of the Swedish royal house. Related to Saint Ingrid of Sweden.
Bridget began receiving visions, most of the Crucifixion, at age seven. Her mother died c.1315 when the girl was about twelve years old, and she was raised and educated by an equally pious aunt. In 1316, at age thirteen, Bridget wed prince Ulfo of Nercia in an arranged marriage. She was the mother of eight, including Saint Catherine of Sweden; some of the other children ignored the Church.
Friend and counselor to many priests and theologians of her day. Chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur in 1335, from which position she counseled and guided the Queen and King Magnus II. After Ulfo's death in 1344 following a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain she pursued a religious life, for which she was harassed by others at the court. She eventually renounced her title of princess. Franciscan tertiary. Cistercian. Mystic, visionary, and mystical writer. She recorded the revelations given her in her visions, and these became hugely popular in the Middle Ages.
Founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines) at Vadstena, Sweden in 1346. It received confirmation by Pope Blessed Urban V in 1370, and survives today, though few houses remain. Pilgrim to Rome, to assorted Italian holy sites, and to the Holy Lands. Chastened and counseled kings and Popes Clement VI, Gregory XI, and Urban VI, urging each to return to Rome from Avignon. Encouraged all who would listen to meditate on the Passion, and of Jesus Crucified.
Born
1302 or 1303 at Finsta Castle, Uppsala, Sweden
Died
• 23 July 1373 at Rome, Italy of natural causes
• buried in 1374 at the Vadstena, Sweden convent she had founded
Canonized
7 October 1391 by Pope Boniface IX
Blessed Margarita de Maturana
Also known as
• Margarita María
• Margarita María López de Maturana y Ortiz de Zárate
• Margarita Maturana
• Mother Margarita de Maturana
• Mother Maturana
• Pilar López de Maturana Ortiz de Zárate
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Pilar and her twin sister Leonor were the youngest of five children born to Juana Ortiz de Zarate and Vicente Lopez de Maturana. Both girls were known for their piety in their youth, and Leonor eventually joined the Carmelites of Charity. On 10 August 1903, Pilar entered the novitiate of the Vera Cruz Mercedarian Monastery at Berriz, Spain, taking the name Margarita. She taught school and later served as principal. By 1922 her health began to suffer, and she developed a duodenal ulcer that plagued her the rest of her life.
Even within a cloistered contemplative order, Margarita was drawn to missionaries, and every night spent time in prayer for their work; when interest in missionaries developed at her school, she formed a group dedicated to praying for them. She eventually felt the call to move from the contemplative life to missionary work, and to take like minded sisters with her. In September 1924 her house asked the superior general of their order to make the case for them, and on 23 January 1926 they were given approval for an experimental move to the missions. On 5 November 1926 a group reached Wuhu, China, and on 4 March 1928 another arrived in Saipan in the northern Marianas islands. Margarita was named Mother Superior of her house on 16 April 1927. On 11 November 1928 she arrived in Ponape in the Marianas on her first mission trip.
The work that she and her sisters did was so successful that on 17 May 1930 the Sacred Congregation for the Religious approved making the house in Berriz a Missionary Institute. On 30 July 1931 Mother Margarita was chosen first Superior General of Mercedarian Missionaries of Bérriz, a position in which she served her remaining years. She made two more lengthy mission trips to the south Pacific, but the ulcer eventually led to cancer, her health failed, and she returned home for treatment and to run the administration of her house. Today there are over 500 Missionary sisters working all over the planet.
Born
25 July 1884 on the 3rd floor of 52 Tenderia Street, Bilboa, Vizcaya, Spain as Pilar López de Maturana y Ortiz de Zárate
Died
12:15 am on 23 July 1934 at Donostia-San Sebastian, Berriz, Vizcaya, Spain of stomach cancer
Beatified
• 22 October 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI
• recognition celebrated at Santiago Cathedral, Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain by Jose Cardinal Saraiva
Blessed Basil Hopko
Also known as
Vasil Hopko
Profile
Son of Anna Petrenko and Basil Hopko, poor, landless peasants. His father died when the boy was just a year old, and when he was four his mother emigrated to the United States to look for work. Educated in Hungary, graduating with honors in 1923. Trained at the Eparchial Seminary, Prjashev, Czechoslovakia. He had dreams of joining his mother in the United States, and of persuing his vocation there, but the cost of recurring health problems left him unable to afford to travel. When he finally decided to serve in his native land, he was suddenly cured, and realized he was been given a sign about his calling. Ordained on 3 February 1929. Parish priest in Prague where he was noted for a mission to the poor, the unemployed, and to students. Taught at the Eparchial Seminary in Prjashev. Awarded the title of Monsignor in 1936. Doctor of Theology in 1940. Auxiliary bishop of Prjashev, Slovakia on 11 May 1947.
Arrested on 28 April 1950 as part of the Communist government's suppression of the Greek Catholic Church. He was kept on starvation rations and tortured for weeks, he was eventually given a show trial and sentenced to 15 years for the "subversive activity" of staying loyal to Rome. He was repeatedly transferred from prison to prison, and continually abused. His health, physical and emotional, failed, and in 1964 he was transferred to a home for the aged and kept under guard there. Though he managed to overcome severe depression, and went on to minister to a group of 120 nuns imprisoned at the home, he never recovered his physical health.
On 13 June 1968 his original eparchy was restored, but a group of activists insisted that a Slovak bishop be appointed to the see; Basil was removed. Deep divisions occured throughout the eparchy, not all of which have yet been settled. Father Basil died without being able to resume leadership of his flock. His death was a direct result of imprisonment, and he is considered one of the many martyred by Communism.
Born
21 April 1904 at Hrabské, Presovský kraj, eastern Slovakia
Died
23 June 1976 at Presov, Presovský kraj, Slovakia
Beatified
14 September 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Bratislava, Slovakia
Ezekiel the Prophet
Also known as
Ezechiel
Article
Prophet, son of Buzi, exiled to Babylon about 598 BC. He began to prophesy five years later and continued for over twenty years. His prophecies form one of the books of the Old Testament and are given in forty-eight chapters. After a vision of the glory of the Lord, under various symbols, he foretells the fall of Jerusalem, its transgression, and the mark of those who are to be saved. He utters the destruction that will come on pagan nations and prophesies the restoration of Theocracy. God will demand penance, triumph over Gog and Magog, and establish a new kingdom of His own in which the city will be called, “The Lord is there” (Ezechiel 48). He is often quoted by Saint John in the Apocalypse; indeed there are many points of similarity between the writings of the Prophet and of the Apostle. He was buried in the sepulchre of Sem and Arphaxad, ancestors of Abraham. Many people were in the habit of going to his tomb to pray. Passages from the prophecy are read in the Divine Office during the first weeks of November.
Blessed Pedro Ruiz de los Paños Angel
Profile
Studied at the seminary in Toledo, Spain. Priest. Joined the Diocesan Laborer Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Administrator of Spanish seminaries in Malaga, Badajoz, Seville and Plasencia, and the Spanish College of Rome, Italy. Director General of the Laborer Priests for three years. Founded the Society for the Promotion of Vocations in Seville to financially support seminarians. Published the periodcal Vocation Pages. Founded the women's congregation Disciples of Jesus in Toledo, Spain in 1934. Martyred by Communists in the Spanish Civil War.
Born
18 September 1881 in Mora, Toledo, Spain
Died
shot on 23 July 1936 in the Paseo del Tránsito in Toledo, Spain
Beatified
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
Blessed Lucrecia García Solanas
Profile
Lay woman in the Archdiocese of Barcelona, Spain. Married to José Gaudí Negre on 9 October 1910; they are not known to have had children. Widowed in 1926, she moved to a house just outside the convent of Minim nuns in Barcelona, Spain where her blood sister served as Mother Superior, and where she followed their spirituality and prayer life without taking vows. Kidnapped, tortured and martyred with her sister and eight other nuns by Communist forces in the Spanish Civil War.
Born
15 August 1866 in Aniñón, Zaragoza, Spain
Died
shot on the evening of 23 July 1936 at the Sant Genís dels Agudells highway, Horta, Barcelona, Spain
Venerated
20 December 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI (decree of martyrdom)
Beatified
27 October 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI
Blessed Wojciech Gondek
Also known as
Cristino, Krystyn
Additional Memorial
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Profile
Joined the Franciscan Friars Minor in 1928, making his solemn profession on 18 April 1933, taking the name Krystyn. Ordained on 21 June 1936, and served as parish priest in Wloclaweck, Poland. Arrested on 26 August 1940, deported, imprisoned, tortured and martyred for his faith by Nazis.
Born
6 April 1909 in Slona, Malopolskie, diocese of Tarnow, Poland
Died
• 23 July 1942 in the Dachau prison camp, Oberbayern, Germany
• body burned in the camp crematorium and his ashes scattered
Beatified
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II
Saint Phocas the Gardener
Also known as
• Phocas of Hovenier
• Phocas of Sinope
• Focas, Fokas
Profile
Innkeeper. Gardener. Martyr. Used surplus crops to feed the poor. Even cared for the soldiers sent to execute him for being a Christian; he fed and sheltered them, and dug his own grave.
Died
beheaded c.303 in Sinope, Pontus (in modern Turkey)
Blessed Jane of Orvieto
Also known as
• Vanna of Orvieto
• Giovanna of Orvieto
Profile
Born to a peasant family and orphaned at age five. Worked as a seamstress and embroiderer. Refused marriage as a young woman, and became a Dominican tertiary at Orvieto, Italy. Visionary, prophet, known for a life of deep prayer; reputed miracle worker and stigmatist.
Born
c.1264 at Carnaiola, Italy
Died
23 July 1306 of natural causes
Beatified
11 September 1754 by Pope Benedict XIV (cultus confirmed)
Blessed Josep Sala Picó
Profile
Studied at the seminary of Seo de Urgel. Ordained on 15 April 1911. Member of the Diocesan Laborer Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 12 August 1914. Director of the seminary of Segovia, Spain. Dean of the College of Vocations in Toledo, Spain. Martyred by Communists in the Spanish Civil War.
Born
24 June 1888 in Pons, Lleida, Spain
Died
shot on 23 July 1936 in the Paseo del Tránsito in Toledo, Spain
Beatified
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
Saint John Cassian
Also known as
• John the Roman
• John the Ascetic
Profile
Pilgrim with his friend Germanus to the Holy Lands. Monk in Egypt and Marseilles, France. Studied under Saint John Chrysostom, who ordained him a deacon. Defended Chrysostom in Rome, Italy. Founded the abbey of Saint Victor and a convent at Marseilles. His writings were recommended by Saint Benedict as treatises on the training of monks.
Born
c.360
Died
433 of natural causes
Saint Anne of Constantinople
Also known as
Susanna of Constantinople
Profile
Born an aristocrat, she was orphaned young and inherited a large fortune. Though she spent her money to support the poor, she attracted a steady stream of greedy suitors. To avoid marriage to a man named Agarenus, a union supported by Emperor Basil the Macedonian, Anne fled from Constantinople to Epirus in Leucadia c.869. She lived there the rest of her life as a hermitess.
Born
in 840 in Constantinople
Died
• 918
• may have been martyred in Constantinople, but records are unclear
Blessed Beaudoin of Beaumont
Profile
Premonstratensian friar. Canon on the Norbertine monastery of Notre-Dame, Belval, Argonne, France. Abbot of the house in 1316. A physically small man, he was known as a man of great faith, strict with his own behavior, generous to the poor. Under his leadership, the house became a center for spiritual growth, and many of its brothers became abbots of other houses.
Born
late 13th century France
Died
1348 at the Norbertine monastery of Notre-Dame, Belval, Argonne, France of natural causes
Blessed Emilio Arce Díez
Profile
Baptized at the age of 2 days. Salesian Brother, making his vows in Carabanchel Alto, Madrid, Spain on 16 July 1926. Head tailor for colleges in the La Coruna, Astudillo and Madrid in Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
Born
31 October 1908 in San Martín de Ubierna, Burgos, Spain
Died
shot on 23 July 1936 in Madrid, Spain
Beatified
28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
Saint Romula of Rome
Profile
Hermitess with Saint Redempta near the church Mary Major in Rome, Italy. Spiritual student of Saint Herundo in Palestine. Helped form a small community of nuns in Rome. Earned the praise of Pope Saint Gregory I the Great. Paralyzed for the last years of her life.
Died
c.580 of natural causes
Saint Valerian of Cimiez
Also known as
Valerian of Lérins
Profile
Monk at Lérins, France. Bishop of Cimiez, France. Attended the Council of Riez in 439, and the Council of Vaison in 442. Some of his written homilies have survived.
Died
c.460
Blessed Mariano Brandi
Profile
Franciscan tertiary. Noted in Franciscan writings for his effectiveness against demons.
Born
latter 15th century, possibly in Florence, Italy
Died
1525 in Corsica (part of modern France) of natural causes
Saint Severus of Bizye
Also known as
• Severus of Bizia
• Severus of Wiza
Profile
Brought Saint Mennone the Centurian to Christianity. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Died
Bizye, Thrace (in modern Turkey)
Saint Herundo of Rome
Profile
Hermitess near the church of Saint Mary Major in Rome, Italy with Saint Romula and Saint Redempta. Saint Gregory the Great thought highly of them.
Born
at Rome, Italy
Died
c.580 of natural causes
Saint Rasyphus of Macé
Profile
Fifth-century hermit in northern France. Martyr.
Born
British Isles
Died
• at Macé, France
• relics enshrined in Bayeaux, France
Saint Ravennus of Macé
Profile
Fifth-century hermit in northern France. Martyr.
Born
British Isles
Died
• at Macé, France
• relics enshrined in Bayeaux, France
Blessed Juan de Luca
Profile
Mercedarian friar. In 1343 he freed 116 Christians who had been enslaved in Algiers by Muslims; as he travelled through the region he managed to convert many Muslims to the faith.
Saint Redempta of Rome
Profile
Holy ascetic woman who lived near the church of Saint Mary Major in Rome, Italy.
Died
c.580
Saint Primitiva of Rome
Also known as
Primitia, Privata
Profile
Martyr.
Died
Rome, Italy, date unknown
Saint Theophilus of Rome
Profile
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Died
beheaded c.302 in Rome, Italy
Blessed Juan de Montesinos
Profile
Mercedarian friar. Missionary. Martyr.
Died
shot with arrows in 1619
Saint Trophimus of Rome
Profile
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
Died
beheaded c.302 in Rome, Italy
Saint Rasyphus of Rome
Profile
Martyr venerated in Rome, Italy from early times, but no details about him have survived.
Saint Apollonius of Rome
Profile
Martyr.
Died
tied to a stake and shot with arrows
Blessed Leonard da Recanati
Profile
Mercedarian friar. Bishop.
Born
Italy
Saint Conan of Cornwall
Profile
Companion of Saint Petroc in 6th century Cornwall, England.
Saint Eugene of Rome
Profile
Martyr.
Died
beheaded
Martyrs of Barcelona
Profile
Seven Christians, some lay people, some members of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and some of the Franciscan Daughters of Mercy, who were martyred in two groups on the same day in the Spanish Civil War.
• Catalina Caldés Socías
• Francesc Mayol Oliver
• Miquel Pons Ramis
• Miquela Rul-Làn Ribot
• Pau Noguera Trías
• Prudència Canyelles Ginestà de Aguadé
• Simó Reynés Solivellas
Died
23 July 1936 in Barcelona, Spain
Beatified
28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
Martyrs of Bulgaria
Profile
An unknown number of Christians killed for their faith during the 9th century war between the Greek Emperor Nicephorus and the Bulgars.
Martyrs of Carabanchel Bajo
Profile
A group of nine Passionist priests, brothers and clerics who were martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.
• Anacario Benito Nozal
• Felipe Ruiz Fraile
• Felipe Valcobado Granado
• José Osés Sainz
• José Ruiz Martinez
• Julio Mediavilla Concejero
• Laurino Proaño Cuesta
• Manuel Pérez Jiménez
• Maurilio Macho Rodríguez
Died
22 July 1936 in Carabanchel Bajo, Madrid, Spain
Beatified
1 October 1989 by Pope John Paul II
Martyrs of Horta
Profile
A lay woman and nine Minim nuns who were martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.
• Ana Ballesta Gelmá
• Dolors Vilaseca Gallego
• Josefa Pilar García Solanas
• Josepa Panyella Doménech
• Lucrecia García Solanas
• Maria Montserrat Ors Molist
• Mercè Mestre Trinché
• Ramona Ors Torrents
• Teresa Ríus Casas
• Vicenta Jordá Martí
Died
23 July 1936 at the Sant Genís dels Agudells highway, Horta, Barcelona, Spain
Beatified
27 October 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI
Martyrs of Manzanares
Profile
Five Passionist clerics who were martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.
• Abilio Ramos y Ramos
• Epifanio Sierra Conde
• José Estalayo García
• Vicente Díez Tejerina
• Zacarías Fernández Crespo
Died
shot on 23 July 1936 in Manzanares, Ciudad Real, Spain
Beatified
1 October 1989 by Pope John Paul II
Our Lady of Altino
Our Lady of Altino refers to the Virgin Mary, believed to have appeared on Mount Altino in Italy. Here's what we know:
Apparition: Tradition says Mary appeared on July 23rd, 1496, during a heatwave and drought. A local man named Quinto Foglia prayed to Mary for water, and the apparition is said to have followed
Sanctuary: A sanctuary was built on Mount Altino in honor of Our Lady of Altino. You can find information about visiting the sanctuary on the official tourism website for Bergamo, Italy
Feast Day: July 23rd is celebrated as the feast day of Our Lady of Altino
Panagia Evangelistria
Panagia Evangelistria, also known as Our Lady of Tinos or Megalochari (Great Grace), is the most important Greek Orthodox pilgrimage site and one of the most famous Marian shrines in the world.
The church complex is centered around a miraculous icon of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, which according to tradition, was discovered in 1823 after a vision by a nun named Pelagia.
The feast day of Panagia Evangelistria is celebrated multiple times a year, depending on the specific event being commemorated:
January 30th: This marks the anniversary of the finding of the holy icon in 1823.
March 25th: This coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation, a major celebration in Christianity that honors the Virgin Mary receiving news of Jesus' birth from the angel Gabriel.
July 23rd: This date commemorates the vision of Saint Pelagia, who is said to have received instructions from the Virgin Mary about the location of the icon.
