23 June • yesterday
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Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring. - Saint Catherine of Siena
Meditations for Layfolk - Perils of Youth, by Father Bede Jarrett
Meditations for Every Day in a Month - On Avoiding the Occasions of Sin, by Father François Nepveu

Saint Joseph Cafasso

Also known as

• Giuseppe Cafasso
• Priest of the Gallows

Profile

Born with a deformed spine, and into a wealthy peasant family; he was short in stature and crippled throughout his life. Ordained in 1833. Professor of moral theology at the ecclesiastical college at Turin in 1836. Superior of the college from 1846 to 1860. Retreat house director. Pastor of Saint Francis Church in 1848. Renowned confessor. Promoted devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Friend of and advisor to Saint John Bosco, having first met him when Joseph was 12 years old; Saint John wrote a biography of Saint Joseph. Uncle of Blessed Joseph Allamano. Founded religious fellowships.

Worked to reform prisons and prisoners, and to improve prison conditions in Turin. Ministered to condemned prisoners, winning converts. Once escorted 60 newly converted condemned to the gallows. Since many of the prisoners were hanged immediately after confessing and receiving absolution, Joseph referred to them as "hanged saints".

Born

15 January 1811 at Castelnuovo d'Asti, Italy

Died

• 23 June 1860 at Turin, Italy of pneumonia, a stomach hemorrhage, and complications of his congenital medical problems
• his will bequeathed everything to aid the ministry of Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo • Saint John Bosco preached the funeral Mass homily

Canonized

22 June 1947 by Pope Pius XII

Patronage

• captives, imprisoned people, prisoners
• prisons
• prison chaplains

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

A single word from him - a look, a smile, his very presence - sufficed to dispel melancholy, drive away temptation and produce holy resolution in the soul. - Saint John Bosco, writing about Saint Joseph

We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more. - Saint Joseph Cafasso

Who is this man who in the world is called an ecclesiastic, a priest? Who is this personage whom some bless and others curse? Who is he whom the whole world talks about and criticizes, and who is the subject of discussion by all pens and all tongues? What is the significance of that name which resounds in every corner of the world? What is a priest? In order to define clearly what he is, I shall avail myself of the distinctions that Saint Bernard made concerning ecclesiastics and shall consider him in his nature, in his person, in his habits. Quid in natura, quis in persona, qualis in moribus! In his nature he is a man like others. In his person, his dignity is above that of all other men in the world. In his conduct and habits, he should be a man totally different from all others as he is by his dignity and office. These are the three points which I propose for your consideration. - Saint Joseph Cafasso

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-joseph-cafasso/


Saint Etheldreda

Also known as

Æthelthryth, Athelthryth, Audrey, Edeltrude, Edilthride, Ediltrudis, Ethelreda, Etheldreda

Profile

Sister of Saint Jurmin. Relative of King Anna of East Anglia, England. Princess. Widowed after three years marriage; rumor had it that the marriage was never consumated as Etheldrda had taken a vow of perpetual virginity. She married again for political reasons. Her new husband knew of her vow, but grew tired of living as brother and sister, and began to make advances on her; she refused him. He tried to bribe the local bishop, Saint Wilfrid of York, to release her from her vow; Wilfrid refused, and instead helped Audrey escape to a promontory called Colbert's Head. A high tide then came in - and stayed high for seven days; it kept her separated from her husband and was considered divine intervention. The young man gave up; the marriage was annulled, and Audrey took the veil. She spent a year with her neice, Saint Ebbe the Elder. Founded the great abbey of Ely, where she lived an austere life.

Etheldreda died of an enormous and unsightly tumor on her neck. She gratefully accepted this as Divine retribution for all the necklaces she had worn in her early years.

In the Middle Ages, a festival called Saint Audrey's Fair, was held at Ely on her feast day. The exceptional shodiness of the merchandise, especially the neckerchiefs, contributed to the English language the word tawdry, a corruption of Saint Audrey.

Born

c.636

Died

• 23 June 679 of natural causes
• body re-interred in 694; found incorrupt
• body re-interred in the Cathedral at Ely in 1106; found incorrupt

Patronage

• neck ailments
• throat ailments
• widows
• University of Cambridge

Representation

• abbess holding a model of Ely Cathedral
• abbess with a crown holding a staff which is budding

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


Blessed Mary of Oignies

Also known as

Marie d'Oignies

Profile

Born wealthy. From her early youth Mary felt called to the religious life, but she entered into an arranged marriage at age 14. She convinced her husband to live chastely, and to turn their home into a leper hospice. Mary gave away as much of her fortune to the poor as she could, and spent her days caring for lepers. She had a great devotion to Saint John the Evangelist, and a high regard for her contemporary, Christina the Astonishing. Later in life, she moved into a hermit's cell near the Augustinian house at Oignies, France and spent the rest of her life there, praying for souls in Purgatory, and giving advice to would-be spiritual students. Noted for visions, especially of Saint John and her guardian angel, ecstacies, prophecies, and psychic gifts; she ate no meat, dressed exclusively in white, may have been a stigmatist, and reported cut off pieces of her flesh to rid herself of desire for the world.

Born

1167 at Nivelles, diocese of Liege, Belgium

Died

• 23 June 1213 of natural causes
• buried at Oignies, France
• relics transferred to a silver reliquary in the church of Our Lady in Oignies in 1609
• relics transferred to the church of Saint Nicholas at Nivelle, Belgium in 1817

Patronage

• against fever
• women in labour

Representation

• praying for souls in Purgatory
• protected from rain by the Virgin Mary sheltering her with her mantle
• recluse visited by an angel
• woman in white in a hermit's cell praying
• woman in white in a hermit's cell spinning
• woman in white with an angel by her side

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-mary-of-oignies/


Saint Thomas Garnet

Additional Memorial

• 25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University

Profile

Son of Richard Garnet, an Oxford don. Nephew of Henry Garnet, superior of all Jesuits in England, and in charge of the network of covert priests working among the Catholics who had refused to take the oath of Supremacy. Court page to the Count of Arundel as a boy. Because Catholic colleges had been turned over to aggressive Protestants, young Thomas went to the continent in 1593 to attend the newly opened Jesuit college at Saint Omer in the Low Countries. He studied for four years at the college of Saint Alban at Valladolid, Spain where he was ordained. Joined the Jesuits in 1604, but before he could begin his novitiate he was arrested for priesthood and lodged in the Tower of London. Exiled from England in 1606. He returned soon after to minister to covert Catholics, and worked near Warwickshire for six years, but his ministry ended in arrest during the round-up following to the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. A plot was hatched to break Thomas out of jail, but he wrote his superior asking that the plotters not try. One of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Born

1574 at Southwark, England

Died

hanged, drawn, and quartered on 23 June 1608 at Tyburn, London, England

Canonized

25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-thomas-garnet/


Saint Agrippina of Rome

Also known as

Agrippina of Mineo

Profile

Born to the imperial Roman nobility. Consecrated virgin, the closest thing at that time to a nun. Tortured and martyred during the persecutions of Valerian.

Born

imperial Roman citizen

Died

• beheaded or scourged to death (records vary) c.262 in Rome, Italy
• body taken to Mineo, Sicily by three women
• her tomb became known as a place of cures and miracles which led to her patronage against several things
• some relics now in Constantinople

Patronage

• against bacterial diseases or infections
• against evil spirits
• lepers; against leprosy
• against storms, safety from storms
• Mineo, Italy

Representation

• crowned woman holding a cross and a small tower
• crowned woman holding a cross and a small tower that sits on a book
• crowned woman holding a palm of martyrdom

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


Blessed Ioan Suciu

Profile

Born into a family of Greek-Catholic priests. Studied at Sant’Atanasio and the Pontificium Institutum Internationale Angelicum in Rome, Italy. Ordained a priest in the Romanian Greek-Catholic Rite on 29 November 1931, and earned a doctorate in theology. Chosen auxiliary bishop of Oradea Mare {Gran Varadino}, Romania and Titular Bishop of Moglaena on 25 May 1940. Chosen Apostolic Administrator of Fagaras si Alba Iulia, Romania in 1942. Arrested in 1948 by Communist authorities for his involvement in Christianity, he was imprisoned until his death 5 years later. Martyr.

Born

4 December 1907 in Blaj, Alba, Romania

Died

• 23 June 1953 in Sighetu Marmatiei, Maramures, Romania
• buried in a mass grave in within the prison, his body has never been recovered or identified

Beatified

2 June 2019 by Pope Francis

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ioan-suciu/


Blessed Lanfranco Beccari

Profile

Born to the Italian nobility. Chosen bishop of Pavia, Italy by Pope Alexander III in 1159. Known as a pious and charitable shepherd of his people. Had to fight civil authorities who wanted to seize Church property, and worked to recover property that had already been seized. When the civil authorities exiled him, he was restored to his diocese through the intervention of Pope Clement III. The endless wrangling and politics wore him down, and he eventually retired to spend his final years at the Vallombrosan monastery of the Holy Sepulchre near Pavia.

Born

c.1124 at Gropello, Pavia, Italy

Died

23 June 1198 at the Vallombrosan monastery of the Holy Sepulchre near Pavia, Italy of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lanfranco-beccari/


Saint Zeno of Philadelphia

Profile

A wealthy noble. Soldier in the imperial Roman army. Seeing other Christians being martyred, he was led to become open with his own faith. He freed his slaves, gave away his wealth and possessions, and proclaimed himself a Christian before the governor; he was immediately imprisoned and tortured. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Born

3rd century in Philadelphia in Arabia near the Dead Sea (probably refers to Rabbath-Ammon east of Palestine, the modern Amman, Jordan)

Died

beheaded in 304 in Philadelphia in Arabia near the Dead Sea (probably refers to Rabbath-Ammon east of Palestine, the modern Amman, Jordan)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-zeno-of-philadelphia/


Saint Lietbert of Cambrai

Also known as

Libert, Liberto, Liebert

Profile

Born to the aristocracy. Archdeacon of Cambrai, France. Bishop of Cambrai in 1051. Pilgrim to the Holy Lands in 1054. Noted for the austerity of his life, and his determination in the face of persecution of the Church and the endless political power struggles of the time.

Born

Brabant, Belgium

Died

• 22 June 1071 of natural causes
• buried on 23 June in the Abbey of the Holy Sepulchre

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


Saint Zenas of Philadelphia

Also known as

Zena

Profile

Former slave of Saint Zeno. After being freed, he stayed with Zeno as a servant, and became public about his Christianity. Imprisoned, tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

beheaded in 304 in Philadelphia in Arabia near the Dead Sea (probably refers to Rabbath-Ammon east of Palestine, the modern Amman, Jordan)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-zenas-of-philadelphia/


Blessed Peter of Juilly

Also known as

Peter of Jully

Profile

Benedictine monk. Noted preacher. Friend of Saint Stephen Harding, and worked with him at the monastery in Molesme. Chaplain, rector and confessor to the convent of Juilly les Nonnais, France where he worked with Saint Humbeline. Miracle worker.

Born

England

Died

1136 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-peter-of-juilly/


Blessed Frances Martel

Also known as

Francesca

Profile

Mercedarian sister. Founded the monastery of the Assumption in Seville, Spain. Known for her personal piety and deep prayer life.

Died

buried in the church of the monastery of the Assumption in Seville, Spain

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-frances-martel/


Saint James of Toul

Profile

Born to the Gallic nobility; brother of Saint Liliosa of Toul. Benedictine monk at Hornbach, diocese of Metz, France. Bishop of Toul, France in 756. Great benefactor of the Benedictines.

Born

at Berrigny, Haute Marne (in modern France)

Died

769 of natural causes at the tomb of Saint Benignus in Dijon, France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-james-of-toul/


Saint Hidulphus of Hainault

Also known as

• Hidulphus of Lobbes
• Hidulf, Hydulfus

Profile

Count of Hainault in modern Belgium. Courtier at the royal palace of Austrasia. Married to Saint Agia. Helped found Lobbes Abbey which, with Agia's blessing, he entered as a Benedictine monk.

Died

c.707

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hidulphus-of-hainault/


Saint John of Rome

Profile

Priest. Martyred during the persecutions of Julian the Apostate.

Born

at Rome, Italy

Died

• beheaded in 362 in Rome, Italy
• a head at the church of San Silvestro in Capite, Rome, identified as Saint John the Baptist, was probably this John instead

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-of-rome-23-june/


Blessed Thomas Corsini of Orvieto

Profile

Member of the Servites. Served his house as a beggar. Visionary.

Born

c.1300 in Orvieto, Italy

Died

1343 in Orvieto, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

10 December 1768 by Pope Clement XIII (cultus confirmation)

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-thomas-corsini-of-orvieto/


Saint Bilio of Vannes

Also known as

Bili

Profile

Bishop of Vannes, Brittany (in modern France). Murdered by invading Normans. Martyr.

Died

• c.914 in Vannes, Brittany (in modern France)
• buried at the chapel in Plandren, France that he had built

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-bilio-of-vannes/


Blessed Francis O'Sullivan

Profile

Franciscan Friars Minor priest. One of the Irish Martyrs.

Born

Irish

Died

23 June 1653 on Scarrrif Island, Kerry, Ireland

Beatified

27 September 1992 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francis-osullivan/


Saint Liliosa of Toul

Profile

Born to the Gallic nobility, the sister of Saint Jacob of Toul. Gave the country estate of Bretancour to the monks of the Saint-Bénigne to build a church.

Born

8th century Gaul (in modern France)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-liliosa-of-toul/


Blessed Walhere of Dinant

Profile

Priest in Belgium. Murdered for his righteousness and venerated as a martyr.

Died

• 1199 in Onhaye, Brabant (in modern Belgium)
• relics enshrined in Dinant, Belgium

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-walhere-of-dinant/


Saint Moeliai of Nendrum

Also known as

Moelray, Melray, Mochaoi

Profile

Baptised by Saint Patrick. Monk. Abbot of Nendrum Monastery.

Born

Ireland

Died

c.493 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-moeliai-of-nendrum/


Saint Felix of Sutri

Profile

Priest in Sutri, Tuscany, Italy. Martyred in the persecutions of Valerian and Gallienus.

Died

scourged to death in 257

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-felix-of-sutri/


Blessed Lupo de Paredes

Profile

Joined the Mercedarians at age 34, and served for the next 80 (!) years at the convent of Santa Maria in Logrono, Spain.

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lupo-de-paredes/


Blessed Félix of Cîteaux

Profile

No information has survived.

Died

1113 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-felix-of-citeaux/


Martyrs of Ancyra

Profile

A family of converts who were arrested, tortured, and sent in chains to Ancyra, Galatia (modern Ankara, Turkey) where he was tortured more by order of governor Agrippinus during the persecutions of Diocletian. Martyr. They were - Eustochius, Gaius, Lollia, Probus, Urban

Died

roasted over a fire and finally beheaded c.300 in Ancyra, Galatia (modern Ankara, Turkey)

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-ancyra/


Martyrs of Nicomedia

Profile

During the persecutions of Diocletian, many Christians fled their homes to live in caves in the area of Nicomedia. In 303 troops descended on the area, systematically hunted them down, and murdered all they could find.

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-nicomedia-23-june/


Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Madonna del Sasso
• Eldrude of Brittany
• Gerhard of Clairfontaine
• Maria Raffaella Santina Cimatti
• Morónóg of Inishloe
• Peter James of Pesaro


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