29 July • yesterday
• tomorrow
Memorial of Saint Martha of Bethany


Saint Martha of Bethany

Also known as

Wonder Worker of Southern Gaul

Profile

Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany. Friend of Jesus, and hostess to him in her house. May have been part of an early mission to France.

Died

c.80 of natural causes

Patronage

• butlers • Congregation of Martha and Mary (founded in 1979)
• cooks (proclaimed on 1 July 1963 by Pope Paul VI)
• dieticians
• domestic servants
• homemakers
• hotel-keepers
• housemaids
• housewives
• innkeepers (proclaimed on 1 July 1963 by Pope Paul VI)
• laundry workers
• maids
• manservants
• servants
• servers
• single laywomen
• travellers
• Villajoyosa, Spain (chosen after a flash flood saved the village from Moorish invaders on her feast day in 1538)

Representation

• broom (referring to being a home maker)
• dragon
• keys (referring to keeping the home)
• with a holy water sprinkler or holy water pot
• ladle (reference to her home-making, cooking, etc.)

Video

YouTube PlayList

Readings

Martha and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and both served him harmoniously when he was among them. Martha welcomed him as travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while she was to be fed by the Spirit. No one of you should say, "Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!" Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me." - from a sermon by Saint Augustine

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


Saint Olaf II

Also known as

• Heilag-Olav
• Holy Olaf
• Olaf Haraldson
• Olaf Haraldsson
• Olaf of Norway
• Olaf the Fat
• Olaf the Holy
• Olaf the Thick
• Olaus, Olavs, Tola, óláfr

Additional Memorials

• 16 October (conversion of Saint Olaf)
• 3 August (translation of relics)

Profile

Son of Harald Grenske King of Norway and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter. Viking pirate. Convert to Christianity, baptised in 1010. Helped Ethelred of England against pagan Danish invaders. King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. Brought missionaries, including Blessed Theodgar of Vestervig, to Norway to evangelize his people. Olaf tried to force Christianity on them, but they revolted in 1029, and drove him first to Sweden and then to Kiev (in modern Russia). There he gathered his forces, and in 1030 tried to re-take his throne. He was killed in battle, and regarded by Norwegians as the great champion of national independence and a martyr.

Born

995

Died

• killed in battle at Stiklestadt on 29 July 1030 while trying to recover his throne
• buried at the Trondheim Cathedral
• miracles reported at his tomb, and it became a noted place of pilgrimage for Scandanavians

Canonized

1164 by Pope Alexander III

Patronage

• carvers
• difficult marriages
• kings
• Norway

Representation

• king, crowned and in armour with his weapons and a symbol of charity (food basket, etc.)
• the arms of Norway are a lion with the battle-axe of Saint Olaf in the forepaws

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-olaf-ii/


Pope Blessed Urban II

Also known as

Odo, Otho, Eudes

Profile

Studied at Rheims, France. Monk and prior at Cluny. Assistant to Pope Saint Gregory VII, and helped in his reforms. Bishop of Ostia, Italy. Cardinal. Papal legate to Germany. As pope, he continued the reforms in the face of opposition by Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and his anti-pope Clement III (Guibert of Ravenna); he was unable to move to Rome until 1093 when Clement was removed. Urban concentrated his efforts in places that recognized him, such as southern Italy, Tuscany. and the Lombard cities. Urban summoned councils of whole populations to advertise and gain popularity for the reforms. There were councils at Piacenza, Italy in 1095, Clermont, France in 1095, Rome in 1097 and 1099, and Bari, Italy in 1098. At Clermont, Urban preached a sermon that started the First Crusade. Urban condemned King Philip I of France over Philip's repudiation of his wife. Without Urban's work, most of the reforms instituted by Pope Saint Gregory VII would have been vanished.

Born

c.1042 in Lagery, France as Odo (or Otho or Eudes) of Lagery

Papal Ascension

March 1088

Died

29 July 1099 in Rome, Italy of natural causes

Beatified

1881 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmation)

https://catholicsaints.info/pope-blessed-urban-ii/


Blessed José Calasanz Marqués

Profile

Joined the Salesians in 1890. Ordained in 1895. Secretary to Blessed Felipe Rinaldi for ten years. Director of the College of La Esmeralda in Sarria, Spain. Leader of the Salesians in Camaguey, Cuba in 1916. Salesian Provincial for Bolivia and Peru. Salesian Provincial in Barcelona and Valencia, Spain in 1925. Known not just for his administrative skills, but as a mentor and spiritual director for his brother Salesians. In the persecutions the Spanish Civil War, he was arrested while conducting a retreat in Valencia; the others there were imprisoned, but because he was a priest, Father José was sent out for immediate execution. Martyr.

Born

23 November 1872 in Azanuy, Huesca, Spain

Died

shot on 29 July 1936 in Puente de San José, Valencia, Spain

Beatified

11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jose-calasanz-marques/


Saint William of Saint-Brieuc

Also known as

• William Pinchon
• William of San Brieuc

Profile

Born to a peasant family. Priest. Canon of the cathedral of Tours, France. Bishop of San-Brieuc, Brittany, France in 1220; he served for 14 years. Known for his simplicity, charity, and his fight to defend the faithful and the rights of the Church against civil authority; it led to him being exiled, imprisoned and tortured before finally returning to his diocese in 1230. Worked to construct the cathedral. Had the ability to heal by prayer.

Born

11 October 1180 in Saint-Alban, San-Brieuc, Brittany (in France)

Died

• 29 July 1234 of natural causes
• body found incorrupt in 1236

Canonized

24 March 1247 by Pope Innocent IV

Patronage

diocese of Saint-Brieuc, France

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-william-of-saint-brieuc/


Blessed Luis Bertrán

Also known as

Luis Exarch

Additional Memorial

10 September as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan

Profile

Relative of Saint Louis Bertrán. Joined the Dominicans at the convent of Santa Catalina in Barcelona, Spain in 1611. Priest. Missionary to the Philippines in 1618. Missionary to Japan in 1623; he worked the rest of his life in the Omura region. He brought many to the faith, especially working with Dominican tertiaries. During a period of persecution he hid from authorities in a leper colony, but was found and executed with Blessed Mancio de la Cruz, Blessed Pedro de Santa Maria and three of the patients who had given them shelter. Martyr.

Born

1596 in Barcelona, Spain

Died

burned to death in 29 July 1627 at Omura, Nagasaki, Japan

Beatified

7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-luis-bertran/


Saint Seraphia the Martyr

Also known as

• Seraphia of Syria
• Serapia...

Profile

When Seraphia was very young, her family fled from Syria to Italy to escape the persecutions of Hadrian. Orphaned as a young woman, she had many offers of marriage, but was drawn to a religious life; she sold all her possessions, gave the money to the poor, and then sold herself into slavery. By her good example, she converted her owner, Saint Sabina. Martyr.

Born

Antioch, Syria

Died

beheaded in 110 in Italy

Representation

• with Saint Sabina
• woman holding a book
• woman holding a tablet
• woman working as an imperial Roman household slave

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-seraphia-the-martyr/


Saint Ioannes Baptista Luo Tingyin

Also known as

• John Lo
• John Baptist Lo
• John Baptist Leo
• Johannes Baptist Luo Tingyin
• Ruohan

Additional Memorial

28 September as one of the Martyrs of China

Profile

Married layman servant in the apostolic vicariate of Guizhou, China. Convert. Martyr. One of the Martyrs of China.

Born

c.1825 in Qingyian, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Died

tortured and beheaded on 29 July 1861 in Qingyian, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Canonized

1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-ioannes-baptista-luo-tingyin/


Blessed Petrus of Saint Mary

Additional Memorial

10 September as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan

Profile

At age 13 Petrus began studying to be a catechists; Blessed Luis Bertrán was his teacher. He supported the work of the missionaries, spending his wages to buy them supplies, strengthening the faith of new Christians. During a period of persecution, he hid from authorities in a leper colony, but was found and imprisoned in Kuwara, Japan. While in prison he was admitted to the Dominicans as cooperator brother. Martyr.

Born

1610 in Omura, Nagasaki, Japan

Died

burned to death in 29 July 1627 at Omura, Nagasaki, Japan

Beatified

7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-petrus-of-saint-mary/


Blessed Juan Bautista Egozcuezábal Aldaz

Profile

Joined the Hospitallers of Saint John of God at age 30. Worked at an asylum hospital. Seized as he was leaving the hospital, he was ordered to blaspheme to prove that he renounced Christianity; he refused. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War.

Born

13 March 1882 in Nuin, Navarra, Spain

Died

• shot on 29 July 1936 in Barcelona, Spain
• body dumped in a field in Esplugas de Liobregat, Spain

Beatified

25 October 1992 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-juan-bautista-egozcuezabal-aldaz/


Saint Martha Wang

Also known as

• Martha Wang Luoshi
• Mande

Additional Memorial

28 September as one of the Martyrs of China

Profile

Married lay woman in the apostolic vicariate of Guizhou, China. Widow. Carried letters from Blessed Joseph Tshang and Blessed John Baptist Lo to their bishop. Arrested for helping spread Christianity. Martyr.

Born

c.1812 in Zunyi, Guizhou, China

Died

tortured and beheaded on 29 July 1861 in Qingyian, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Canonized

1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-martha-wang/


Blessed Beatrix of Valfleury

Profile

Born to a wealthy family. A pious child, at age seven she moved into a convent of Béguines. She later joined the Cistercian nuns at Valfleury, France. Known for severe austerities, punishing her body almost to the point of torture. Received a vision of Jesus. Founded the convent called Our Lady of Nazareth near Lier, Belgium, and served as its first prioress.

Died

• 1269 at the convent of Our Lady of Nazareth of natural causes
• legend says that years later when the convent was abandoned during a period of civil unrest, her body was taken to Lier, Belgium by angels

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-beatrix-of-valfleury/


Blessed Charles-Antoine-Nicolas Ancel

Profile

Eudist 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

11 October 1763 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France

Died

29 July 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-charles-antoine-nicolas-ancel/


Blessed Mancius of the Cross

Additional Memorial

10 September as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan

Profile

Worked with Blessed Luis Bertran, often acting as a guide for the missionaries. During a period of persecution, he hid from authorities in a leper colony, but was found and imprisoned in Kuwara, Japan. While in prison he was admitted to the Dominicans as cooperator brother during the last Mass celebrated by Blessed Luis. Martyr.

Born

Japan

Died

burned to death in 29 July 1627 at Omura, Nagasaki, Japan

Beatified

7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX

https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-mancius-of-the-cross/


Saint Beatrice of Rome

Also known as

Beatrix, Viatrice, Viatrix

Profile

Sister of Saint Faustinus of Rome and Saint Simplicius of Rome. Betrothed to be married even though she had taken personal vows of chastity. When she was caught burying her martyred brothers, she was denounced as a Christian by her fiance Lucretius, which led to imprisonment and execution. Martyr.

Died

strangled in 303 in Rome, Italy

Representation

woman holding a rope in her left hand and a candle in her right hand

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


Saint Paulus Chen Changpin

Also known as

Baolu

Additional Memorial

28 September as one of the Martyrs of China

Profile

Seminarian in the apostolic vicariate of Guizhou, China. Locked in a cold, damp cave, tortured and martyred for his faith.

Born

c.1838 in Xingren, Guizhou, China

Died

tortured and beheaded on 29 July 1861 in Qingyian, Guiyang, Guizhou, China

Canonized

1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-paulus-chen-changpin/


Saint Lupus of Troyes

Also known as

Leu

Profile

Married the sister of Saint Hilary for seven years at which point they separated so that Lupus could become a monk at Lérins Abbey. Bishop of Troyes, France in 426. Travelled with Saint Germanus of Auxerre to fight Pelagianism in Britain. Saved Troyes from the attack of Attila the Hun in 453.

Born

384 in Toul, France

Died

478

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lupus-of-troyes/


Saint Iosephus Zhang

Also known as

• Joseph Tshang
• Ruose

Additional Memorial

28 September as one of the Martyrs of China

Profile

Seminarian at Su-tchuen, China. Martyr.

Born

c.1831 in Ba, Sichuan, China

Died

beheaded on 29 July 1861 at Tsin-gai, China

Canonized

1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-iosephus-zhang/


Saint Faustinus of Spoleto

Also known as

Faustinus of Spello

Profile

Spiritual student of Saint Felix of Martano near Spoleto, Italy, and was there at Felix's martyrdom. Faustinus was abused for his faith, but allowed to live.

Born

3rd century Italy

Died

4th century at Todi, Umbria, Italy of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-faustinus-of-spoleto/


Saint Olaus of Sweden

Also known as

Olaf, Olave

Profile

King of Sweden. Convert, brought to the faith by Saint Anscharius. During a time of famine, he was sacrificed to the old pagan gods because he would not offer such sacrifices himself as priest-king.

Died

early 10th century at Birca, Sweden (near modern Stockholm)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-olaus-of-sweden/


Saint John the Soldier

Profile

Fourth-century Christian soldier in the imperial Roman army during the reign of Julian the Apostate. Assisted persecuted and imprisoned Christians, and ministered to the sick and poor.

Died

interred in the church of Saint John the Theologian, Constantinople (in modern Istanbul, Turkey)

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-the-soldier/


Saint Flora of Rome

Also known as

Fiora

Profile

Sister of Saint Lucilla of Rome, she was kidnapped and enslaved by Saint Eugene of Rome before his conversion, and then was freed after his conversion. One of 23 Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Gallienus.

Died

c.260 in Rome, Italy

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


Saint Prosper of Orléans

Profile

Chosen bishop of Orléans, France in 453. Formally received Saint Genevieve of Paris when she passed through Orléans.

Died

c.463 of natural causes

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-prosper-of-orleans/


Saint Felix of Rome

Also known as

Felix av Via Portuensis

Profile

Martyr.

Died

San Felice cemetery, mile marker three, Via Portuense, outside Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-felix-of-rome-29-july/


Saint Callinicus of Paphlagonia

Profile

Martyr.

Born

Paphlagonia, Asia Minor

Died

burned to death in the 3rd century in Gangrae, Asia Minor

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-callinicus-of-paphlagonia/


Saint Simplicius of Rome

Profile

Brother of Saint Beatrice of Rome. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

c.303 in Rome, Italy

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-simplicius-of-rome-2/


Saint Sulian

Also known as

Silin

Profile

Founded the monastery of Luxulyan in Cornwall, England, and served as its first abbot.

Died

6th century of natural causes

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


Saint Faustinus of Rome

Profile

Brother of Saint Beatrice of Rome. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian.

Died

c.303 in Rome, Italy

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


Saint Kilian of Inishcaltra

Profile

Monk. Abbot of monastery on the island of Inishcaltra. Wrote a biography of Saint Brigid.

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-kilian-of-inishcaltra/


Saint Eugene

Profile

One of 23 Christians martyred as a group in the persecutions of Gallienus.

Died

c.260

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eugene-29-july/


Saint Antony

Profile

One of 23 Christians martyred in the persecutions of Gallienus.

Died

c.260

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-antony-29-july/


Saint Theodore

Profile

One of 23 Christians martyred in the persecutions of Gallienus.

Died

c.260

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


Saint Lucilla

Profile

One of 23 Christians martyred in the persecutions of Gallienus.

Died

c.260

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


Saint Seraphina

Profile

Martyr.

Died

c.426 at Civitas Mamiensis

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-seraphina-29-july/


Saint Rufo of Rome

Profile

Martyr.

Died

Generosa cemetery, Rome, Italy

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


Martyrs of Calanda

Profile

A group of Dominican priests and friars who were martyred over the course of a day in the same town by the same group of anti-Christian forces in the Spanish Civil War.

Antonio Manuel López Couceiro
Felicísimo Díez González
Gumersindo Soto Barros
Lamberto María de Navascués de Juan
Lucio Martínez Mancebo
Matías Manuel Albert Ginés
Saturio Rey Robles
Tirso Manrique Melero

Died

29 July 1936 in Calanda, Teruel, Spain

Beatified

11 March 2001 by Pope John Paul II

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


Martyrs of Lleida

Profile

Carmelites of the Ancient Observance novices, friars and priests who were all martyred together in the Spanish Civil War.

Àngel Prat Hostench
Eliseo Maneus Besalduch
Gabriel Escoto Ruiz
Ginés Garre Egea
Joan Maria Puigmitjà Rubió
Joan Prat Colldecarrera
Josep Solé Rovira
Lluis Fontdecava Quiroga
Manuel Serrano Buj
Miquel Soler Sala
Pere Dorca Coromina
Pere Ferrer Marín

Died

29 July 1936 in Clot dels Aubens, Cervera, Lleida, Spain

Beatified

28 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI

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


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 Bartolomé Rodríguez Soria


Also celebrated but no entry yet

• Chirsk-Pskov Icon of the Mother of God
• Holy Mary of the Miracles
• Four Anonymous Martyrs
• Martyrs of Rome
• Alexander of Cîteaux
• Anastasia and Companions
• Berius of Constantinople
• Peter of Algiers


CatholicSaints.Info Portable Edition
email CatholicSaints.*