| 12 August |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Optional Memorial of Saint Jeanne de Chantal, Religious |
• Jane Frances of Chantel
• Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal
• 18 August (United States)
• 12 December (from 1970 to 2001)
• 21 August (the date of the founding of her Order; from 1769 to 1969)
Born to the nobility, the daughter of the president of the Parliment of Burgundy who raised her alone after the death of her mother when Jeanne was 18 months old. Married in 1592 at age twenty to Baron de Chantal. Mother of four. Widowed at 28 when the Baron was killed in a hunting accident and died in her arms. Taking a personal vow of chastity, she was forced to live with her father-in-law, which was a period of misery for her. She spent her free time in prayer, and received a vision of the man who would become her spiritual director. In Lent, 1604, she met Saint Francis de Sales, and recognized him as the man in her vision. She became a spiritual student and close friend of Saint Francis, and the two carried on a lengthy correspondence for years. On Trinity Sunday, 6 June 1610 she founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady at Annecy, France. The Order was designed for widows and lay women who did not wish the full life of the orders, and Jeanne oversaw the founding of 69 convents. Jeanne spent the rest of her days overseeing the Order, and acting as spiritual advisor to any who desired her wisdom. Visitationist nuns today live a contemplative life, work for women with poor health and widows, and sometimes run schools.
28 January 1572 at Dijon, Burgundy, France
• 13 December 1641 at the Visitationist convent at Moulins, France of natural causes
• relics at Annecy, Savoy (in modern France
16 July 1767 by Pope Clement XIII
• against in-law problems
• against the death of parents
• forgotten people
• parents separated from children
• widows
When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? - Saint Jeanne
Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about. - Saint Jeanne
She was full of faith, and yet all her life long she had been tormented by thoughts against it. Nor did she once relax in the fidelity God asked of her. And so I regard her as one of the holiest souls I have ever met on this earth. - Saint Vincent de Paul
We should go to prayer with deep humility and an awareness of our nothingness. We must invoke the help of the Holy Spirit and that of our good angel, and then remain still in God's presence, full of faith that he is more in us than we are in ourselves. - Saint Jeanne
Fidelity toward God consists in being perfectly resigned to his holy will, in enduring everything that his goodness allows in our lives, and in carrying out all our duties, especially that of prayer, with love and for love. In prayer we must converse very familiarly with our Lord, concerning our little needs, telling him what they are, and remaining submissive to anything he may wish to do with us.... We should go to prayer with deep humility and an awareness of our nothingness. We must invoke the help of the Holy Spirit and that of our good angel, and then remain still in God's presence, full of faith that he is more in us than we are in ourselves. There is no danger if our prayer is without words or reflection because the good success of prayer depends neither on words nor on study. It depends upon the simple raising of our minds to God, and the more simple and stripped of feeling it is, the surer it is. We must never dwell on our sins during prayer. Regarding our offenses, a simple humbling of our soul before God, without a thought of this offense or that, is enough....such thoughts act as distractions. - Saint Jeanne de Chantal, from Wings to the Lord
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jeanne-de-chantal/
Benedetto Odescalchi
Born to a pious patrician family; his brother became bishop of Novara, Italy. Benedetto felt an early call to the priesthood. Educated by Jesuits at Como, Italy. Apprentice at his family's bank in Genoa, Italy when he was fifteen. Studied law at Rome and Naples in Italy, and received his Doctor of law degree in 1639. Protonotary apostolic to Pope Urban VIII. President of the Apostolic Chamber. Commissary at Ancona, Italy. Papal administrator of Macerata, Italy. Papal financial commissary in the Marches. Governor of Picena. Cardinal-deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano on 6 March 1645. Prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Grace on 22 January 1647. Cardinal-priest of Sant' Onofrio. Papal legate to Ferrara, Italy, assigned to oversee famine relief on 15 June 1648. Bishop from Novara, Italy on 4 April 1650 to 6 March 1656. Noted for spending all the revenues of his see in charity to the poor and sick. Part of the conclave of 1655 that chose Pope Alexander VII. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from 12 January 1660 to 24 January 1661. Papal legate to Ferrara in 1666. Part of the conclave of 1667 that chose Pope Clement IX. Part of the conclave of 1669 - 1670 that chose Pope Clement X; was nearly elected himself. Chosen 240th pope on 21 September 1676 after a two month inter-regnum, taking the name Innocent XI.
Stood against the meddling in Church affairs by King Louis XIV of France; Louis tried to get back in papal favour by persecuting Protestants, but Innocent immediately pleaded for a halt to the abuse. Fought nepotism in Church bureaucracy, worked to reduce the expenses of the Curia. Encouraged catechetical instruction. He disapproved of James II's method of attempting to restore Catholicism in England, but it is not true that he supported William of Orange against the king. Fought Jansenism, Quietism, and the heresies promoted by Molinos. He encouraged daily Communion, insisted on a high standard of education in the seminaries, condemned gambling, immodesty in dress, and laxism in moral theology. Noted for his simple, pious life both before and after his ascension to the papacy.
19 May 1611 at Como, Italy as Benedetto Odescalchi
• elected unanimously on 21 September 1676
• installed on 4 October 1676
• 12 August 1689 at Rome, Italy of natural causes
• buried in a mausoleum under the altar of San Sebastiano in Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
7 October 1956 by Pope Pius XII
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-pope-innocent-xi/
Lay woman of the diocese of Córdoba, Spain. She studied at teacher’s college in Seville, Spain, earning her degree in 1923. She joined the Teresian Institute in 1926. Taught school in rural Spain where she worked at night to educate adults and working women. She founded a library, was extremely active in her parish, and organized a Catholic Action group. Arrested on 11 August 1936 by anti–Catholic forces in Spanish Civil War, and murdered the next day. Martyr.
11 November 1903 in Seville, Spain
• shot in the early morning of 12 August 1936 in near an abandoned mine near Hornachuelos, Córdoba, Spain
• relics enshrined at the oratory of the Teresian Institute mother house
10 October 1993 by Pope John Paul II
Victoria Díez Bustos de Molina...from selfless work as a teacher, knew how to incarnate the spirituality of the Teresian Institution, in which she had made her total surrender to God by pronouncing these words: "If it is necessary to give the life to identify with Christ, our divine model, from today I cease to exist for the world, because my life is Christ and I die gain". This Blessed is an example of openness to the Spirit and of apostolic fruitfulness. She knew how to become sanctified in her work as an educator in a rural community, collaborating at the same time in the parish activities, particularly in catechesis. The joy that she transmitted to all was a faithful reflection of that unconditional surrender to Jesus, which led her to the supreme witness of offering her life for the salvation of many. – Pope John Paul II in the homily for the beatification of Blessed Victoria
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-vittoria-diaz-y-bustos-de-molina/
Born to a pious family of shepherds, and he worked the fields as a boy. Educated at the Dominican Apostolic School. Dominican novice in Toledo, Spain; he made his solemn profession in 1887, taking the name Bonaventure of Saint Louis Bertran. Studied theology in Avila, Salamanca, Valencia and Madrid in Spain, concentrating on the works of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Priest, ordained on 25 July 1891 in Avila. Obtained doctorates in philosophy and civil law. Returned to Avila where he taught and began writing. Prior of his house in 1901. Opened a school in Segovia, Spain. Superior of the province of Manila, Philippines on 14 May 1910. Supervised the building of schools and hospitals in China, Japan and Vietnam; he worked to recruit more Dominican friars, and to insure the proper spiritual formation of those novices. Founded the magazine Missiones Dominicans. Built the Theological Study Center of New Orleans, Louisiana. Elected reluctant Master-General of the Dominicans on 22 May 1926; he was actually hoping to retire, but accepted the duty. Martyred in the persecutions of the Spanish Civil War.
19 April 1866 in Castañedo, Valdés, Asturias, Spain
• shot by firing squad on 12 August 1936 in Fuencarral, Madrid, Spain
• buried in the cemetery of Fuencarral
• re-interred in the crypt of the Santísimo Rosario Church in Madrid in 1940
• re-interred at the Convento de Santo Tomás de ávila, Madrid in 1967
28 October 2007 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-buenaventura-garcia-paredes-pallasa/
Studied theology in Münster, and tried to establish Catholic youth groups. However, the Nazis sought control of all work with youth, and he had to take teenagers "camping" in Belgium and the Netherlands in order to freely discuss Catholicism.
He spent six months in compulsory agricultural work during which, despite Nazi opposition, he organized Sunday Mass for his fellow workers. His home was raided by the Gestapo, who seized his diaries and papers. These meticulously preserved documents tell how the spiritual young man became a heroic religious leader.
Ordained deacon by Bishop von Galen in 1939. Imprisoned in Freiburg, Mannheim and Sachsenhausen for criticizing Hitler. Transferred on 14 December 1941 to Dachau, where he was secretly ordained on 17 December 1944 by French bishop Gabriel Piquet, who had been admitted to the camp with the help of local religious authorities. Leisner was so sick he had to postpone his first Mass for over a week.
Still in the camp when it was liberated on 4 May 1945, but was immediately transferred to tuberculosis sanitarium of Planegg, near Munich, Germany for the remaining months of his life.
28 February 1915 at Rees, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
12 August 1945 at Planneg, Bavaria, Germany of tuberculosis
23 June 1996 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-karl-leisner/
• Father Florian
• prisoner 22738
Born to a farm family, the son of Paul and Anna Misztal; he was baptized at the age of one day. Jozef's mother died when the boy was very small. Studied at the Capuchin college of Saint Fidelis in Lomza, Poland; he was a mediocre student, succeeded through simple determination and hard work. Franciscan tertiary. Entered the Capuchin novitiate at Nowe Miasto, Poland on 14 August 1931, taking the name Florian; he made his profession on 15 August 1935. Ordained on 24 June 1938, he continued his studies at the Catholic University of Lublin. When the Nazi anti-Catholic persecutions began soon after the invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, Father Jozef refused to flee the area, preferring to take his chances so he could continue ministering to his brother frars and the local Christians. Arrested by the Gestapo on 25 January 1940 he was first imprisoned in Sachsenhausen and then Dachau where he was worked and starved until he was of no more use in the fields. Martyr.
3 January 1912 in Zdzary, Mazowieckie, Poland
gassed on 12 August 1942 in the death chambers of Dachau concentration camp, Oberbayern, Germany
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jozef-stepniak/
Son of a miller. Seminarian in Avila, Spain in 1880. Ordained on 15 March 1893. Parish priest in Narros del Puerto, Spain. Studied theology at the San Carlo Borromeo seminary and law at the University of Valladolid. Taught in the seminary in Madrid, Spain. Canon of the cathedral of Leon, Spain. Director of the Circle of Catholic Workers, the Association of the Apostleship of Prayer, and the Conference of Saint Vincent de Paul. Bishop of Lugo, Spain on 3 September 1909. Bishop of Jaén, Spain from 18 December 1919 until his death. Supported catechism of children and adults, and supported the formation of worker's unions and Catholic Action. Arrested for his faith on 2 August 1936. Martyred in the persecutions of the Spanish Civil War.
17 May 1860 in Adanero, ávila, Spain
• shot on a prisoner transport train on 12 August 1936 in Vallecas, Madrid, Spain
• buried in the crypt in the Cathedral of Jaén, Spain
• 27 October 2013 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated at Tarragona, Spain
He who has God lacks nothing. - episcopal motto of Bishop Manuel
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-manuel-basulto-jimenez/
Baptized at the age of two days. After studying at the seminary of Saint Julian, he was ordained a priest in the diocese of Almería, Spain on 26 May 1888. Chaplain of the convent of San Clemente in 1890. Parish priest in Villar de Cantos, Spain. Bursar of the collegiate church of Belmonte. Canter at the cathedral of Almería. Missionary to Argentina in 1910 where he served for seven years. In 1933, his failing health confined him to the area of Cuenca, Spain. When the anti–Catholic militia in the Spanish Civil War came for him, they first tried to stage his death so it looked like a suicide; the 71 year old man fought so hard to avoid that scandal that the militiamen gave up and killed him outright. Martyr.
15 July 1865 in Cuenca Spain
shot on 12 August 1936 in the bullfighting ring in Cuenca Spain
• 25 March 2017 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated in the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Aguadulce, Almería, Spain, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-enrique-maria-gomez-jimenez/
The son of Miguel Pérez and Portela Saturnina. Entered the seminary in Madrid, Spain in 1907. Began studying at the Spanish School of San Jose, in Rome, Italy in October 1913. Studied theology and canon law at the Gregorian University. Ordained on 10 March 1918, and became a parish priest in Madrid. Personal secretary to Venerable Manuel Basulto Jiménez, bishop of Jaén, Spain, in June 1920. Vicar General of the diocese in 1935. Dean of the cathedral of Jaén. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
21 February 1895 in Adanero, ávila, Spain
• shot on a prisoner transport train on 12 August 1936 in Vallecas, Madrid, Spain
• buried in the crypt in the Cathedral of Jaén, Spain
• 27 October 2013 by Pope Francis
• beatification recognition celebrated at Tarragona, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-felix-perez-portela/
• Euplio
• Euplius
Deacon. Tortured and martyred by order of governor Calvisianus in the persecutions of Diocletian for the crime of possessing a copy of the Gospels. His copy of the Scripture was taken when he was arrested; in court he was asked if he had any other copies, and he began to recite them from memory.
• flogged to death on 12 August 304 in Catania, Sicily, Italy
• relics in Trevico, Italy that were long thought to be from Euplus were examined scientifically in 2005 and determined to be from three different people
• Catania, Sicily, Italy
• Francavilla di Sicilia, Italy
• Trevico, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-euplus-of-catania/
Anthony Dich Nguyen
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Married layman in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin. A wealthy farmer, solid citizen, and patron of his church. He worked to help the missionaries of the Paris Foreign Mission Society, supporting them financially, and hiding priests from government oppression. Arrested and tortured for his faith, his association with foreigners, and for sheltering priests, especially Saint James Nam, who was arrested on Anton's property. One of the Martyrs of Vietnam.
c.1769 in Chi Long, Hanoi, Vietnam
beheaded on 12 August 1838 in Bay Mau, Hanoi, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anton-nguyen-dich/
Priest in the diocese of Limoges, France. Imprisoned on a ship in the harbor of Rochefort, France and left to die during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the French Revolution. One of the Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort.
19 April 1737 in Saint-Yrieix, Haute-Vienne, France
12 August 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-pierre-jarrige-de-la-morelie-de-puyredon/
1 November (Ávila, Spain)
Known as a pious child, when Pedro's parents died he moved to the area of modern Ribera Barcense, started a garden which he used to feed himself and the area poor. Catechist to any who would listen. His reputation for holiness and zeal for the faith led to him being chosen canon of the cathedral of Segovia. Priest. Hermit near the river Tormes.
1088 in Ávila, Spain
1155 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-pedro-del-barco/
James Nam
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Priest in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin. Worked with the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris. One of the Martyrs of Vietnam.
c.1781 in Dông Biên, Thanh Hóa, Vietnam
beheaded on 12 August 1838 in Bay Mau, Hanoi, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-giacobe-do-mai-nam/
Priest in the diocese of Wloclawek, Poland. Martyred in the Nazi persecutions.
18 January 1885 in Wloclawek, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland
gassed on 12 August 1942 in the death chambers of Dachau concentration camp, Oberbayern, Germany
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jozef-straszewski/
Porcario
Benedictine monk. Abbot of Lérins, France, a house of 500 monks. Warned in a vision that the monastery would be attacked, he managed to evacuate about three dozen of the students and younger brothers to the mainland by boat; Porcarius and all but four of the remaining brothers were massacred by invading Saracens. Martyr.
c.732 at Lérins, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-porcarius-of-lerins/
Chiara, Gegoberga, Sigaberga
Daughter of Saint Romaric of Remiremont. In the mid-7th century, she and her sister Azaltrude became nuns at the Remiremont Abbey which her father had built, and Cecilia long served as its abbess.
eyes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cecilia-of-remiremont/
Charles Mahoney
22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
Franciscan priest. Martyred in connection with the Titus Oates Plot.
c.1640 in Ireland
12 August 1679 at Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-charles-meehan/
24 November as one of the Martyrs of Vietnam
Lifelong layman in the apostolic vicariate of West Tonkin. One of the Martyrs of Vietnam.
c.1804 in Ke Vinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
12 August 1838 in Bay Mau, Hanoi, Vietnam
19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-micae-nguyen-huy-my/
Tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
• burned at the stake in 304 at Nicomedia on the shores of the Sea of Marmora
• relics enshrined in a church on the island of Daphnos in the Agean Sea
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anicetus-of-marmora/
Simplicius
Eighth bishop of Vercelli, Italy. Served during a period of barbarian invasion. No records of his episcopate have survived.
c.470
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-simplicio-of-vercelli/
Fotinus, Fozio
Tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
• burned at the stake in 304 at Nicomedia on the shores of the Sea of Marmora
• relics enshrined in a church on the island of Daphnos in the Agean Sea
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-photinus-of-marmora/
Muredach, Muiredach
Disciple of Saint Patrick, and may have been a relative. First bishop of Killala, Ireland, consecrated by Patrick c.443. In later years he became a hermit on the island of Innesmurray.
diocese of Killala, Ireland
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-murtagh-of-killala/
Mother of Saint Afra of Augsburg. While visiting the tomb of Saint Afra with some friends, she was seized by the authorities and martyred.
burned alive c.304
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hilaria-of-augsburg/
Gratiliano
While in prison for his faith, Gracilian restored the sight of a blind girl, Saint Felicissima, and converted her to the faith. Martyr.
at Faleria, Italy
beheaded c.304
Bassano Romano, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gracilian/
Daughter of Prince Cairthenn. Lived in the Irish cities of Limerick and Kerry. Nun. Superior of a convent in Munster, Ireland. Several Irish place names keep her memory alive, and her house was renamed Saint Lelias’s in honour of her holiness.
Irish
5th century Ireland
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lelia/
Jaenbert, Janbert
Abbot of Saint Augustine's monastery, Canterbury, England. Archbishop of Canterbury, England in 765.
792 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jambert-of-canterbury/
Ercolano
Bishop of Brescia, Italy.
c.550
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-herculanus-of-brescia/
Fourth bishop of Vercelli, Italy. No records of his episcopate have survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-discolio-of-vercelli/
A blind girl whose sight was restored by Saint Gracilian when he was in prison for his faith. Convert. Martyr.
beheaded c.304
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-felicissima-the-blind/
Monk. Martyred for trying to spread the faith to pagans.
Syria
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-macarius-of-syria/
Monk. Martyred for trying to spread the faith to pagans.
Syria
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julian-of-syria/
Just, Justus
Hermit. The town of Saint Just near Penzance, Cornwall, England is named after him.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ust/
Venerated in Marhamchurch near Bude, Cornwall, England, but no details have survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-merewenna/
The mother, Hilaria, and three friends of of Saint Afra of Augsburg. While visiting the tomb of Saint Afra who were seized by the authorities and martyred when they visited Afra's tomb - Digna, Eunomia, Euprepia and Hilaria.
burned alive c.304
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-augsburg/
Six Claretian brothers and priests who were martyred together in the persecutions of the Spanish Civil War.
• Gregorio Chirivas Lacamba
• José Pavón Bueno
• Nicasio Sierra Ucar
• Pere Cunill Padrós
• Sebastián Calvo Martínez
• Wenceslau Clarís Vilaregut
12 August 1936 in Barbastro, Huesca, Spain
25 October 1992 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-barbastro/
Four parish priests who were murdered together in the persecutions of the Spanish Civil War.
• Antoni Nogués Martí
• Joan Rofes Sancho
• Josep Maria Sancho Toda
• Ramon Martí Amenós
12 August 1936 in La Torre de Fontaubella, Tarragona, Spain
• 13 October 2013 by Pope Francis
• beatification celebrated in Tarragona, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-la-torre-de-fontaubella/
Five nun in the Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain, all members of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, and all martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.
• Estefanía Saldaña Mayoral
• María Asunción Mayoral Peña
• María Dolores Barroso Villaseñor
• María Severina Díaz-Pardo Gauna
• Melchora Adoración Cortés Bueno
12 August 1936 in Puerta de Hierro, Aravaca, Madrid, Spain
27 October 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-puerta-de-hierro/
A group of Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than their names - Crescentian, Juliana, Largio, Nimmia and Quiriacus.
• c.304 in Rome, Italy
• buried on the Ostian Way outside Rome
https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-rome-12-august/
Thousands of people were murdered in the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Spanish Civil War from 1934 to 1939. I have pages on each of them, but in most cases I have only found very minimal information. They are available on the CatholicSaints.Info site through these links:
• Antoni Perulles Estivill
• Atilano Dionisio Argüeso González
• Carles Barrufet Tost
• Buenaventura García-Paredes Pallasá
• Carles Barrufet Tost
• Domingo Sánchez Lázaro
• Félix Pérez Portela
• Gabriel Albiol Plou
• José Jordán Blecua
• Josep Nadal Guiu
• Juana Pérez Abascal
• Manuel Basulto Jiménez
• Manuel Borràs Ferré
• Pau Figuerola Rovira
• Pedro José Cano Cebrían
• Perfecto Del Río Páramo
• Ramona Cao Fernández
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition