| 27 July |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
Maria Grazia Tarallo
Born to Leopoldo Tarallo and Concetta Borriello, Maria was raised in a pious family, and received a Christian education. She made a private vow of virginity at age five in front of a statue of the Blessed Mother. Made her First Communion at age 7, and received Confirmation at 10. Feeling drawn to religious life, at 22 she wanted to enter a convent, but her family opposed it, hoping she would marry; however, the young man who had proposed to her died before the wedding. She then entered the monastery of the Sisters Crucified Adorers of the Eucharist in Barra, Italy on 1 June 1891, taking the name Sister Maria of the Passion. Spiritual student of the Servant of God Maria Rosa Notari. Served as novice mistress and as spiritual guide to her sisters, worked in the kitchen and laundry, and as porter. Known for her life of charity, deep prayer, and devotion to her Congregation and the Eucharist.
23 September 1866 in Barra, Naples, Italy as Maria Grazia Tarallo
27 July 1912 at Giorgio a Cremano, Naples, Italy of natural causes
14 May 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI
My name is Sister Maria of the Passion and I must resemble the Master. - Blessed Maria
I want to be holy, loving Jesus in the Eucharist, suffering with Christ Crucified and seeing Christ in my brothers and sisters. - Blessed Maria
I exhort you to holy perseverance according to the Rule, readiness in obedience and especially daily Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Love Jesus in the Eucharist, never leave him alone, do not anger him, do not disappoint him. - Blessed Maria to her Sisters
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-maria-of-the-passion-of-our-lord-jesus-christ/
Son of Priscus. May have been related to Emperor Valentinian. May have worked with Saint Ambrose of Milan. Deacon in Rome, Italy in 416. Almost nothing else is known about Celestine before his unanimous election as 43rd pope.
Ordered the bishops of Vienne and Narbonne in Gaul to correct doctrinal errors and abuses. He sent Saint Germanus of Auxerre to Britain to oppose Pelagianism in 429, and later wrote a treatise himself against semi-Pelagianism. Opposed the Manichaeans, Donatists, Noviatians whose heresies were spreading. Convened a council in Rome in 430, sent legates to the General Council of Ephesus in 431 to condemn Nestorianism, excommunicated Nestorius and deposed him. Dispatched Palladius to evangelize Ireland in 431.
Friend of and correspondent with Saint Augustine of Hippo; their letters indicate that Rome was the final authority for theology in the 5th century. Restored the basilica of Saint Mary Travestere after it had been damaged in Alaric's sack of Rome. He worked to reform the clergy of Gaul, and ordered that absolution should never be denied to the dying who were sincere in their repentance.
Campania, Italy
20 September 422
Died
• 27 July 432 in Rome, Italy of natural causes
• buried in the cemetery of Priscilla in Rome
• his tomb is decorated with painted scenes of the Council of Ephesus
• relics translated to the church of Saint Praxedes on 820
pope with a dove, dragon, and flame
https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-celestine-i/
Panteleimon, Pantaleon
Christian physician to emperor Maximian. Life-long layman and bachelor. At one point he abandoned his faith, and fell in with a worldly and idolatrous crowd. However, he was eventually overcome with grief, and with the help of the priest Hermolaus, he returned to the Church. Brought his father to the faith. Gave his fortune to the poor, treated them medically, and never charged. Some of his cures were miraculous, being accomplished by prayer.
Denounced to the anti-Christian authorities by other doctors during the persections of Diocletian. At trial he offered a contest to see whose prayers would cure the incurable - his or the pagan priests'. The pagans failed to help the man, a palsied paralytic, but Pantaleon cured the man by mentioning the name Jesus. Many of the witnesses converted.
The authorities tried to bribe him to denounce the faith, but failed. They then threatened him; that failed. They followed up the threats with torture. When that failed, he was executed. Martyr. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
• nailed to a tree and beheaded c.305
• a phial of his blood is preserved at Constantinople, and is reported to become liquid and bubble on his feast day
• some relics enshrined at the church of Saint Denis in Paris, France
• some relics enshrined at Lyons, France
• against consumption or tuberculosis
• bachelors
• doctors, physicians
• midwives
• torture victims
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-panteleon/
Simeon Stylites the Elder
Son of a poor shepherd, and worked as a shepherd as a child. A would-be monk at age 13, he was turned away from monasteries because his severe self-imposed penances. Tired of the gossip and arguments from fellow religious, he lived as a hermit on top of a column, occasionally preaching to those who gathered to watch and pray with him, and starting a movement of pillar-living among Eastern hermits.
c.390 at Cilicia, near Syria
c.459 of natural causes
shepherds
Lord God of virtues, Guide of the wayward, Who sits above the Cherubim and searches the foundations of the abyss, Who knew Adam before he was; Who has promised the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven to those who love Thee; Who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush; Who blessed Abraham, our Father; Who brings to Paradise the souls of the just and sinks the souls of the ungodly in perdition; Who humbled the lions before Daniel and mitigated for the three Children the strong fire of the Chaldees; Who nourished Elijah by the ravens which brought him food and restored to life Lazarus on the fourth day, receive my mother's soul in peace, and put her in the place of the holy fathers, for Thine is the power for ever and ever. Amen. - Saint Simon's prayer for his mother; text from Prayers of the Saints
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-simeon-stylites/
• People of the Cave
• The Seven Sleepers
A group of seven young Christian men who hid in a cave in hopes of avoiding the persecution of Decius in the year 250. Found and arrested, they were ordered by the pro-consul in Ephesus to renounce their faith; they refused, and were sentenced to die. Legend says that they were walled up in their hiding cave, guarded by the dog Al Rakim; when the cave wall was breached in 479 - they all woke up!
It is likely that the youths were tortured to death in various ways and buried in the cave. The resurrection story confusion came from the phrase "went to sleep in the Lord" which was used to describe the death of Christians, and 479 is when their relics were discovered. Their names were Constantinus, Dionysius, Joannes, Malchus, Martinianus, Maximianus and Serapion.
• 250 in Ephesus (in modern Turkey); tradition says that they were walled up in a cave to suffocate, but other records indicate that they were tortured to death in various ways
• relics discovered in 479
• relics translated to Marseilles, France and enshrined in a large stone coffin
seven young men asleep in a cave
https://catholicsaints.info/seven-sleepers-of-ephesus/
• Nevolo of Tavensia
• Nevolone, Novellone, Nevolonius
Son of a craftsman. Layman cobbler who led a dissolute life in his youth and early married life. However, a serious illness at age 24 caused him to re-evaluate his life; he had a conversion experience, repented his early life, and dedicated himself to God, penance and prayer. He became a Franciscan tertiary, and converted his wife to an active faith. His charity to the poor nearly ruined his business. Pilgrim to many holy sites, and made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela eleven times. Widower. Franciscan lay brother. Camaldolese hermit at the monastery of San Maglorio in Faenza, Italy where his reputation for piety and wisdom continued to grow.
13th century Faenza, Italy
• 27 July 1280 in Faenza, Italy of natural causes
• interred in the cathedral of San Pietro in Faenza
• by 1282 there were so many pilgrims to his tomb that guards had to be posted to maintain order
4 June 1817 by Pope Pius VII (cultus confirmation)
cobblers (chosen by the cobblers of Rimini, Italy in 1331)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-nevolo-of-faenza/
• Domènec of Sant Pere de Riudebitlles
• Doménech of Sant Pere de Riudebittles
Joan joined the Capuchin Franciscan Friars Minor in 1908, making his solemn profession on 4 October 1912. Ordained a priest on 25 May 1917. Assigned to the missions in Costa Rica and Nicaragua until 1930 when he returned to Spain and lived in the Franciscan convent in Manresa. On 22 July 1936, the area of the convent was overrun by Communist forces as part of the fighting in the Spanish Civil War. As he was leaving the house on the evening of 27 July 1936, Father Joan was spotted by the Marxists, kidnapped, tortured and murdered. Martyr.
11 December 1882 in Sant Pere de Riudebitlles, Barcelona, Spain
shot on the night of 27 July 1936 in Manresa, Barcelona, Spain
• 6 November 2021 by Pope Francis
• the beatification recognition was celebrated at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Manresa, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-joan-romeu-y-canadell/
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Protestant minister; rector of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England in 1571. Convert to Catholicism, led to the faith by his younger brother William who became a Jesuit priest. With his younger brother Abraham, he studied in Douai, France in 1576. Ordained in February 1577 for the apostolic vicariate of England. Robert returned to England on 19 March 1578 to minister to covert Catholics during the persecutions of Elizabeth I. Imprisoned and martyred for the crime of priesthood.
Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
• hanged on 27 July 1588 in Stafford, Staffordshire, England
• a forefinger and thumb were later recovered as relics
• thumb enshrined at Stonyhurst College, Hurst Green, Lancashire, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-robert-sutton-27-july/
• Margarita Martinengo
• Maria Maddalena
Born to the Italian nobility. Her mother died while Mary was five months old; the lack of a mother affected the girl deeply, and led her to intense religious devotion and prayer. At age 18 she joined the Capuchin Poor Clares of Santa Maria della Neve in Brescia, Italy. Professed in 1706, she spent the rest of her life in the convent. Recognized in the convent for her holiness and prayer life. Twice prioress, and served several years as novice mistress. Worked to promote devotion to Christ Crucified, and used her own example to encourage penance and personal sacrifice for the Lord.
5 October 1687 at Brescia, Italy
27 July 1737 in Brescia, Italy of natural causes
3 June 1900 by Pope Leo XIII
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-mary-magdalene-martinengo/
Liliosa
Lay woman in Moorish controlled ninth-century Spain. Married to Saint Felix of Cordoba. A covert Christian who was careful not to display enough of her faith to risk the attention of Muslim neighbors. However, stories of the persecutions of active Christians shamed her into openly living his faith. Martyred in the persecutions of Caliph Abderraham II.
Spain
852 in Cordoba, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lillian-of-cordoba/
Berthold de Rachez
Born to the nobility. Benedictine monk at the Abbey of Saint Blaise in the Black Forest in Germany. Priest. Prior of Gottweig Abbey in 1107. Developed and served as first abbot of Garsden Abbey in 1111. Introduced the Hirsau Reforms into Austria. Known for his strict adherence to the Benedictine Rule, charity to the poor, and endless work as a spiritual director to visitors and the laity.
c.1060
• 27 July 1142 in Garsten, Upper Austria, Austria of natural causes
• buried in Garsten Abbey
8 January 1970 by Pope Paul VI (cultus confirmation)
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-berthold-of-garsten/
Entered the novitiate of the Friars Minor Conventual at the Franciscan convent at Granollers, Spain as a teenager in 1929. Studied at the seminary in Osimo, Italy where he was ordained in 1934. His short career as a parish priest in Granollers was noted for his preaching and devotion to the confessional. Captured, beaten and martyred in the Spanish Civil War for the offense of being a priest.
24 February 1912 in La Serna, Palencia, diocese of Leon, Spain
shot on 27 July 1936 in Can Moncada, Llisá de Munt, Barcelona, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-modesto-vegas-y-vegas/
Born to a wealthy Moorish father, Spanish mother, and orphaned as a child. Raised as a secret Christian by his aunt during the Moorish occupation of Spain and persecution of Christians. Married a half-Moorish woman who was born as Sabigotho, changed her name to Natalia when she converted to Christianity, and is a saint as well. Father of two children. Publicly proclaimed his faith after seeing a local merchant named John scourged to death for being a Christian. Both he and Natalia were martyred in the persecutions of Caliph Abderrahman II for openly practising their faith.
beheaded 27 July 852 in Cordoba, Spain
orphans
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aurelius-of-cordoba/
He early felt a call to the priesthood, and was ordained in the archdiocese of Valencia, Spain in 1920. Parish priest in Quatretondeta, Spain; priest and co-adjutor in Ibi, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War by Republican forces.
6 October 1888 in Ontinyent, Valencia, Spain
shot on 29 July 1936 in Ibi, Alicante, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-joaquin-vilanova-camallonga/
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
Priest in the apostolic vicariate of England during a period of government persecution of Catholics. Martyred for the crime of being a priest. His final act was to pray for the people who attended his execution.
c.1559 in Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, Wales
hanged on 27 July 1593 in Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-william-davies/
Natalie, Nathalie, Sabigotho
Half-Moorish. Convert to Christianity. Married to Saint Aurelius. Mother of two. She and Aurelius knew that to openly practice their faith was a recipe for martyrdom. However, after making provision for their children's welfare, they became openly Christian, caring for the sick and poor, and talking openly about Jesus. Martyr.
as Sabigotho
beheaded on 27 July 852
• converts
• martyrs
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-natalia/
Joined the Salesians in 1930. Teacher in Ciudadela, Spain. Began his studies for the priesthood in Madrid, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
14 March 1913 in Villena, Alicante, Spain
shot on 27 July 1936 in Barcelona, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-felipe-hernandez-martinez/
Mary Clemente of Jesus Crucified Staszewska
Ursuline nun. Martyred in the persecutions of the Nazis.
30 July 1890 in Zloczew, Wielkopolskie, Poland
27 July 1943 in Oswiecim (a.k.a. Auschwitz), Malopolskie, Nazi-occupied Poland
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-maria-klemensa-staszewska/
Giuliana
Blood sister of Saint Semproniana of Mataró. Baptized by and spiritual student of Saint Cugat del Valles. Nun. Imprisoned and martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian for trying to bury the martyred body of Saint Cugat.
304 in Illuron (modern Mataró), near Barcelona, Spain
Mataró, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-juliana-of-mataro/
Member of the Salesians, making his final vows in 1932. Attended the canonization recognition of Saint John Bosco. Teacher. Co-adjutor of his Order. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
24 May 1913 in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
shot on 27 July 1936 in Barcelona, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jaime-ortiz-alzueta/
Blood sister of Saint Juliana of Mataró. Baptized by and spiritual student of Saint Cugat del Valles. Nun. Imprisoned and martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian for trying to bury the martyred body of Saint Cugat.
304 in Illuron (modern Mataró), near Barcelona, Spain
Mataró, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-semproniana-of-mataro/
• Galactorio of Béarn
• Galattorio, Galactoire, Galactorius
Sixth century bishop of Lescar in the French Pyrenees. Participated in the Council of Agde. Martyred by invading Arian Visigoths led by Alaric.
Lescar, Béarn region of the French Pyrenees
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-galactorio-of-lescar/
Lucy of Amelia
Sister of Blessed John of Rieti. Augustinian nun at Amelia where she became prioress.
at Castel Porziano near Rome, Italy
1350 of natural causes
1832 by Pope Gregory XVI (cultus confirmed)
against demonic possession
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-lucy-bufalari/
Joined the Salesians in 1930. Teacher in Sarria, Spain. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.
5 November 1913 in Almuniente, Huesca, Spain
shot on 27 July 1936 in Barcelona, Spain
11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-zacarias-abadia-buesa/
Claretian priest. Martyred in the religious persecutions of the Spanish Civil War.
13 September 1906 at Jerez de los Caballeros, Badajoz, Spain
27 July 1936 at El Otero, Sigüenza, Spain
13 October 2013 by Pope Francis
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jose-maria-ruiz-cano/
• Abdullah ibn Kaab
• Aretas
• al-Haarith
Martyred in the persecutions of Dhu Nowas (Dunawan), King of the Hymerites along with a large number of fellow Christians whose names have not come down to us.
427
beheaded in 523 in Nedshran (Negran; Najran; Nagran) Arabia
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-arethas/
Monk from Palestine. Deacon. Arrested and condemned to death during the persecutions of Caliph Abderrahman II. He was offered a pardon as a foreigner, but he declined, perferring to stand for his faith, minister to his fellow prisoners, and die as a martyr.
• c.822 at Cordoba, Spain
• relics at the abbey church of Saint Germain, Paris, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-george-of-cordoba/
Maruo
Spiritual student of Saint Peter the Apostle. Assigned by Peter as the first Bishop of Bisceglia, Italy. Martyred in the persecutions of Trajan.
Jerusalem, Palestine
27 July 117 in Bisceglia, Italy
Bisceglia, Italy
bishop with a book
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-maurus-of-bisceglia/
Pantaleo
Martyred in the persecutions of Trajan.
Apulia, Italy
27 July 117 in Bisceglia, Italy
Bisceglia, Italy
soldier on horseback raising a flag with a red cross on a white background
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pantaleimon-of-bisceglia/
Sergio
Martyred in the persecutions of Trajan.
Apulia, Italy
27 July 117 in Bisceglia, Italy
Bisceglia, Italy
soldier on horseback raising a flag with a red cross on a white background
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-sergius-of-bisceglia/
Eclesio Celio
Bishop of Ravenna, Italy from 521 till his death in 532. Built the Basilica of San Vitale. Worked with Pope John I to resist King Theodoric.
532 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ecclesius-of-ravenna/
Layman Christian in Moorish-occupied Spain. Married to Saint Lillian of Cordoba. Martyred in the persecutions of Caliph Abderraham II.
Spain
852 in Cordoba, Spain
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-felix-of-cordoba-27-july/
Eighth-century nun. Tortured and exiled from Constantinople for refusing to comply with the heresy of iconoclasm.
Greek
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anthusa-of-constantinople/
Priest in Nicomedia, Bithynia, Asia Minor (modern Izmit, Turkey). In his old age, he converted Saint Pantaleon, then the imperial physician. Martyr.
c.305
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hermolaus/
Etherius of Auxerre
Sixth-century bishop of Auxerre, France for 10 years.
573
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-aetherius-of-auxerre/
Luicain
Titular saint of Kill-Luicain parish, County Roscommon, Ireland. No details have survived.
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-luican/
Thermocrates
Martyr.
c.305
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hermocrates/
Martyr.
c.305
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hermippus/
Three Christians martyred together. The only other information to survive are their names - Felix, Jucunda and Julia.
Nicomedia, Asia Minor
https://catholicsaints.info/martrys-of-nicomedia-27-july/
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 Àngel Maria Rodamilans Canals
• Blessed Adelfa Soro Bó
• Blessed Antoni Tost Llaberia
• Blessed Cirilo Illera del Olmo
• Blessed Emilio Puente González
• Blessed Francesc Pujol Espinalt
• Blessed Jacinto Gómez Peña
• Blessed Joaquín de La Madrid Arespacochaga
• Blessed Joaquín Puente González
• Blessed José Franco Ruiz
• Blessed José Ibañez Mayandia
• Blessed José María González Delgado
• Blessed Josep Bru Boronat
• Blessed Narcis Serra Rovira
• Blessed Otilia Alonso González
• Blessed Pedro Esteban Hernandez
• Blessed Ramona Fossas Románs
• Blessed Ramona Perramón Vila
• Blessed Reginalda Picas Planas
• Blessed Rosa Jutglar Gallart
• Blessed Teresa Prats Martí
• Albert Pandoni
• Andrea Jimenez Galera
• Angel of Bulgaria
• Anthus of Honoriade
• Arnold of Lyon
• Congall of Iabnallivin
• Conrad of Ottobeuren
• Desideratus of Besancon
• Erlembald
• Fronimio of Metz
• Giustina
• Jacobo Papocchi of Montieri
• Nahum of Ohrid
• Raimondo Zanfogni
• Sabas of Bulgaria
• Simeon the Aegean
• Simeon Stylites the Elder
• Theobald of Marly
• Ursus of Loches
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition