26 September • yesterday
• tomorrow
Optional Memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian

Be faithful in every jot and tittle. The smallest infidelity is like a stitch dropped in knitting; it spoils the whole work - Blessed Mother Barat
Daily Bread #35, by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp
The Lives and Times of the Popes - Saint Pontianus - A.D. 230

Blessed Louis Tezza

Also known as

• Aloysius Tezza
• Luigi Tezza
• Apostle of Lima

Profile

The only son of Augustine Tezza, a physician, and Catherine Nedwiedt. His father died when Louis was nine, and his mother moved to Padova, Italy. Entered the Ministers of the Sick of Saint Camillus de Lellis (Camillians) on 8 December 1858 at age 17 at Verona, Italy; his mother then became a nun. Ordained on 21 May 1864.

Worked four years in the formation of new religious. Had a chance to become a missionary to Africa, but his superiors were against it, and transferred him to Rome, Italy as novice master. Transferred to France as novice master there in 1871. Provincial of the Order in France where he established facilities to support the spiritual and health needs of the sick. Expelled from France in 1880 during the suppression of religious institutions. Returned covertly, and united the scattered religious around the country. Procurator and Vicar General of the Camillians in 1891.

During a retreat in Rome in 1891, Louis met Blessed Josephine Vannini. They had each been drawn to forming a women's congregation in the spirit of Saint Camillus de Lellis. They prayed over the matter, and on 2 February 1892 they founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Camillus. The Congregation received papal approval in 1931, and continues to grow.

Sent to Peru as Official Visitor in 1900 with the mission of reforming the Camillian community. The members there had been separated from the Order hierarchy for a century, and risked suppression. The job was intended to be a short one, but when it came time for Father Luigi to leave, the archbishop and nuncio asked him to stay; he remained in Lima his remaining twenty-three years. Reformed and re-established the Camillians, worked with the sick poor in hospitals, homes and prisons. Confessor and spiritual director to the archdiocesan seminary and several Congregations; counsellor to the nuncio and archbishop. Helped Teresa Candamo found a new Institute.

Born

1 November 1841 at Conegliano, Italy

Died

• 23 September 1923 at Lima, Peru
• interred at the Generalate of the Daughters of Saint Camillus, Via Anagnina, Grottaferrata, Rome, Italy

Beatified

4 November 2001 by Pope John Paul II

Readings

He was sought after as a father and venerated as a saint: he is no longer with us but he continues to teach us from the tomb; his presence and comportment was angelic; his word was that that of a minister of the gospel; his heart a repository of noble affection; his mission was always salvific. He passed among us as a heavenly vision, ever good and humble, always charitable. Faith was the basis of all his work while goodness enveloped him like a mantle and tiara. - from a holy card distributed in Lima in memorium of Father Louis

God's invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few. Sanctity therefore must be accessible to all. In what does it consist? In a lot of activity? No. In doing extraordinary things? No, this could not be for everybody and at all times. Therefore, sanctity consists in doing good, and in doing this good in whatever condition and place God has placed us. Nothing more, nothing outside of this. - Blessed Louis

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-louis-tezza/


Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian

Also known as

• Cosma
• Damiano
• the Moneyless
• the Silverless

Profile

Twin brothers. Physicians, trained in Syria; the brothers accepted no payment for their services, and their charity brought many to Christ. Reported to have miraculously replaced the ulcered leg of a man named Justinian with one from a recently deceased man. Arrested during the persecutions of Diocletian, they were tortured, but suffered no injury. Martyrs. Many fables grew up about the brothers, connected in part with the ability of their relics to heal.

Born

3rd century, of Arabic descent

Died

tortured and beheaded c.303 in Aegea, Cilicia (modern Ayas, Turkey)

Patronage

• blind people; against blindness
• against or relief from pestilence
• apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists
• barbers, hairdressers
• doctors, physicians, surgeons
• chemical industry; chemical manufacturers
• against hernias
• midwives
• Alberobello, Italy
• Ossimo, Italy

Representation

• two doctors
• box of ointment
• phial
• medical emblems

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cosmas/
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-damian/


Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

Profile

Nun in the Sisters of Saint Regis. Novice mistress and house superior in La Louvesc, France. Superior general of her order. With Father Stephen Terme, she founded the Congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle, in La Louvesc in 1826; it began in a mountain hostel for women pilgrims, and its ministry spread to the conducting of spiritual retreats. Sister Marie resigned as superior in 1838, and lived her remaining years as a humble sister.

Born

1 February 1805 at Mas de Sablières, Ardèche, France as Marie Victoire Couderc

Died

26 September 1885 at Lyon, Rhône, France of natural causes

Canonized

10 May 1970 by Pope Paul VI

Readings

I have just one desire, that God be glorified. - Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

My heart embraces the whole world. - Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

Let me live by love, let me die of love, and let my last heartbeat be an act of the most perfect love. - Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

All places are alike to me, because everywhere I expect to find God, who is the only object of all my desires. - Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

What does it matter if my feet, bare and torn, fill my wooden shoes with blood? I would willingly begin the journey all over again, for I have indeed found the good God! - Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

God always gives more than we ask. - Saint Marie Victoire Therese Couderc

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marie-victoire-therese-couderc/


Saint Nilus the Younger

Also known as

• Nilus of Calabria
• Nilus of Rossano
• Nilo....

Profile

Son of Greek immigrants to Italy. He led a wild and mis-spent youth, eventually finding work as a treasury official. Believed to have been married, and certainly the father of one daughter. In quick succession, his wife died, his daughter died, and Nilus suffered a life-threatening illness; all this at the age of 30 led to a conversion, and his life's work proved it was a true conversion. Basilian monk at the abbey of Saint Adrian in Calabria, Italy. Fluent in Greek and Latin. Hymnographer. Lived sometimes as a hermit, and sometimes he travelled from one monastery to another. Supported Pope Gregory V when he was driven out of Rome, then opposed him when Gregory and Emperor Otto III when they used excessive force against the forces of the anti-pope. Abbot of Saint Adrian. In 981 the invading Saracens drove the monks into exile at Vellelucio. On his deathbed, Nilus proclaimed Vellelucio to be the new home city for the abbey, and the house of Grottaferrata has been there since. Spiritual director of Saint Bartholomew of Rossano.

Born

910 at Rossano, Calabria, Italy

Died

27 December 1005 at Grottaferrata, Frascati, Italy of natural causes

Patronage

• Grottaferrata, Italy
• Rossano, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-nilus-the-younger/


Saints Cyprian and Julian of Antioch

Profile

Cyprian was a pagan magician, Justina a beautiful young maiden who had consecrated her virginity to God; she became the target of obsession by Cyrpian who tried to use his dark arts to seduce her. Instead, she converted him to Christianity; Cyprian went on to become a priest, and then bishop of Antioch, Pisidia. They were both eventually martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

• beheaded in Nicomedia in 304
• relics in Vatican Basilica and Saint John Lateran, Rome, Italy

Video

YouTube PlayList

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyprian-of-antioch/
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-justina-of-antioch/


Gideon the Judge

Also known as

Gedeon, Jerobaal, Jerubebbeth, Jerub-Baal

Additional Memorials

• 30 July (Armenian Apostolic Church)
• 16 December (Coptic Church)

Profile

Eleventh century BC Judge of Isreal. See the separate reading for the Old Testament account of his life.

Name Meaning

destroyer; mighty warrior; feller of trees

Patronage

Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, Canada

Representation

man wringing dew out of a fleece

https://catholicsaints.info/gideon-the-judge/


Saint John of Meda

Also known as

• John Oldrati
• John Oldradi
• John of Como

Profile

Priest in Milan and Como, Italy. Following a vision of the Virgin Mary, he joined the Humiliati in 1134, and worked for their adoption of the Benedictine Rule. Founded other monasteries in the areas of Milan and Lombardy. Served as abbot, and introduced the Little Office of Our Lady.

Born

at Meda, province of Milan, Italy

Died

26 September 1159 at Brera, Italy of natural causes

Canonized

by Pope Alexander III

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


Blessed Stephen of Rossano Calabro

Profile

Raised in a peasant family, Stephen early felt a desire for religious life, and became a monk. Spiritual student, friend and travelling companion of Saint Nilus the Younger, he was noted for his zeal for the monastic life and desire to spread the faith.

Born

c.925 in Rossano Calabro, Italy

Died

1001 in Gaeta, Lazio, Italy of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-stephen-of-rossano-calabro/


Saint Amantius of Tiphernum

Profile

Priest. Friend of Pope Saint Gregory the Great who compared Amantius to the Apostles for his miracle working.

Died

c.600 at Tiphernum (modern Citta di Castello, Italy)

Patronage

Citta di Castello, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-amantius-of-tiphernum/


Saint Callistratus of Constantinople

Profile

One of a group of 50 African soldiers martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

sewn into sacks and thrown into the sea to drown at Constantinople c.300

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-callistratus-of-constantinople/


Saint Meugant

Also known as

Maughan, Mawghan, Morgan

Profile

Sixth-century spiritual student of Saint Illtyd. Hermit. Several churches in Wales and Cornwall are dedicated to him.

Died

Isle of Bardsey, Wales

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


Saint Colman of Elo

Profile

Nephew of Saint Columba of Iona. Founded monasteries in Lynally (Land-Elo, Lin-Alli) and in Muckamore in Ireland. Wrote the Alphabet of Devotion.

Died

c.610

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-colman-of-elo/


Saint Eusebius of Bologna

Profile

Bishop of Bologna, Italy c.370. Friend of Saint Ambrose of Milan. Fought against Arianism.

Died

c.400

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eusebius-of-bologna/


Saint Vigilius of Brescia

Profile

Bishop of Brescia, Italy.

Died

c.506

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vigilius-of-brescia/


Saint Senator of Albano

Profile

Martyr.

Patronage

Albano, Italy, diocese of

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-senator-of-albano/


Martyrs of Korea, 26 September

Additional Memorial

20 September as one of the Martyrs of Korea

Profile

Twelve lay people in the apostolic vicariate of Korea who were imprisoned, tortured and martyred together in the persecutions in Korea.

Saint Agatha Chon Kyong-Hyob
Saint Carolus Cho Shin-Ch'ol
Saint Catharina Yi
Saint Columba Kim Hyo-Im
Saint Ignatius Kim Che-Jun
Saint Iulitta Kim
Saint Lucia Kim
Saint Magdalena Cho
Saint Magdalena Ho Kye-Im
Saint Magdalena Pak Pong-Son
Saint Perpetua Hong Kum-Ju
Saint Sebastianus Nam I-Gwan

Died

beheaded September 1839 in Seoul Prison, South Korea

Canonized

6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/martyrs-of-korea-26-september/


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 Andreu Felíu Bartomeu
Blessed Antonio Cid Rodríguez
Blessed Josefa Romero Clariana
Blessed Manuel Legua Martí
Blessed María Jord´ Botella
Blessed Pau Castell´ Barber´
Blessed Teresa Rosat Balasch


Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Bonaventure Esteve Flors
• Kaspar Stanggassinger
• Lucia from Caltagirone


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