Saints and Feast Days for July 2014

Saints and Feast Days for July 2014

July 1st -Most Precious Blood of Jesus -This feast calls to mind that the Redemption was bought at a great price, that of the Blood of Christ, shed in such pain and love for us.

July 2nd -Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary -At the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel revealed that Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, was also with child. With haste, the Virgin went to minister to her until the birth of John the Baptist.

July 3rd -St. Leo II (Pope) -His short pontificate was noted for calling the council that condemned the Monothelite heresy in the seventh century. He had a great interest in perfecting church music and concern for the poor.

July 4th -St. Odo (Bishop) -In 942 Odo was named Archbishop of Canterbury and was active in both legal and monastic reforms.

July 5th -St. Anthony-Mary Zaccaria (Confessor) -At age 28 he founded the Clerks of St. Paul, later called the Barnabites. Like St. Paul, whom he greatly admired, he was consumed by apostolic labors, dying at age 35 in 1539.

July 6th -St. Maria Goretti (Virgin and Martyr) -(1890-1902) A beautiful child, Maria was the victim of a young man's impure assault. While resisting him she was stabbed fourteen times. She died the next day forgiving her attacker.

July 7th -Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Bishops) -In the ninth century these brothers labored to evangelize the Eastern empire. They invented the Slav alphabet, translated the Scriptures and offered the sacred liturgy in that language. They are called the Apostles of the Slavs.

July 8th -St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Queen) -(1271-1336) Named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Nov. 19), and like her, led a life of extraordinary piety and charity. She was a reputed peacemaker.

July 9th -St. Thomas More (Martyr) -(1478-1535) A devout layman, lawyer and scholar, he was made Chancellor of England under Henry VIII. Refusing to approve Henry's divorce, Thomas was jailed in the tower and beheaded, keeping his humorous wit to the end.

July 10th -Ss. Rufina and Secunda (Virgins and Martyrs) -They were probably sisters who were captured during Valerian's persecution in the third century. After suffering torture they were beheaded for their Faith.

July 11th -St. Pius I (Pope and Martyr) -In the second century he guarded the Church against various Gnostic doctrines and is venerated as a martyr.

July 12th -St. John Gualbert (Abbot) -St. John, a soldier, converted when he sought to avenge his brother's murderer, becoming instead a model of forgiveness. He founded the order of Vallombrosa in the eleventh century.

July 13th -St. Serapion (Martyr) -An Easterner, probably of Macedonia, he was put to death during the persecution of Septimius Severus in the 2nd century.

July 14th -St. Bonaventure (Bishop and Doctor) -(1221-1274) The "Seraphic Doctor" was a glory of the Franciscans by his teaching; clear mindedness and ardor.

July 15th -St. Henry (Emperor and Confessor) -Henry II, called the Pious, reigned over the Holy Roman Empire from 1014-1024. He worked for the spread of religion by building churches and monasteries, while living an exemplary life.

July 16th -Our Lady of Mt. Carmel- To bring unity to the Carmelites the Blessed Virgin appeared to the Superior General, St. Simon Stock, and presented him with a habit. She promised special blessings for all who wear the Brown Scapular devoutly.

July 17th -St. Alexius (Confessor) -According to tradition he fled his wealthy family on his wedding day to live an ascetical life. Seventeen years later he returned home in disguise to live as a servant. He probably lived in the fourth or fifth century.

July 18th -St. Camillus de Lellis (Confessor) -While a soldier in Italy he received an incurable wound and also became addicted to gambling. Later, being converted, he founded a congregation devoted to hospitals and the sick. He is the patron of nurses.

July 19th -St. Vincent de Paul (Confessor) -As a youth St. Vincent fell into the hands of Turkish pirates who carried him off to Africa. When he returned to France he became an angel of mercy toward the poor, sick and insane. He is patron of Catholic charitable societies.

July 20th -St. Jerome Emilian (Confessor) -(1481-1537) After his ordina- tion St. Jerome was consumed with care for the poor and plague stricken. He began a congregation of Clerks Regular to educate and care for orphans. He died of the plague, a victim of charity.

July 21st -St. Praxedes (Virgin) -Little is known about her, except that she was the daughter of a Roman senator and sister of St. Pudentiana, who aided Christians during the persecution under Marcus Aurelius.

July 22nd -St. Mary Magdalene (Penitent) -Christ elevated her from a life of sin to perfect love. Once transformed, Magdalene formed part of the group of holy women, stood at the foot of the cross, and was the first to see Christ risen again.

July 23rd -St. Apollinaris (Bishop and Martyr) -The first bishop of Ravenna, Italy is said to have been banished and tortured four times and finally, beaten to death by a mob during the reign of Vespasian in the first century.

July 24th -St. Christina (Virgin and Martyr) -At the age of ten she destroyed the idols in her father's house for which she was delivered to extreme tortures and death in 303. She is the patroness of Palermo and all of Sicily.

July 25th -St. James the Greater (Apostle) -Christ called James and his brother, John, to leave their fishing nets to follow Him. James preached in Judea, Samaria and Spain. He was beheaded in Jerusalem, but his body was carried back to Compostella, Spain, a popular, pilgrimage site.

July 26th -St. Anne -Early veneration of St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, began in the East and spread to the Western church, becoming universal. Her name signifies grace. She is the patroness of Christian mothers.

July 27th -St. Pantaleon (Martyr) -Pantaleon, a doctor, was arrested, tortured and beheaded under Diocletian. He is one of the fourteen Auxiliary Saints (Holy Helpers). He is invoked against tuberculosis and is patron of medical men.

July 28th -St. Nazarius (Martyr) -In Milan about the year 68 A.D. Nazarius and Celsus were beheaded. In 395, when their bodies were discovered, a vial of bright red blood was also found in the tomb, as if it had just been shed.

July 29th -St. Martha (Virgin) -According to Scripture, Martha, the elder sister of Mary Magdelene, often hosted Our Lord at her home in Bethany. Jesus raised her brother, Lazurus from the dead.

July 30th -Ss. Abdon and Sennen (Martyrs) -They were two martyrs, probably from Persia, who were brought to Rome under Diocletian. They were hacked to death by gladiators for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods.

July 31st -St. Ignatius Loyola (Confessor) -At first taking up a military career, he later determined only to serve his Divine King. For this end he founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to combat Protestantism and paganism throughout the world.

Taken from
http://www.praytherosaryapostolate.com/calendarofsaints.htm