18 August • yesterday
• tomorrow

When we are in sin, our soul is all diseased, all rotten; it is pitiful. The thought that the good God sees it ought to make it enter into itself. And then, what pleasure is there in sin? None at all. We have frightful dreams that the devil is carrying us away, that we are falling over precipices. Put yourself on good terms with God; have recourse to the Sacrament of Penance; you will sleep as quietly as an angel. You will be glad to waken in the night, to pray to God; you will have nothing but thanksgivings on your lips; you will rise towards Heaven with great facility, as an eagle soars through the air. - Saint Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney
Daily Bread #2, by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp
Mary: The Perfect Woman, Rhythm I - Invocation

Saint Helena of Constantinople

Also known as

• Elene, Helen
• Flavia Julia Helena Augusta

Additional Memorial

21 May (Eastern Church)

Profile

Converted to Christianity late in life. Married Constantius Chlorus, co-regent of the western Roman empire. Mother of Constantine the Great. Her husband put her aside for a second marriage with better political connections. On his death, her son ascended to the throne, brought her home, and treated her as royalty. She used her high position and wealth in the service of her religious enthusiasm, and helped build churches throughout the empire.

At the age of 80 she led a group to the Holy Land to search for the True Cross. She and her group unearthed three crosses in 326. At the suggestion of Saint Macarius of Jerusalem, she took them to a woman afflicated with an incurable disease, and had her touch each one. One of them immediately cured her, and it was pronounced the True Cross. She built a church on the spot where the cross was found, and sent pieces to Rome and Constantinople; the Feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September celebrates the event. Thus in art, she is usually depicted holding a wooden cross.

Born

c.248 at Drepanon, Bithynia, Asia Minor

Died

• c.328 in Nicomedia of natural causes
• interred in the Church of Santa Maria di Aracoeli, Rome, Italy

Patronage

• against fire
• against thunder
• archeologists
• converts
• difficult marriages
• divorced people
• dyers
• empresses
• nail smiths
• needle makers
• Birkirkara, Malta
• Helena, Montana, diocese of

Representation

• cross
• cross in hand
• nails
• queen giving a letter to a messenger
• queen holding a cross
• queen leading the search for the True Cross
• with Constantine
• woman receiving the location of the True Cross in a dream
• woman with a book and small cross
• woman with cross and nails

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-helena/


Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga

Profile

Alberto's father died when the boy was four years old, and he grew up in poverty. Educated at the Jesuit College in Santiago, Chile. He early felt a call to religion, and to work with those as poor as himself. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1923, and was ordained in 1933. He taught religion at Colegion San Ignacio, trained teachers at Catholic University in Santiago, led retreats for young men, and worked in the poor areas of the city whenever he could. In 1941 he wrote Is Chile a Catholic Country?, and became national chaplain to the youth movement Catholic Action. During a retreat in 1944, Father Alberto started the work that would lead to El Hogar de Cristo which shelters the homeless and tries to rescue abandoned children, and was later modelled somewhat on the American Boys Town movement. In 1947, Hurtado founded the Chilean Trade Union Association (ASICH) to promote a Christian labour-union movement. He founded the journal Mensaje, dedicated to explaining the Church's teaching, in 1951. He wrote several works in his later years on trade unions, social humanism and the Christian social order.

Born

22 January 1901 at Vina del Mar, Chile

Died

18 August 1952 at Santiago, Chile of pancreatic cancer

Canonized

23 October 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI at Rome, Italy

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

I am happy, Lord. - Saint Alberto's frequent prayer during his fight with cancer

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alberto-hurtado-cruchaga/


Blessed Martín Martínez Pascual

Profile

Son of Martín Martínez Callao, a carpenter, and Francisca Pascual Amposta; Martin was baptized at the age of one day. He was a religious child. He joined the Diocesan Laborer Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1934 while in seminary in the diocese of Zaragoza, Spain. Priest, ordained on 15 June 1935 in the diocese of Tortosa, Spain. Taught at a vocational Colegio San José de Murcia, and then taught Latin in the seminary in Murcia, Spain where he was considered an excellent instructor.

At the outbreak of the persecutions of the Spanish Civil War, Father Martin grabbed the reserved consecrated hosts from his church and went into hiding, spending his time in prayer while sitting in caves and haystacks. He evaded the militia for a few days but was caught and imprisoned where he spent his remaining time ministering to other prisoners, hearing confessions, and distributing the Eucharist he had rescued; he died giving his executioners a blessing in hopes that they would come to their senses. Martyr.

Born

11 November 1910 in Valdealgorfa, Teruel, Spain

Died

shot by firing squad on 18 August 1936 at the cemetery in Valdealgorfa, Teruel, Spain

Beatified

1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-martin-martinez-pascual/


Saint Agapitus the Martyr

Also known as

• Agapetus the Martyr
• Agapitus of Palestrina
• Agapitus of Praeneste
• Agapito...

Profile

Born to an imperial patrician family. At fifteen years of age, the boy proudly, publicly proclaimed his Christianity during the persecution of Aurelian. Martyr.

Because he was a young man, and because the heroic way he met his martyrdom brought about many conversions, his was a favourite story in times past, and often grew in the telling, but we know very little about him for sure.

Born

c.259 in Palestrina, Italy

Died

• thrown to wild animals in the arena
• when they would not touch him, he was beheaded c.274 at Palestrina, Italy
• relics at Palestrina, Italy and Besancon, France

Patronage

• against colic
• Palestrina, Italy

Representation

• young man chained in a dungeon
• young man hanging upside down over a fire
• young man with palm, crown, burning coal, lions or dragons

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agapitus-the-martyr/


Saint Macarius the Wonder Worker

Also known as

• Christopher
• Macarius of Constantinople

Profile

Monk at the monastery at Pelekete, taking the name Macarius. Abbot. Miracle worker. Ordained by Patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople. Imprisoned and tortured for his opposition to Emperor Leo's orders of iconoclasm. Released by Emperor Michael the Stammerer, then exiled for his continued support of icons.

Born

9th century Constantinople as Christopher

Died

18 August 850 on the island of Aphusia, Bithynia of natural causes

Readings

To you, O Master, who loves all mankind
I hasten on rising from sleep.
By your mercy I go out to do your work
and I make my prayer to you.
Help me at all times and in all things.
Deliver me from every evil thing of this world
and from pursuit by the devil.
Save me and bring me to your eternal kingdom,
For you are my Creator,
You inspire all good thoughts in me.
In you is all my hope and to you I give glory,
now and forever.
- Saint Macarius

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-macarius-the-wonder-worker/


Blessed Leonard of Cava

Also known as

Leonardo

Profile

Benedictine monk. Abbot of La Trinita de La Cava Abbey in 1232; he served for over 22 years. Known as a wise, gentle, peaceful man, an able administrator, and a leader smart enough to keep his house out of political fights of the day. Attended the Council of Lyon in 1245. He led by example, and his brother monks became known for their devotion to the Benedictine Rule. Accepted and cared for the relics of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle and the treasury of the diocese of Benevento, Italy when that area was overrun by invading Germans. When peace returned, he returned all the treasures entrusted to him; the diocese enshrined some of the relics of Saint Bartholomew to the permanent care of the abbey.

Died

• 1255 at La Cava Abbey, Campania, Italy
• relics enshrined in the side altar of the abbey church

Beatified

1928 by Pope Pius XI (cultus confirmed)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-leonard-of-cava/


Blessed Francus of Francavilla

Also known as

Franco

Profile

Greek rite monk from Calabria, Italy. Monk in the Abruzzo region of Italy, possibly fleeing Muslim raids on monasteries in Calabria. Hermit in the central Appennine mountains.

Born

mid-10th-century in Italy

Died

• 11th-century of natural causes
• buried at the parish church of Francavilla al Mare, Abruzzo, Italy
• on 30 July 1566 invading Turks burned his relics; a few bone fragments were recovered and re-enshrined

Beatified

1893 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmed)

Patronage

Francavilla al Mare, Abruzzo, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francus-of-francavilla/


Blessed Antoine Bannassat

Profile

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.

Born

20 May 1729 in Guéret, Creuse, France

Died

of starvation on 18 August 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France

Beatified

1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-antoine-bannassat/


Blessed Raynald of Ravenna

Also known as

• Raynald Concorezzo
• Rinaldo....

Profile

Priest. Canon of Lodi, Italy. Bishop of Vicenza, Italy in 1296. Held several governmental posts in the papal states. Archbishop of Ravenna, Italy in 1303. Defended the good work of the Knights Templar.

Born

c.1245 in Milan, Italy

Died

1321 in Ravenna, Italy

Beatified

18 August 1852 by Pope Pius IX (cultus confirmed)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-raynald-of-ravenna/


Saint Daig MacCairaill

Also known as

• Dagaeus MacCairaill
• Daganus MacCairaill
• Daig of Inish Cain
• Daig of Iniskeen
• Daig of Iniskin

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Finnian of Clonard. Bishop of Inish Cain Dega (Iniskeen or Iniskin), Ireland. He founded a monastery there, and served as its abbot. The Book of Leinster describes him as a one of the Three Master Craftsmen of Ireland, though its unclear exactly what this means.

Born

Irish

Died

586

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-daig-maccairaill/


Saint Evan of Ayrshire

Also known as

Inan, Inane, Tinan, Tennand

Profile

Pilgrim to Rome and Jerusalem. Hermit at Ayrshire, Scotland where several wells are named for him, and churches dedicated to him including one, now dedicated to Mary, which is thought to have been built on the site of his cell.

Born

9th century in Scotland

Died

at Irvine, Scotland

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-evan-of-ayrshire/


Saint Ernan

Additional Memorial

1 January (Scotland)

Profile

Nephew and spiritual student of Saint Columba of Iona. Missionary to the Picts. Founded a monastery in Donegal, Ireland. When Saint Columba died, Ernan had a vision of Columba's soul ascending to heaven. Saint Adamnan of Iona mentioned Ernan in his writings.

Died

634 in his abbey in Donegal, Ireland of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ernan/


Saint Florus of Illyria

Also known as

Floro

Profile

Twin brother of Saint Laurus of Illyria. Stone-cutter who worked to build Christian churches. Martyr.

Died

drowned in a well

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-florus-of-illyria/


Blessed Domenico de Molinar

Profile

Mercedarian friar and travelling preacher. In 1419 he helped ransom 293 Christians from slavery in Muslim Granada.

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-domenico-de-molinar/


Blessed Gaspar di Salamanca

Profile

Mercedarian friar and travelling preacher. In 1419 he helped ransom 293 Christians from slavery in Muslim Granada.

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-gaspar-di-salamanca/


Saint Laurus of Illyria

Profile

Twin brother of Saint Florus of Illyria. Stone-cutter who worked to build Christian churches. Martyr.

Died

drowned in a well

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-laurus-of-illyria/


Blessed Milo of Fontenelle

Profile

Born to the Frankish nobility, Milo and his father both gave it up to become Benedictine monks at Fontenelle Abbey. Milo later left the monastery to live as a hermit.

Died

c.735

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-milo-of-fontenelle/


Saint John of Rome

Profile

Benedictine monk at Saint Andrew's monastery on the Coelian Hill, Rome, Italy under abbot Saint Gregory the Great who later wrote about him. Miracle worker.

Died

c.590 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-of-rome/


Saint Eonus of Arles

Also known as

Eonio

Profile

Archbishop of Arles, France in the late 5th and early 6th century. Fought the Pelagian heresy. Ordained Saint Cesareo of Arles.

Died

502

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eonus-of-arles/


Saint Ronan of Iona

Profile

Monk at Iona Abbey. Was involved in the controversy with Saint Finan of Iona concerning the celebration of Easter. Confessor of the faith.

Died

c.660 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ronan-of-iona/


Saint Crispus of Rome

Profile

Priest in Rome, Italy in the early days of the Church. With Saint John of Rome he recovered and properly buried the bodies of martyrs - and was martyred for it.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-crispus-of-rome/


Saint Proculus of Illyria

Also known as

Prochus

Profile

Sculptor. Stone-cutter who worked to build Christian churches. Martyr.

Died

drowned in a well

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-proculus-of-illyria/


Saint Hermas of Rome

Also known as

Hermes

Profile

Martyred by a pagan mob.

Died

dragged by the heels over rough ground until he died in Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hermas-of-rome/


Saint Maximus of Illyria

Profile

Sculptor. Stone-cutter who worked to build Christian churches. Martyr.

Died

drowned in a well

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maximus-of-illyria/


Saint Polyaenus of Rome

Profile

Martyred by a pagan mob.

Died

dragged by the heels over rough ground until he died in Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-polyaenus-of-rome/


Saint Serapion of Rome

Profile

Martyred by a pagan mob.

Died

dragged by the heels over rough ground until he died in Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-serapion-of-rome/


Saint Firminus of Metz

Also known as

Fermin

Profile

Bishop of Metz, France for eight years.

Died

496

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-firminus-of-metz/


Saint Leo of Myra

Also known as

León

Profile

Martyr.

Died

at Myra, Lycia

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-leo-of-myra/


Saint Juliana of Stobylum

Profile

Martyr.

Died

Strobylum, Asia Minor

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-juliana-of-stobylum/


Saint Juliana of Myra

Profile

Martyr.

Died

at Myra, Lycia

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-juliana-of-myra/


Massa Candida

Also known as

• Martyrs of Utica
• White Company

Profile

Three hundred 3rd century Christians at Carthage who were ordered to burn incense to Jupiter or face death by fire. Martyrs. Saint Augustine of Hippo and the poet Prudentius wrote about them.

Died

jumped into a pit of burning lime c.253 at Carthage, North Africa

https://catholicsaints.info/massa-candida/


Martyred in the Spanish Civil War

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:

Blessed Adalberto Vicente y Vicente
Blessed Agustín Pedro Calvo
Blessed Angelo Reguilón Lobato
Blessed Atanasio Vidaurreta Labra
Blessed Aurelio García Anton
Blessed Celestino José Alonso Villar
Blessed Daniel García Antón
Blessed Eliseo María Camargo Montes
Blessed Eudald Rodas Saurina
Blessed Fermín Gellida Cornelles
Blessed Francisco Arias Martín
Blessed Francisco Pérez y Pérez
Blessed Gregorio Díez Pérez
Blessed Jaume Falgarona Vilanova
Blessed José María Ruiz Cardeñosa
Blessed José Sánchez Rodríguez
Blessed Joseph Chamayoux Auclés
Blessed Liberio González Nombela
Blessed María Luisa Bermúdez Ruiz
Blessed Micaela Hernán Martínez
Blessed Nicomedes Andrés Vecilla
Blessed Patricio Gellida Llorach
Blessed Rosario Ciércoles Gascón
Blessed Santiago Franco Mayo
Blessed Silvano Villanueva González
Blessed Vicente María Izquierdo Alcón


Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Ivan Rilski
• Paola Montaldi


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