| 28 August |
• yesterday • tomorrow |
| Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church |
• Aurelius Augustinus
• Doctor of Grace
5 May (his conversion)
Son of a pagan father who converted on his death bed, and of Saint Monica, a devout Christian. Raised a Christian, he lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. Lived with a Carthaginian woman from the age of 15 through 30. Fathered a son whom he named Adeotadus, which means the gift of God. Taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan, Italy. After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, he became a Manichaean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. A summation of his thinking at the time comes from his Confessions: "God, give me chastity and continence - but not just now."
Augustine finally broke with the Manichaeans and was converted by the prayers of his mother and the help of Saint Ambrose of Milan, who baptized him. On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. Monk. Priest. Preacher. Bishop of Hippo in 396. Founded religious communities. Fought Manichaeism, Donatism, Pelagianism and other heresies. Oversaw his church and his see during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals. Doctor of the Church. His later thinking can also be summed up in a line from his writings: Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.
13 November 354 at Tagaste, Numidia, North Africa (Souk-Ahras, Algeria) as Aurelius Augustinus
28 August 430 at Hippo, North Africa
• against sore eyes
• against vermin
• brewers
• printers
• theologians
• 7 dioceses
• 7 cities
• child
• dove
• eagle
• pen
• shell
• flaming heart, an allusion to a passage in his Confessions
• YouTube PlayList
• Confessions (audio book)
• Of the Catechizing of the Unlearned (audio book)
Conquer yourself and the world lies at your feet. - Saint Augustine
God has no need of your money, but the poor have. You give it to the poor, and God receives it. - Saint Augustine
The honors of this world, what are they but puff, and emptiness and peril of falling? - Saint Augustine
What do you possess if you possess not God? - Saint Augustine
Unhappy is the soul enslaved by the love of anything that is mortal. - Saint Augustine
The love of worldly possessions is a sort of bird line, which entangles the soul, and prevents it flying to God. - Saint Augustine
This very moment I may, if I desire, become the friend of God. - Saint Augustine
God bestows more consideration on the purity of the intention with which our actions are performed than on the actions themselves. - Saint Augustine
I will suggest a means whereby you can praise God all day long, if you wish. Whatever you do, do it well, and you have praised God. - Saint Augustine
This is the business of our life. By labor and prayer to advance in the grace of God, till we come to that height of perfection in which, with clean hearts, we may behold God. - Saint Augustine
God in his omnipotence could not give more, in His wisdom He knew not how to give more, in His riches He had not more to give, than the Eucharist. - Saint Augustine
God does not command impossibilities, but by commanding admonishes you do what you can and to pray for what you cannot, and aids you that you may be able. - Saint Augustine
Our life and our death are with our neighbor. - Saint Augustine
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-augustine-of-hippo/
• Brian Arrowsmith
• Edmund Bradshaw
• Edmund Rigby
• 25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Son of the farmer Robert Arrowsmith and Margery Gerard Arrowsmith. His rebel parents refused to attend Protestant services, harbored priests in their home, and at one point were arrested for their actions, and dragged away in the night, leaving the child Edmund alone. Entered Douai College in 1605; he was forced to quit due to ill health. Ordained in France in 1611. Worked among beleaguered English Catholics in Lancashire for 15 years. Even in those oppressive times he was known for his pleasant disposition, sincerity, and energy.
Queen Elizabeth's governors and hierarchy lived on confiscated Catholic property, so public distrust of priests as agents of Catholic Spain working for a Spanish invasion, worked to their advantage, keeping the population in a constant state of paranoia, dependant on an intrusive government. To keep all this in place, Elizabeth had her own Inquisition. Edmund was arrested in 1622 for his faith, and spent his prison time arguing theology with the local Protestant bishop.
Edmund was unexpectedly freed by a pardon issued by King James I. After making the Spiritual Exercises, Edmund entered the Jesuits in 1623, and returned to Lancashire for the remaining five years of his life. Betrayed by the son of the landlord of the Blue Anchor Inn in south Lancashire, he was arrested by priest hunters, and imprisoned for his vocation. He decided to let the court prove the charge rather than help them with a confession, replying, "Would that I were worthy of being a priest!" When the jury found him guilty of being a Jesuit priest, he exclaimed, "Thanks be to God!" Brought to execution, he prayed for everyone in the kingdom, then said, "Be witnesses with me that I die a constant Roman Catholic and for Christ's sake; let my death be an encouragement to your going forward in the Catholic religion." His confession on the day of his execution was heard by fellow-prisoner Saint John Southworth, and his final words were "Bone Jesu" (O good Jesus).
• 1585 at Haydock, Lancashire, England as Brian Arrowsmith
• his confirmation name was Edmund, and he preferred to use it
• hanged, drawn, and quartered on 28 August 1628 at Lancaster, England
• his hand is preserved as a relic at Saint Oswald's Church, Ashton-in-Makerfield, England
25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-edmund-arrowsmith/
• Apostle of California
• Miguel José Serra Ferrer
1 July (United States)
Entered the Franciscan University at Palma, Spain at age 15, and joined the Order at age 17, taking the name Junipero after the friend of Saint Francis. Ordained in 1737, and taught philosophy and theology at the Lullian University.
In 1749, Serra was sent to the missionary territories of the west of North America. A mosquito bite he received early in his trip to the New World left one leg swollen; this and his asthma made walking a painful process for the rest of his life. In 1768 he took over missions in the Mexican provinces of Lower and Upper California, missions the Jesuits were forced to abandon by order of King Charles III. A tireless worker, Serra was largely responsible for the foundation and spread of the Church on the West Coast of the United States. Founded twenty-one missions, converted thousands of Native Americans, and trained many of them in European methods of agriculture, cattle husbandry, and crafts. Dedicated religious and missionary, penitent and austere in all areas of his life.
Blessed Junipero Serra is the namesake of the Serra Club, an international Catholic organization dedicated to the promotion of vocations, and the support of seminarians and religious novices. Many of his letters and other writings have survived, and the diary of his travels to the west was published in the early 20th century.
24 November 1713 at Petra, Spanish Majorca as Miguel Jose Serra
• 28 August 1784 of tuberculosis at Mission San Carlos, California of natural causes
• buried at Carmel, Monterey, California
• 23 September 2015 by Pope Francis
• canonization recognition celeberated at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, presided by Pope Francis
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-junipero-serra/
Vicinio
Prayerful hermit on a mountain near Sarsina, Italy; it has since been named Monte San Vicinio in his honour. As was the custom then, around the year 303 the clergy and laity of Sarsina gathered to select their bishop; they saw a sign appear in the heavens above the mountain where Vicinius lived (one account gives it as angels in prayer over his hermitage), a group of the faithful was dispatched to find the man pointed out to them, and Vicinio was chosen the first bishop of Sarsina. Vicinius served for over 25 years, spreading the faith to the entire region. Even as bishop he regularly returned to the mountains to make solitary spiritual retreats. Miracle worker, exorcist and healer of both physical and mental illness.
As a personally imposed penance, for much of his life Vicinius wore an iron collar around his neck; it had a heavy stone attached by a chain. Healings he prayed for were especially powerful if the patient briefly wore the iron collar around his own neck. The collar has survived to today, and is still used for blessings of the sick, particularly those suffering from obsessions. Over the years a folk tradition developed of weaving collars of different coloured threads into “collars” as get-well wishes for the sick, and a reminder of the prayers for the intercession of Saint Vicinius; these collars, known as cordlens, are also blessed and given to the faithful during the celebration of the memorial on 28 August. Legand says that a beggar once tried to steal the collar and chain; he ran all night to escape the area only to find at dawn that he had been running in the same spot for hours; he threw the chain into the river where it floated until found by the locals and returned to its proper place.
late 3rd century Liguria, Italy
• 28 August 330 in the area of Sarsina, Italy of natural causes
• his relics, incuding the iron collar, are enshrined in the Basilica of San Vicinio
Sarsina, Italy
• chain
• iron collar
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vicinius-of-sarsina/
• Alfons Maria of the Holy Spirit
• Alphonsus Mary of the Holy Spirit
• Joseph Mazurek
• Józef Mazurek
12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Discalced Carmelite friar, taking the name Alfons Maria of the Holy Spirit. Ordained in July 1916. Teacher and noted administrator. Professor at the Carmelite minor seminary. Prefect of the seminary. Prior of the Carmelite monastery at Czerna, Poland in 1930. Under his leadership, the house renewed their evangelization work in the community. Murdered by Nazis for being a Christian leader. Martyr.
1 March 1891 at Baranówka, Lubelskie, Poland as Józef Mazurek
beaten then shot on 28 August 1944 in Nawojowa Góra, Malopolskie, Poland
13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II at Warsaw, Poland
All our sanctity and perfection consists in conforming ourselves to the will of God, which is the sole and supreme rule of perfection and of holiness. - Blessed Alfons
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-alfons-maria-mazurek/
Son of Blessed John Felton, Thomas was about 4 years old when his father was martyred. In his youth, he served as a page to one Lady Lovett. Feeling a call to the priesthood, in 1583 Thomas began studying at the English College in Rheims, France. While still a seminarian, he joined the Order of Minims, but their severe austerity ruined his health, and he left his studies to return to England.
Incoming Catholic priests being illegal at the time, Thomas was immediately arrested and imprisoned in London for two years. Through the intervention of his aunt in the royal court, he was finally released. He tried to return to France to resume his studies, but was imprisoned for this offense. When he was released again, he tried to get to France again, and was imprisoned again, this time put to torture to break him from his desire to be a priest. Finally, after years of prison and abuse, he was brought to trial, and when he refused to accept the queen as head of the Church, he was condemned to death. Martyr.
c.1567 in Bermondsey, London, England
hanged on 28 August 1588 in Isleworth, London, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-thomas-felton/
• Joachina de Vedruna
• Joachima de Vedruna
• Joaquima de Vedruna Vidal de Mas
• Joaquina of Saint Francis of Assisi
Married to the Spanish nobleman Theodore de Mas in 1799. Mother of nine children. Widowed in 1816. Founded the Institute of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity in 1826. The Institute spread through Catalonia with the mission of caring for the sick, and teaching children. Had a great devotion to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Suffered a slow paralysis during the last four years of her life.
16 April 1783 in Barcelona, Spain
28 August 1854 at Vic, Barcelona, Spain of cholera
12 April 1959 by Pope John XXIII
• abuse victims
• death of children
• exiles
• widows
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-joaquina-vedruna-vidal-de-mas/
Julian of Brioude
Officer in the imperial Roman army, and a closet Christian. He retired from the army and fled to Auvergne, France during the persecutions of Diocletian. At one point he was hidden by Saint Ferreolus the Tribune. Julian later surrendered to pursuing Christian-hunters, and made a public announcement of his faith. Martyr. At least 80 French townships have some variant of his name.
at Vienne, Dauphiny, Gaul (modern France)
• beheaded near Brionde, Gaul
• water from a spring that grew nearby was later believed to cure headaches
• relics enshrined at the monastery of Saint Julian until destroyed by Norse invaders
• the site of the relics became known for miraculous cures, especially in the family of Saint Gregory of Tours, who wrote about them
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julian-of-auvergne/
The son of a tailor, the brother of Blessed José Romero Ortega, after studies at the seminary of San Indalecio de Almería, Francisco was ordained a priest in the diocese of Almería, Spain in May 1895; he served in this vocation for over 40 years. Parish priest in several location. Chaplain of the Servants of Mary in 1926. Served in the 1929 Synod of Almería. Martyred with his brother in the Spanish Civil War.
30 March 1872 in Almería, Spain
shot, blinded and burned on 28 August 1936 in Huércal, Almería, Spain
• 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-francisco-romero-ortega/
The son of a tailor, the brother of Blessed Francisco Romero Ortega, after studies at the seminary of San Indalecio de Almería, José was ordained a priest in the diocese of Almería, Spain in December 1899. Chaplain of the hospital run by the Daughters of Charity. Parish priest in a number of places for 25+ years. Martyred with his brother in the Spanish Civil War.
2 April 1875 in Almería, Spain
shot on 28 August 1936 in Huércal, Almería, Spain
• 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-jose-romero-ortega/
• Moses the Ethiopian
• Moses of Scete
Born into slavery to an Egyptian official's family. An unruly thief, he was driven from the house and fell in with a band of robbers. On the run, he took refuge with hermits at the monastery of Petra in the desert of Skete, Egypt. He was converted and joined them as a monk. Priest. Possessed of supernatural gifts. A confirmed pacifist, he refused to defend himself with his monastery was attacked.
330; Ethiopian ancestry
• murdered 405 by Berbers at Petra, Skete, Egypt
• relics at the Church of Al Adra (the Virgin)
Africa
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-moses-the-black/
Priest in the diocese of Verdun France. Dean of the Chapter of Ligny, Meuse, 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.
18 October 1723 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
28 August 1794 aboard the prison ship Washington, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France
1 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-charles-arnould-hanus/
• 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
• 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Educated in England at Oxford and Gray's Inn. Converted to Catholicism. Studied and was ordained at Rheims, France, then returned to England to minister to covert Catholics during a period of persecution. For this crime he was martyred.
at Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
hanged on 28 August 1588 at Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-hugh-more/
Franciscan tertiary who worked as gardener and beggar for several Franciscan houses in southern Italy. Known for his personal piety, humility and deep prayer life, he was a much sought spiritual advisor. Reported to have levitated in ecstacy when hearing music that made him think of the heavenly choir.
c.1400 in Pesche d'Isernia, Italy
• 1460 in the Franciscan monastery in Lucera, Foggia, Italy of natural causes
• buried in Puglia, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-angelo-da-pesche-disernia/
James Clarkson
29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Raised a devout Catholic. Educated and ordained at Rheims, France in 1582. He returned to England to minister to covert Catholics in Yorkshire, for which ministry he was martyred.
16th century Yorkshire, England
hanged, drawn, and quartered in 28 August 1588 at Ilseworth, London, England
15 December1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-james-claxton/
Wealthy freed Roman slave. Brother of Saint Theodora of Rome. Martyr. A catacomb in the Salesian Way bears his name.
• martyred c.125 at Rome, Italy
• relics at Acquapendente, Italy; Salzburg, Austria; Kornelimünster Abbey; San Marco of Rome), Italy; and Seligenstadt, Germany
• Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Italy
• Acquapendente, Italy
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hermes-of-rome/
Protestant minister who converted to Catholicism. Studied for the priesthood at Rheims, France. Ordained in 1581. He then returned to England as a home missioner. Arrested and exiled for his work, he returned and was arrested in London. Condemned to death for the crime of priesthood. Martyr.
at Linton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, England
28 August 1588 at Mile End Green, East London, England
15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-william-dean/
22 November as one of the Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales
Layman in the apostolic vicariate of England. Martyred in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I.
in Gloucester, Glocestershire, England
hanged, drawn and quartered on 22 August 1588 in Mile End Green, London, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-henry-webley/
Florence, Fiorentina
Sister of Saint Leander of Seville, Saint Fulgentius of Ecija and Saint Isidore of Seville. Orphaned young and raised by Saint Leander of Seville. Nun. Abbess.
Cartagena, Spain
c.636 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-florentina-of-cartagena/
30 August (Greek calendar)
First bishop of Constantinople. Fought Arianism and turned away the writings of Arius from entering his diocese. Assisted at the Council of Nice.
340
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexander-of-constantinople-2/
• Adelindis of Poulagy
• Adelinda, Adele, Adelaide
Married. Widow. Founded Buchau Abbey in Württemberg, Germany, entered it as a nun, and later served as its abbess.
c.930
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adelindis-of-buchau/
Pelagio
Boy martyred in the persecutions of Numerian.
• c.283 in Istria (part of modern Croatia)
• relics transferred to Città Nuova, Istria
• some relics transferred to Constance, Germany
Constance, Germany
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-pelagius-of-istria/
Bibiano
Bishop of Saintes, France. Protected his people during the Visigoth invasion.
c.419
• c.460 at Saintes, France of natural causes
• some relics enshrined in Figeac, France
• some relics enshrined in Rouen, France
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vivian-of-saintes/
Priest in the apostolic vicariate of England. Martyred in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I.
Bawtry, Yorkshire, England
28 August 1588 in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-robert-morton/
Priest in the apostolic vicariate of England. Martyred in the persecutions of Queen Elizabeth I.
Raglan, Monmouthshire, Wales
28 August 1588 in Shoreditch, London, England
22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-william-gunter/
1 September as one of the Twelve Holy Brothers
Martyred in the persecutions of Maximian Herculeaus.
• c.303 at Venosa, Italy
• relics enshrined in Benevento, Italy in 760
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-septiminus-of-venosa/
1 September as one of the Twelve Holy Brothers
Martyred in the persecutions of Maximian Herculeaus.
• c.303 at Venosa, Italy
• relics enshrined in Benevento, Italy in 760
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-januarius-of-venosa/
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
• 303 near Salerno, Italy
• relics enshrined in Salerno in 940
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-fortunatus-of-salerno/
1 September as one of the Twelve Holy Brothers
Martyred in the persecutions of Maximian Herculeaus.
• c.303 at Venosa, Italy
• relics enshrined in Benevento, Italy in 760
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-felix-of-venosa/
Rumwald
Born a prince. When he was three days old, Rumwold was baptised, spoke a profession of his faith, and then died.
c.650
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rumwold-the-prince/
Caius
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
• 303 near Salerno, Italy
• relics enshrined in Salerno in 940
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gaius-of-salerno/
Benedictine monk at Reichenau, Germany. Missionary preacher throughout northern Europe. Bishop of Schleswig, Denmark.
965 of natural causes
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gorman-of-schleswig/
Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.
• 303 near Salerno, Italy
• relics enshrined in Salerno in 940
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-anthes-of-salerno/
One of the young women who travelled with and was martyred with Saint Ursula. Venerated at Cologne, Germany.
British Isles
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agnes-of-cologne/
Restituto
Bishop of Carthage in North Africa.
c.360
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-restitutus-of-carthage/
Bishop of Saintes, France for about 14 years.
c.450
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ambrose-of-saintes/
Bishop of Taino, Italy.
c.620
https://catholicsaints.info/saint-facundinus-of-taino/
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 Agustín Bermejo Miranda
• Blessed Alejandro Iñiguez De Heredia Alzola
• Blessed Andrés Merino Báscones
• Blessed Antonio Solá Garriga
• Blessed Arturo Ros Montalt
• Blessed Aurelio da Vinalesa
• Blessed Celestino Ruiz Alegre
• Blessed Cesáreo España Ortiz
• Blessed Eladi Peres Bori
• Blessed Evencio Castellanos López
• Blessed Francisco López Navarette
• Blessed Germán Arribas y Arribas
• Blessed Graciliano Ortega Narganes
• Blessed Isidre Fábregas Gils
• Blessed Jaume Tarragó Iglesias
• Blessed Javier Pradas Vidal
• Blessed Joan Tomás Gibert
• Blessed Joaquim Oliveras Puljarás
• Blessed José Gorastazu Labayen
• Blessed Josep Camprubí Corrubí
• Blessed Juan Bautista Faubel Cano
• Blessed Lázaro Ruiz Peral
• Blessed Manoel José Sousa de Sousa
• Blessed Modest Godo Buscato
• Blessed Modest Pamplona Falguera
• Blessed Nicolás Rueda Barriocanal
• Blessed Serviliano Solá Jiménez
• Blessed Teodoro Pérez Gómez
• Our Lady of Mailane
• Diego de Tahust
• Feidlimid
• Hezekiah of Judah
• Thomas Holford
CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition