23 August • yesterday
• tomorrow

The theologians tell us that there is in the Kingdom of God an order still higher than that of the Apostolic commission, and this is the order of the carrying out the Hypostatic Union of the Human and the Divine natures in our Lord. Now it was in this order that the commission both of Our Blessed Lady and of Saint Joseph lay, and he was second in it to no one, except only to that Blessed Mother of God. His whole life and work in the Kingdom of God was spent in immediate contact with our Lord, and not simple contact merely, as might have been the lot of one who had lived with Him and been His constant companion for so many years, without having any special office in relation to Him. The office of Saint Joseph could not be discharged without the most intimate and perpetual communication and companionship with Him and His Blessed Mother. He lived for our Lord and for her, he laboured for them, and watched over them, and guided and ruled them. It is in this, his participation in the order of the Hypostatic Union, that the saints see the reason for the foundation of the belief in his pre-eminent sanctity, in which, after the Mother of God, he has no compeer except in the blessed precursor, Saint John, with whose name that of Saint Joseph is coupled by the Church. - Henry James Coleridge, SJ
Daily Bread #7, by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp
The Lives and Times of the Popes - Saint Clement I - A.D. 91

Saint Rose of Lima

Profile

Born to Spanish immigrants to the New World. A beautiful girl and devoted daughter, she was so devoted to her vow of chastity that she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she would not be attractive. Lived and meditated in a garden, raising vegetables and making embroidered items to sell to support her family and help the other poor. Dominican tertiary in 1606. Mystic. Visonary. Received invisible stigmata. Suffered from assorted physical and mental ailments. First saint born in the Americas. Founder of social work in Peru. Great devotion to Saint Catherine of Siena.

Born

20 April 1586 at Lima, Peru as Isabel

Died

24 August 1617 at Lima, Peru of natural causes

Canonized

2 April 1671 by Pope Clement X

Patronage

• against vanity
• embroiderers
• florists
• gardeners
• needle workers
• people ridiculed for their piety
• Americas
• Central America
• Latin America
• New World
• South America
• India
• Peru
• Philippines
• West Indies
• diocese of Santa Rosa, California
• Villareal Samar, Philippines
• Lima, Peru
• World Youth Day 2011

Representation

• anchor (noted for being steadfast in hope and courage in spite of great sufferings)
• city
• crown of flowers
• crown of roses
• Dominican tertiary accompanied by the Holy Infant
• Dominican tertiary holding roses
• Holy Infant
• roses

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart. - Saint Rose of Lima

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. - Saint Rose of Lima

Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven." When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemd to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: "Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep participation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul." "If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men." - from the writings of Saint Rose of Lima

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rose-of-lima/


Blessed Juan Soler García

Profile

The son of Miguel and Catalina, a pious couple, Juan was baptized at the age of two days. He felt early called to the priesthood, studied at the seminary of San Indalecio, and later taught there for nine years. He became private secretary to Bishop Bernardo Martínez y Noval, diocese of Almería, Spain in 1926. Ordained a priest on 2 June 1928, he served as parish priest while continuing to teach and work for his bishop. Counselor of the Union of Catholic Women and secretary of the Diocesan Board of Religious Education in 1936. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War by Communist militiamen for the offense of being a priest.

Born

1 December 1904 in Chirivel, Almería, Spain

Died

23 August 1936 in Chirivel, Almería, Spain

Beatified

• 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-juan-soler-garcia/


Saint Éoghan of Ardstraw

Also known as

Eugene, Eugenius, Euny, Owen, Tir Eoghain, Tyrone

Profile

As a boy he was captured and enslaved by pirates, first to Britain, then to Brittany. Friend of Saint Tighernach. As an adult he escaped from the pirates, returned to Ireland, and became a monk. Abbot of Kilnamanagh Abbey, County Wicklow for 15 years. Retired to live as a hermit in the the Mourne valley, County Tyrone c.576; his piety attrached many would-be students. Spiritual teacher of Saint Kevin of Glendalough. First bishop of Ardstraw, Ireland c.581. He was considered its patron from the beginning; the see was moved to Derry in 1254, and Eoghan continued as a patron.

Born

6th century in Leinster, Ireland

Died

c.618 of natural causes

Patronage

diocese of Derry, Ireland

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


Blessed Franciszek Dachtera

Profile

Priest in the archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland. Prefect of the secondary school in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Arrested on 17 September 1939 during the Nazi occupation, he was imprisoned in several place before ending in the Dachau concentration camp where he was tortured and used in “medical” experimentation. Martyr.

Born

22 September 1910 in Salno, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland

Died

23 August 1944 in Dachau, Oberbayern, Germany from reaction to pseudo-scientific medical experiments

Beatified

13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-franciszek-dachtera/


Blessed Jean Bourdon

Also known as

Protais of Séez

Profile

Franciscan Capuchin priest. 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

3 April 1747 in Séez, Orne, France

Died

23 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-jean-bourdon/


Saint Anthony of Gerace

Profile

Basilian monk at the Greek monastery of San Felipe Argiró near Locri in lower Calabria, Italy. Friend of Saint Nicodemus of Mammola and Saint Jeiunio of Gerace. Known for his ascetic physical and deep prayer life, and as a miracle worker.

Died

• 10th century at the monastery of San Felipe Argiró near Locri in lower Calabria, Italy of natural causes
• buried at the monastery

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anthony-of-gerace/


Saint Tydfil

Also known as

Tudful

Profile

Born a princess, the daughter of Saint Brychan of Brecknock in Wales. Killed by pagan Saxons.

Born

5th century Wales

Died

• murdered c.480
• buried at Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Patronage

Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

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


Saint Victor of Vita

Saint Victor of Vita

Profile

Sixth century bishop in North Africa near modern Tunis, Tunisia. Exiled to Sardinia by Arian heretics. His writings on the persecutions by the Arian Vandals has survived.

Born

Carthage, North Africa

Died

c.535 on Sardinia, Italy of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-victor-of-vita/


Saint Apollinaris of Rheims

Profile

Jailer in Rheims, France. A spectator at the martyrdom of Saint Timothy, Apollinaris was so moved by the Timothy's courage and faith that he converted. Martyr.

Died

beheaded c.290 at Rheims, France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-apollinaris-of-rheims/


Saint Lupo of Novi

Also known as

Luppo

Profile

Martyr.

Died

stabbed with a sword in Novi (Cezava), Moesia Inferior (in modern Bulgaria)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lupo-of-novi/


Saint Flavian of Autun

Also known as

Flavinian, Flavius

Profile

Seventh-century bishop of Autun, France.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-flavian-of-autun/


Saint Theonilla of Aegea

Profile

Pious Christian woman martyred in the persecutions of Pro-consul Lysias.

Died

drowned in 285 at Aegea, Cilicia (in Asia Minor)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-theonilla-of-aegea/


Saint Domnina of Aegea

Profile

Pious Christian woman martyred in the persecutions of Pro-consul Lysias.

Died

drowned in 285 at Aegea, Cilicia (in Asia Minor)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-domnina-of-aegea/


Saint Zacchaeus of Jerusalem

Also known as

Zacharius, Zaccheus

Profile

Fourth bishop of Jerusalem.

Died

116

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-zacchaeus-of-jerusalem/


Saint Archelaus of Ostia

Profile

Deacon. One of a group martyred in the persecutions of Alexander Severus.

Died

c.235

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-archelaus-of-ostia/


Saint Quiriacus of Ostia

Profile

Bishop. One of a group martyred in the persecutions of Alexander Severus.

Died

c.235

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-quiriacus-of-ostia/


Saint Maximus of Ostia

Profile

Priest. One of a group martyred in the persecutions of Alexander Severus.

Died

c.235

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


Saint Abbondius of Rome

Profile

Martyr.

Died

cemetery of Saint Lawrence, Via Tiburtina, Rome, Italy

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


Saint Altigianus

Profile

Benedictine monk martyred by Saracens.

Died

731 at Saint-Seine, diocese of Langres, France

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


Saint Ireneus of Rome

Profile

Martyr.

Died

cemetery of Saint Lawrence, Via Tiburtina, Rome, Italy

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


Saint Hilarinus

Profile

Benedictine monk martyred by Saracens.

Died

731 at Saint-Seine, diocese of Langres, France

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


Saint Minervius of Lyons

Profile

Martyr.

Died

3rd century in Lyons, France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-minervius-of-lyons/


Saint Eleazar of Lyons

Profile

Martyr.

Died

3rd century in Lyons, France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eleazar-of-lyons/


Saint Luppus

Profile

Christian slave. Martyr, date and location unknown.

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


Martyrs of Agea

Profile

A group of Christian brothers, Asterius, Claudius and Neon, denounced by their step-mother who were then tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Pro-consul Lysias.

Died

• crucified in 285 outside the walls of Aegea, Cilicia (in Asia Minor)
• bodies left scavengers

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-asterius-of-aegea/
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-claudius-of-aegea/
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-neon-of-aegea/


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 Constantino Carbonell Sempere
Blessed Estanislau Sans Hortoneda
Blessed Florentín Pérez Romero
Blessed José Polo Benito
Blessed Lorenzo Ilarregui Goñi
Blessed Manuela Justa Fernández Ibero
Blessed Mariano García Méndez
Blessed Nicolás Alberich Lluch
Blessed Pere Gelabert Amer
Blessed Petra María Victoria Quintana Argos
Blessed Ramón Grimaltos Monllor
Blessed Urbano Gil Sáez
Blessed Vicente Alberich Lluch


Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Anthony the Ethiopian
• Ferdinand of Cardona


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