Some heroes to imitate and intercessors to call on during July. Chock full of links (all the underlined words) to learn more if you care to. Add your favorites to your calendar and do something special to remember them and pray with them on their feast days. It’s not an exhaustive list, but a great place to start.
- 7/1 Bl. Junipero Serra – (1713-1784) Franciscan missionary to Mexico & CA. Founded at least 21 missions. Junipero means “jester of God”.
- 7/3 St. Thomas – Apostle, Martyr (speared to death), patron of architects, the blind, and against doubt. Missionary as far as India. Called “Didymus”, the twin. Besides lists of the Twelve in the Gospels, special mention of Thomas is in John 11:16; 14:5; 20:25; 20:29.
- 7/4 St. Elizabeth of Portugal – (1271-1336) Patron of the third order of St. Francis, charities, difficult marriages, and peace. At least twice rode into the middle of a battlefield to wage peace.
- 7/4 St. Ulric – (890-973) Priest, Bishop. First Saint canonized by a Pope, which led to today’s process.
- 7/6 St. Maria Goretti – (1890-1902, 11 years old) Patron of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape. She fought against her neighbor’s attempt at sexual assault and was mortally wounded. She forgave him before she died.
- 7/9 St. Veronica Giuliani (Pope Benedict XVI spoke of her in 2010) – (1660-1727) Capuchin mystic and stigmatic. “She impressed her fellow nuns by remaing remarkably practical despite her numerous ecstatic experiences.” (catholic.org)
- 7/11 St. Benedict of Nursia – (c480-543) Father of Western monasticism. Twin brother of St. Scholastica (she once prayed up a fierce thunderstorm to keep him around). Patron of Europe and speliologists (cave explorers). I love the St. Benedict Medal, a powerful sacramental!
- 7/13 St. Henry – (972-1024) German King an Holy Roman Emperor. Patron of the childless, the handicapped, and those rejected by a religious order. Married to St. Cunegundes.
- 7/14 Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha – (1656-1680) Virgin, “Lily of the Mohawks”. Patron of nature, ecology, and the envoronment. First Native American to be declared a Blessed. “Tekakwitha” means “she who bumps into things”. Her motto: “Who can tell me what is most pleasing to God that I may do it?”
- 7/15 St. Bonaventure – (1221-1274) Theologian, Philosopher, Cardinal-Bishop, Doctor of the Church (“the Seraphic Doctor”). Minister General of the Franciscans. Good friend of St. Thomas Aquinas (The “Angelic Doctor”).
- 7/16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Celebrates Our Lady giving the scapular to St. Simon Stock. Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- 7/16 St. Carmen – wrote the song “The Champion”… oh wait, wrong Carmen… actually just another name meaning Our Lady of Mount Carmel (see above)
- 7/22 St. Mary Magdelene – Friend & Disciple of Christ. First recorded witness of the Resurrection. Patron of hairstylists, perfumers, and against sexual temptation.
- 7/23 St. Bridget of Sweden – (c1303-1373) Mother of 8 (including St. Catherine of Sweden). Founded the Order of the Most Holy Saviour (Bridgettines). Bl. John Paul II homily on St. Bridgett of Sweden.
- 7/24 St. Christina the Astonishing – (1150-1224) At 21, she woke up during her own funeral Mass and levitated to the roof. She said she had been returned with a ministry to pray for souls in Purgatory. She could smell people’s sin. Patron of psychiatrists, therapists, and lunatics.
- 7/25 St. James the Greater – Apostle. Martyred by Herod Agrippa I in 44 AD. Son of Zebedee & Salome, brother of John, possibly the nephew of the Blessed Virgin Mary. James & John earned the nickname Boarneges, “sons of thunder” from Jesus (Maark 3:17).
- 7/26 Sts. Joachim & Anne – Parents of Mary, the Mother of God, grandparents of Jesus. Patrons of parents and grandparents.
- 7/29 St. Martha – Friend and Disciple of Jesus, sister of Mary & Lazarus. Mentioned in the Gospels at Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:25-27. Patron of cooks and waiters/ waitresses.
- 7/30 St. Peter Chrysologus – (406-450) Bishop, Doctor of the Church. Earned the name Chrysologous (golden-worded) by being an exceptional public speaker. “Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ.”
- 7/31 St. Ignatius Loyola – (1491-1556) Mystic. Spanish founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Youngest of 12 kids. While recovering from a cannon ball injury, read a life of Christ and various lives of the Saints and decided to be a soldier for Christ. Read his Spiritual Excercises here.
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