TWENTY-SIXTH DOCUMENT 

SOLEMN BEATIFICATION AND CANONISATION OF 541 SAINTS

We, Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Christ, Successor of Saint Peter, Servant of the Servants of God, Patriarch of El Palmar de Troya.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, with great joy and jubilation, by means of Solemn Beatification and Canonisation, elevate today to the glory of the altars 541 servants of God, illustrious and exalted members of the Mystical Body of Christ.

We, assisted by the potent light of the Holy Ghost, considering the sense of the Church and the details of historical fact, guarantee and give assurance of the life of sanctity and heroic virtue of those whom today we have raised to the glory of the altars.

We exhort all the faithful profoundly to meditate and reflect on these exalted models, who will help you along your own path to sanctity.  You will learn of these virtuous examples in what manner to serve God and His Holy Church, Catholic and Apostolic.

We desire with all our heart that you drink of these richest of fountains, since they have all glorified God and chosen only one object:  always to do the Will of God and serve Him in the place, situation and moment marked out by the infinite mercy of God.

We solemnly declare and proclaim that these Saints we present to you today will guide you on the paths that lead to God.  Each of them served God in the place or office he received by the vocation chosen by Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us all learn to serve God where He please and not where we please.

We wish to teach all that the penance most pleasing in the eyes of the Most High is precisely the prompt acceptance of the Will of God.

From among these glorious saints, We wish to distinguish eleven predecessors of Ours in the Pontificate.  These exalted and illustrious Popes, through their great example, helped innumerable faithful to attain sanctity.  These glorious Popes always remained firm and energetically condemned every error and heresy.  Some of these Popes skillfully directed Holy Crusades against the enemies of the Catholic Faith.  Some of them stood at the fore of the crusaders. We wish to repeat the following phrase that centuries of good Spanish Catholics have spoken:  "Praying to God, wielding the Hammer".  Without doubt, those Spaniards took up the phrase seeing how the Popes captained the Crusades. There is no doubt whatever, in certain circumstances the sword must be used.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, solemnly declare and proclaim: 

If anyone dare to censure the Popes who used the sword, let him be anathema.

If anyone say the Pope ought not intervene in holy wars, let him be anathema.

If anyone dare to censure a military rising composed of Catholics against the enemies of the Faith, let him be anathema.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, in full possession of Our Papal Prerogatives, already anticipating the hour, raise the sword, and with the Archangel Saint Michael, proclaim:  "Who is like unto God!"  In authoritative form, we ask all the faithful to unite with Us in the glorious cry:  "Who is like unto God!”

We ardently desire and cherish the hope of leading, in the moment God determines, the holy crusade against the enemies of the Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

Thus We teach you:

All you who call yourselves true Catholics are called by God through His legitimate Vicar to defend the Church, One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic.

We declare:  if one do not with all his strength defend the Catholic Faith, let him be reckoned in the number of the apostates.

We recall for you this great truth:  either one is with Christ or against Christ.  A true Catholic cannot bathe and at the same time keep his clothes on; which is to say: it is not possible at the same time to be with Christ and to be with Satan.

We teach you that he who is with Christ and remains faithful to Him unto death will be reckoned in the number of the blessed in Heaven.

On the contrary, he who says he is with Christ, but is unfaithful, and permits the destruction of the Faith, will be reckoned in the number of those condemned to the eternal fire of Hell.

We wish to refresh your memory, recalling the day you received the Sacrament of Confirmation, in virtue of which you became soldiers of Christ.  This very virtue of being soldiers of Christ loudly proclaims the sword in defence of the King of Heaven and earth, of Him whom we serve.

We exhort you to meditate on the following:  during centuries and centuries, we have received the following principle:  in the order of national patriotism, the soldiers serve the king.  If then it is a rigorous obligation of the children of a nation to serve the king, what shall we say of the spiritual order, when the King we serve is King of Heaven and earth!

We wish to remind Spaniards of the following:

Through centuries and centuries, with holy pride you have heard this very important watchword:  “For God, for Country and for the King”.  Beloved sons, think on this watchword:  Before everyone else, God, by nature King and King of Kings.  No king on earth can take upon himself the supreme insolence of suppressing the Name of God.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, solemnly declare and proclaim:

Whatever king dare to suppress the Name of God, be he anathema.  Therefore, in the eyes of God, he is deposed and becomes an usurper.

We solemnly declare and proclaim:  whatever king, head of state, president of government, or other person who, having sworn by the Crucifix and the Holy Gospel to fulfill the laws and to see to it that the others do so,- if, on the contrary he do not fulfill his oath, then, by force of logic, he becomes a perjurer and brings down on himself and his family the curse of God.

We, as Vicar of Christ on earth, direct our words to Spaniards.

Dearly beloved sons, you find yourselves in time to avoid God's punishment for Spain.

You who feel proud to be Catholics or to be called Catholics, in Christ's Name we entreat you: save Spain, come what may!

Please God there soon resound in all the land those ardent Vivas of the martyrs of. the Crusade:  “Viva, Christ the King!  Spain, arise!”

In Christ's name, we entreat all you who still believe in spiritual values:  raise high your voice:  “Viva, Christ the King! Spain arise!” even if the words lead you to your death.  Do not fear.  Beyond these words and your sacrifice, you will enter Heaven, with gates flung wide, and for such great deeds, you will see coming to meet you the great martyrs of the Holy Crusade of Saint Francisco Franco in company with the hosts of Heaven.

We tell you this solemn truth.

The Spaniard who does not defend the Holy Name of God and the Church, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic, is not worthy to be called a Spaniard, since he belongs to the number of the apostates and anti-Patriots.

We, as Vicar of Christ and as a Spaniard, love Spain, not for the beauty of the land, but rather for the great treasure of traditional Catholicism in Spain.

We say this with strong voice, solemnly pledging our word:  if one day Spain ceased to be Catholic and there were not found in her a true Catholic, then we would renounce our Spanish nationality and spit upon her.  If Spain ceased to be Catholic, then she no longer would be Spain.  If Spain were to become an enemy of Christ, We would become enemy of Spain.  Above Spain is Christ.  Whatever nation, taken on the whole, rejects Christ, is fit only for the fire, since that is the punishment of infidels.

We wish you to know how deep is Our love for Spain, as long as and to the degree the Nation responds in gratitude to the Most Holy Virgin Mary, who visited Sarragossa during her life on earth.

We solemnly declare this truth:  We are united to the Pillar of Sarragossa.  If Spain rejects the Pillar of Sarragossa, We reject Spain.

We teach with solemn declaration and proclamation:  if any Spaniard dare to love Spain more than Christ, let him be anathema.

On many occasions, We have given thanks to God for having been born in Spain, not for her beautiful land, but for her love for the Virgin Mary.

We love the Most Holy Virgin Mary madly, to a degree of mystical madness.  We love her as Mother.  If our other Mother, our country, taken on the whole, were to stand against their Heavenly Mother, We with holy pride would erase Our filiation to Mother Spain.

We declare: if that day come when we no longer could exercise our sacred ministry as Supreme Pontiff within Spain without sustaining martyrdom, automatically We would abandon the country.

We thank God We are not attached to the land of Spain in fanatic spirit. Only insofar as there are left Spaniards disposed to defend the Catholic and Apostolic Faith and to give their life for the Truth.

We exhort all truly Catholic Spaniards:  the Holy Mantle of the Virgin of the Pillar claims your defending the Faith with the sword, if necessary.

On the one hand, we would wish to be the first martyr of this Crusade, in order thus to fill you with strength.  On the other hand, we would wish to be the last, in order, with great jubilation, to be witness to the beautiful spectacle of new martyrs,- a spectacle of sorrow, but at the same time, one full of joy, since the blood of martyrs opens the Heavens and brings down the blessing of God over the Church and the Nation.

We exhort the faithful in general to prayer and penance, thus to call down abundant grace and strength for Us to persevere firm unto death.  Many times we feel our martyrdom as though necessarily it were close at hand, as there are many sins and stains of Our person to purify. Better to die soon a martyr, than live many years to be condemned.

We set before you today these 541 saints, who will bring powerful assistance to the Church.  Among these you will meet Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, religious, both men and women, kings, princes, martyrs of the religious persecution in England and of the persecution in Spain.

We urge you to dwell on the example of these martyrs, who, with their blood, sealed their fidelity to Christ and the Church.  They called down great and abundant blessings through shedding their blood.

The blood the martyrs shed in their glorious sacrifice claims the Divine Wrath.

The same blood of the martyrs rejects those who do not defend the Faith.

The same blood of the martyrs will accuse those who do not defend the Faith, as cowards, traitors and apostates.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, declare and proclaim:  the first duty of men is to defend the rights of God and His Church, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

We mention with great jubilation that the number of saints canonised by Us has attained the present important total of 1,066 Saints, who, as most beautiful olives, adorn the mystical Olive Tree, all of them distinguished and most excellent members of the Mystical Body of Christ.

We wish to put in prominence the canonisation of Pope Saint Clement XIII. This Pope firmly resisted the terrible assaults of the masons in order to obtain the extinction of the Society of Jesus.  Among those who petitioned the annulment of approbation of the Society of Jesus were to be found kings, princes, Cardinals, Bishops, and others.  Among them was the King of Spain, Charles III.  In the present document will be found as well the popes who re-established the Society of Jesus.

We make manifest our great joy in canonizing those Popes who enthusiastically defended the Jesuits; since it is to be kept in mind that the Order of the Carmelites of the Holy Face is also the Society of Jesus.

We offer as follows all of the 541 Saints and their historical details, which, without need of Our additional words, speak for themselves.

We present to the faithful for their veneration the following Saints:

1.  Saint Innocent III

Called Lotario in the world, he was born in Italy in 1160 of the family of the Earls of Segni of the high Roman nobility.  In 1185 he was named Canon of Saint Peter's, and in 1187 was raised to the Cardinalate. In several written works, the young cardinal revealed a spirit of detachment from the world.  The 8th January, 1198, he was unanimously elected Pope, taking the name of Innocent III.  And here, represented in this pontificate, we behold the loftiest and most luminous summit of the papacy, in a saintly pope, who knew how to be a monarch while retaining the heart of a priest.  During more than 18 years of pontificate, Saint Innocent III achieved a reform of marvelous fecundity,- establishing institutions which would continue to fill the centuries to come with wisdom and holiness.  He reformed the Pontifical Courts. He granted to all free access to the Pope.  Each day he sat as judge to decide matters from all the churches of the world, leaving no room for appeal.   As in the pontifical court,- likewise he imposed his authority in the City and in the Papal States.  One Senate he suppressed, while naming another.  It suffices to examine the acts of Saint Innocent III, to understand that not a king in Christendom escaped his vigilance.  His admonitory voice penetrated to the limits of Christendom.  He crowned kings, excommunicated the King of England.  When the Earl of Toulouse did not oppose the Albigensians, the Pope excommunicated him, and established in that city the first Tribunal of the Inquisition.  A marvelous pontificate, whose immediate jurisdiction was exercised throughout the whole of the Universal Church.  Saint Innocent III introduced the title of ‘Vicar of Christ.”  He was called the ‘Augustus of the Pontificate’ and ‘High Priest of sincere and ardent faith.’  He died 16^th September, 1216.  An English monk called him the ‘Wonder of the Word.’

2.  Saint Pius II

Eneas Silvio was born of noble parents, but of meager fortune, on the 18^th December, 1405, in Corsignano, Siena (Italy).  He pursued juridical studies with little enthusiasm, distracting himself with the dissipations of youth.  Following the heretical doctrine which puts the power of a Council above that of a Pope, he was named secretary of the antipope Felix V.  Later he repented before Eugene IV, who then appointed him his secretary; and from that time on he accomplished great services for the Holy See.  He was Bishop of Trieste, of Siena, and papal legate in many parts.  Saint Calixto III valued his character of detachment, and his extraordinary services for the Church; and raised him to the Cardinalate.  The 18^th August, 1458, he was elected Pope.  In his first Bull, ‘Execrabilis,’ to censure his own opinions as a youth, the Holy Pontiff said:  “Do not attribute to Pius what once was of Eneas.”

From the first moment of his pontificate, Saint Pius II set out to follow the programme of Saint Calixtus III, applying all his thought and energy to the Crusade.  He founded a Military Order of Knights under the title of Saint Mary of Bethlehem.  These promised under oath to defend certain specified places, and to fight against the Turks.  Alarmed by the triumphs and cruelties of the Half-Moon, and observing the apathy and egoism of Christian Princes, the holy Pontiff resolved to place himself at the head of the armies, and so for the Pope himself to march to war.  The Bull of the Crusade began with the words of the Prophet Ezekiel:  “If the watchman see the sword coming upon the land, and sound not the trumpet, I will require the blood of those that fall at the hand of the watchman.”  The 19^th June, 1464, the Holy Pontiff, weak and infirm, took the Cross in the Basilica of Saint Peter and, borne in a litter to Ponte Milvio, turned towards the City, exclaiming:  “Farewell, O Rome, you will no longer see me alive!”  In Loretto, with most fervent prayer, he implored the assistance of the Blessed Virgin.  He arrived at Ancana consumed with fever, and there he received Holy Viaticum.  On the 14^th August, eve of the Assumption, he sweetly and gently expired. The Crusade dispersed, and the Cardinals returned to Rome with the body of the Holy Crusader Pope.

3.  Saint Clement VIII

Ipollito Aldobrandini, of a noble family of Florence, was born in Fano in 1536.  Dedicated to study from his youth, he later became a celebrated jurist.  He contributed notable services to the Holy See, and in 1585 was named Cardinal by Sixtus V.  On the 15^th January, 1592, he was unanimously elected Pope by acclamation, this very humble man, Cardinal Aldobrandini, who had never known ambition.  Before accepting, he prostrated himself before the altar, exclaiming:  “My God, may my tongue cleave to my mouth and not give consent, if it is not to be for the good of Holy Church!”  The Cardinals were deeply moved and immediately called for the pontifical vestments.  When they took from him his cardinal’s soutane, he exclaimed:  “Return to Us Our Rosary, and the Office of the Virgin, testimony of Our devotion.”  His consent was thereby given, since, in using the word ‘Our,’ he was speaking as Pope.  It had been a considerable time since Saint Philip Neri one day had addressed him as Clement, thereby prophesying his pontificate as well as his name.  A man of great piety and austerity of life, his first care was to examine all churches and religious institutions, in order to correct abuses and restore the divine worship.  He instituted the Eucharistic exposition called ‘forty hours,’ in such a way that day and night during the year, the Most Holy Sacrament was exposed in the Churches of Rome.  He promulgated the revision of the Vulgate, now called the Clementine Bible, which is official for the Church.  He procured new editions of the Breviary, Missal, Pontifical, Ceremonial, and Index of forbidden books.  In 1600, Saint Clement VIII celebrated the 11^th Jubilee or Holy Year.  In spite of his years, he washed the feet of the poorest pilgrims and kissed them, he heard confessions and visited the churches.  At that time the Jesuits began to feel their first persecutions, in imitation of their divine Master, whom men hated without cause.  Saint Clement very highly esteemed the Jesuits and keenly felt the treatment they were receiving in France, causing him deep affliction.  He had the consolation of seeing the re-establishment of the Jesuits in France, but he was to live only a short time thereafter.  Tireless in fulfilling his duties and humble of heart, although of energetic character and determination, Saint Clement VIII died at the age of 79, on 3^rd March, 1605.

4.  Saint Clement XI

Gianfrancisco Albani was born in Urbino (Italy), 23rd July, 1649.  Educated in Rome, he acquired extraordinary fame for his learning and wisdom.

At 20 years of age he was named canon, and later contributed great services to the Church under three Popes, becoming practically indispensable.  Cardinal from 1690, he was unanimously elected Pope and consecrated Bishop the same day, 23^rd November, 1700, taking the name of Clement XI, in memory of Saint Clement I, Pope and martyr.  He was a zealous preacher, humble and generous, and no friend of nepotism.  His life had been austere and penitential, and given to much prayer.  During his pontificate, Saint Clement XI did not change these habits.  He continued praying the divine office on his knees, and preached and heard confessions in Saint Peter's, as though he were a simple parish priest. Gloomy epoch, the 18^th century, peak of royal absolutism, and father of the revolutionary doctrines of the following century.  Saint Clement XI had to face the most intricate political and ecclesiastical problems, and wherever he turned his eyes, he found more sorrow. He dedicated his first cares to the Roman clergy, visiting all the churches.  He visited also the hospitals and distributed alms to the poor and gave consolation to the sick.  One day he gathered all the pilgrims, distributed 4 thousand escudos of gold, washed and kissed the feet of all, had tables set and served the meal, at the end of which he delivered an exhortation full of faith and unction, causing tears to flow among all present.  Thus he concluded that Jubilee year.  Saint Clement XI died after 21 years of the pontificate, full of work and sorrows.  On his deathbed he called to his nephew and said:  "Only he is great who is great before God.  Try to be a saint."  It was the 19th March, 1721, Feast of Saint Joseph, for whom he had had special devotion.

5.  Saint Clement XIII

Carlo della Torre Rezzonico, son of a Venetian patrician, was born in 1693.  Saint Clement XI had appointed him Governor of Rioto and Fano.  In 1737 he was named Cardinal Bishop of Padua, where for many years he distinguished himself for holiness and apostolic zeal.  His election to the papal dignity on the 6th July, 1758, was pleasing to the Bourbon courts. Those, observing the generous character of the holy Cardinal, had hopes that he would follow his predecessor Benedict XIV in the policy of conciliating the governments.  Thus they hoped to achieve the extinction of the Jesuits.  However, once in the throne of Saint Peter, Saint Clement XIII put himself wholly on the side of the persecuted and defenceless Jesuits and defended them like a father.  When the Parliament of Paris condemned the Institute of Saint Ignatius, the Holy Pontiff replied with a Bull in favour of the Society of Jesus.  But despite all, the conspiracy of the enemies of the Order continued to make headway.  He exhorted the Bishops of the world to fulfill their apostolate, to visit their dioceses, to be men of prayer and doctrine, fathers of the poor and angels of peace.  In the face of the Bourbon Courts, he maintained the rights of the Holy See.  In Various documents, he condemned the new spirit of the time with its poisonous ideas. When Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits, Saint Clement XIII, already deeply afflicted by the insults and humiliations which the Courts, called Catholic, had dealt him, suffered such bitter pain that he wrote to the king:  "That a Catholic king could wish to bring down to the grave him to whom he presents such a bitter chalice, an aged pontiff, his affectionate father!"  He died at the age of 76 years, the 2nd February, 1769.

6.  Saint Pius VI

Giovanni Angelo Braschi was born at Cesena (Italy), 12^th December, 1717.  After an ecclesiastical career, he was created Cardinal in 1773, and elected Pope on the 15th February, 1775, being 48 years of age.  Given his great talents and previous experience, the new Pope ought to have begun a glorious pontificate.  Nevertheless, his was one of the most tempestuous pontificates the Church had known, above all through the workings of the diabolical French Revolution and the despotism of Bonaparte.  He dedicated himself to the protection of the Jesuits, already suppressed through the work of those nests of masonry, the Courts of the Bourbons, who gave the holy pontiff much to suffer, by obstructing the life of the Church.  Using the arms of gentleness in order to put right the abuses of Joseph II, great meddler in ecclesiastical affairs, the holy pontiff went to Vienna.  With his nobility of character, Saint Pius VI evoked the heartiest demonstrations of popular affection.  However, that journey was a veritable Way of the Cross.  The great event during the Pontificate of Saint Pius Vl was the terrible French Revolution.  In 1798, 20,000 French marched on Rome.  They set up the Statue of Liberty and made a mockery of the Pope.  They proclaimed the rights of man, celebrating their liberty with obscenity and sacrilege.  Since Saint Pius VI would not renounce the rights of God, he was taken violently from Rome, moved to Florence and Turin, so infirm that he could only celebrate Mass when seated.  He was 80 years of age when he had to cross the Alps along an almost impossible route to Valencia, where he was held prisoner.  There he heard 2 Masses daily, recited the Rosary with his servants, prayed many hours.  Of great virtue, piety, charity and patience, he died in holiness, beloved by all good people, 29^th August, 1799.  On his tomb in the Vatican are the words:  “Deprived of his rule, he did not relinquish his authority.”

7.  Saint Pius VII

Luigi Barnaba, Earl of Chiaramonte, was born in 1740, in Cesena in the Papal States, where his predecessor also had been born.  At 18, he took the Benedictine habit, later becoming abbot; afterwards Bishop of Tivoli, and in 1785 named Cardinal by Saint Pius VI.  Of noble and pious character, he did not abandon his See in the midst of an armed tumult.  Despite the dispersion of the Cardinals, a conclave was providentially formed, which on the 14^th March, 1800, elected the holy Cardinal to the papal throne, who took the name of Pius VII. Under the young Napoleon, the Revolution came to an end, and France became Catholic again.  At the same time, impelled by inordinate ambition, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor and thereafter demanded certain things of the Pope that the Vicar of Christ could not give.  At the fury of Napoleon, Saint Pius VII showed sublime heroism, a temper of steel, and conduct always noble and energetic.  In 1809, Napoleon seized the Papal States and also the sacred person of the Pope, whom he brought to Florence and lodged in the same apartment that had been the prison of Saint Pius VI.  Later, gravely ill, the Pope was taken to Fontainbleu.  During the 5 years of his imprisonment, Saint Pius devoted part of his prayers to Mary, Help of Christians, entreating her protection for the Church, now abandoned to the enemy.  In 1814, the Empire fell, the Papal States were restored to the Pope, who, on the 24^th May, made his triumphal entrance into Rome to occupy the Roman See, to the ringing of bells, the jubilant acclamation of the people, and a deluge of flowers.  The years of prison had strengthened the aged Pontiff.  With extraordinary energy, he accomplished in a short time the colossal task of restoring the Church.  He began by restoring the Society of Jesus.  Towards 1815, when the Pope granted asylum to the family of the Emperor, the Church had recovered her spiritual rule and universal prestige. In gratitude for the protection of the Most Holy Virgin over the Church, Saint Pius VII instituted the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, on the 24th of May, recalling his triumphal entry into Rome after his imprisonment in France.  Saint Pius VII died on the 20th August, 1823, at the age of 81, after a pontificate of 23 years and 5 months.

8.  Saint Leo XII

Annibale Francisco Clemente Melchior Nicholas Della Genga was born in the palace of the Earls of Genga, near Spoleto (Italy), 22nd August, 1760.  He studied in Rome and was ordained priest in 1783.  Admiring the noble manner of the young priest, Saint Pius VI named him papal chamberlain, and in short time, the saint became one of the most distinguished prelates at the pontifical court.  In 1793, he was named Archbishop of Tiro and was created Cardinal in 1816 by Saint Pius VII.  Having contributed many services to the Holy See, he was elected Pope on the 28^th December, 1823, and took the name of Leo XII.  The new Pope undertook a reform in the judicial system, as well as other measures in the Papal States.  He gave particular attention to the reform of studies and the rebuilding of Saint Paul's Basilica, destroyed by fire.  He published 12 articles on the regulation of Divine Worship, decorum within the churches, prohibiting instrumental music and conversations.  As it had not been possible in 1800 to celebrate the Jubilee, Saint Leo XII wished to celebrate it in 1825 with special splendour.  The Jubilee was to be a thanksgiving for the Church’s triumphant exit from the great recent evils, as well as expiation for the abominations committed. The Holy Father gave magnificent proof of his charity.  He served regularly at the table of the pilgrims, thus imitating Saint Gregory the Great.  It was greatly edifying to see the Holy Father walk barefoot between two files of pilgrims, who admired the virtues and resignation of a sovereign, weak in health, spent by illness and fasting.  Saint Leo XII maintained harmony with the governments, and contact with Spanish America, erecting there various Episcopal sees in the newly independent states, which, through the work of the satanical masonry, were rising, rejecting the Crown of their Mother, Spain.  He condemned the Masons once again, and other secret societies.  Great evils had fallen on society because the rulers had turned a deaf ear to the voice of the Popes.  The laborious life of Saint Leo XII ended on the 10th February, 1829, at the age of 69 years.  He had governed the Church for 5 years and 4 months.

9.   Saint Pius VIII

Born in Cingoli, near Cesena, in the Papal States, 20th November, 1761, he was called Francesco Xaverio Castiglione.  In 1800, he was consecrated Bishop, and in 1816 created Cardinal.  The 31^st March, 1829, he was elected Pope and took the name Pius VIII.  He was excellently formed in the sacred sciences, of great piety and humility.  He wrote to his relatives: “Let there be no ostentation, no pomp or magnificence. Let none of you leave the house!”  Thus he fulfilled his vow that none of his nephews appear in Rome. In his brief pontificate of 20 months, he followed the steps of his predecessor St. Leo XII.  The 24^th May 1829, he published his first Encyclical for all of Christendom, a document of great unction and precision.  He spoke of religious degeneration, of social turmoil, of the intrigues of protestant biblical societies, of assaults against the sanctity of marriage, of attacks against the Church, of masonic influence in the education of the young, and of new revolutions soon to appear. The new Pope dedicated himself to succour the poor and needy in the Pontifical States, and took effective measures in their favour.  He took action in favour of the Catholics of Armenia, the slaves in Brazil.  He contributed to bring calm to the government of France, authorized the Council of Baltimore. One of his most distinguished documents was that on mixed marriages, which he sent to the Archbishop of Cologne.  Observing the political convulsions and the advance of a new wave of revolutions, Saint Pius VIII suffered total breakdown of his health, and died on the 30th November, 1830, at 69 years, of age.

10.  Saint Gregory XVI

Mauro Capellari was born in Belluno (Venice, Italy) on the 28^th September, 1765.  In 1783, he entered the Camaldolese Order, was ordained in 1787, and became professor of Theology in the Order. At a time of heated anarchy, inspired by satanical masonry, the holy monk published a work entitled:  "The Triumph of the Holy See and of the Church, or The Modern Innovators Combated with their own weapons".  In 1807, he became Abbot of Mount Colio; in 1823, General of the Order; in 1826, Cardinal; and on the 2nd February, 1831, he was elected Pope.  Agents of insurrection had issued from France to unfurl the banner of rebellion in Rome. Hardly had Saint Gregory XVI been elected, when a conspiracy was set afoot in Rome. From the family of Bonaparte was heard:  “The papacy is not a thing of our time.”  The foreign powers promised help, provided that the administration of the Papal States be secularized.  Alone, without forces or support, Saint Gregory XVI victoriously resisted the authors of rebellion. His extraordinary zeal extended the Gospel to all the New World, to Asia and Oceana.  To Emperor

Nicholas he spoke these words in defence of the persecuted Catholics of Russia:  “We both shall give account to God for our deeds; I, very soon, and you somewhat later.”  The impressive dignity and integrity of the venerable pontiff deeply impressed the Russian monarch, and the result proved truly satisfactory. Saint Gregory XVI was merciful to his enemies, affable, even jovial, while he retained the austerity of a Camaldolese monk.  He died in a poor bed, on a sack of straw, the 1st June, 1846, loved by all upright Catholics and hated by the radicals of every nation.

11.  Saint Benedict XV

Giacomo della Chiesa, of the family of the Marquesses della Chiesa, was born 21^st November, 1854, in Bologna (Italy).  While Cardinal Archbishop of Bologna, he was elected Pope, 3^rd September, 1914.  The pontificate was to be one of sorrows, darkened by the horrors of the First World War, and by the anxieties of the postwar.  Hardly ascended to the papal throne, the Holy Father disposed two solemn expiatory feasts to implore peace of God.  The motto of his pontificate, as of his programme, was the Lord's precept:  "Love ye one another".  In his first encyclical, full of spirit and unction, he urged the whole Church to the greatest exertions that the charity of Christ might reign among men.  The Pope said:  "This will always be our object, and the particular work of our Pontificate".  He intervened in favour of those who sought word of their families.  He attained the exchange of invalid prisoners, and thus hundreds of thousands of prisoners were able to come home. Repeatedly he implored all the belligerent nations, "in the Holy Name of God, Father of all, by the Sacred Blood of Jesus, price of the redemption of mankind" to put an end as quickly as possible to the horrendous slaughter, reminding them of their fearful responsibility before God.  However, they did not listen to the voice of the Vicar of Christ.  When the terrible war had ended, Saint Benedict XV continued to exhort the governments

and people to return to the norms of Christian religion.  He abated the misery of the hungering peoples, reorganized the hierarchies in the various countries.  Beyond Europe he erected many vicariates and prefectures, his Encyclical ‘Maximum Illud’ being the great driving force of post-war missions.  He had already promulgated the new Code of Canon Law, a work of greatest importance.  The unquenchable charity of the Vicar of Christ moved the entire world, and as a

result, the number of diplomats accredited to the Holy See notably increased.  Saint Benedict XV died 22nd January, 1922, offering his life for the peace of the world.

12.  Saint Peter Aldobrandini

This Holy Bishop and Cardinal, called 'the fiery,' lived in the 11th century and was a monk of Vallombrosia.  Concerning this saint can be related the following historically proved fact:  a certain Pedro de Pavia had himself named Bishop of Florence, through intrigue and money. The people rioted and demanded that the indignity and sin of simony be proved by fire.  According

to the custom and credence of the time, one who enjoyed the fame of sanctity would

best prove his case by passing through fire, and if the fire did him no harm, then in this case, the unworthiness of the Bishop was proved.  After fervently celebrating Holy Mass, vested in alb and stole, cross in hand, in the presence of 3,000 spectators, with intrepid spirit, he entered the enormous bonfire that had been prepared, and, without suffering harm, stepped out from the opposite side, and turned to walk through the fire again.  Satisfied that God had clearly

spoken, the people prevented him from doing so.  Shortly afterwards, Pope Alexander II removed Pedro de Pavio from the See of Florence.  Saint Peter Aldobrandini was later named abbot of another monastery.  Gregory VII called him to Rome as Bishop of Ubano, named him Cardinal  and sent him as papal legate to France and Germany.  He died in holiness on the 8^th February, 1089.

13.  Saint Nicholas Albergati

Born in Bologna, he began the study of law, but at 20 years decided to enter the austere Order of the Carthusians.  He became superior of various houses, and in 1417, Bishop of Bologna, obliged to accept under obedience.  As Bishop he retained the austere customs of a Carthusian, living in a simple little house and frequently visiting the poor.  Pope Martin V and his successors confided him with various diplomatic missions, which the Saint successfully terminated.  In 1426, he was named Cardinal by his former disciple, Pope Nicholas V.  Cardinal

Albergati enjoyed great fame as a mediator. He was commissioned on various occasions to negotiate peace in Italy and elsewhere, earning the title 'Angel of Peace".  As papal legate he took part in the Council of Ferrara, and in large part, reconciliation with the Greeks was due to him.  Pope Eugene IV frequently consulted him, named him Penitentiary Major, and visited him many times during his illness.  Saint Nicholas died with fame of sanctity in 1443, in Siena, and the same Pope took part in the exequies.  His cult was approved in 1744.

14.  Saint Petrus von Luxemburg

Son of the Graf von Luxemburg, he was born in 1369, and at the age of 4, was left an orphan. Distinguished for piety and intelligence, he was sent to Paris to pursue his studies.  

There he was at once appointed Canon of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  The saint set himself to advance in humility and perfection, his one desire, rather than ecclesiastical dignities.  However the Antipope at Avignon, called Clement VII, regarded in France during the great schism as the true Pope, named him at the age of 15, Bishop of Metz, and two months later, Cardinal.   As Bishop he showed great zeal and prudence, correcting abuses.  But political changes forced him to leave Metz, and in the autumn of 1386, the antipope called him to Avignon.  There he continued his penances until the pontiff ordered him to reduce them.  The Saint then gave alms in place of the penance.  He reduced his personal needs to the minimum in order to succour the poor, parting even with his furniture.  He used to say: "Contempt of the world, contempt of self. Rejoice to receive contempt, but hold no one in contempt.”  He died at18 years of age in the Carthusian House of Villeneuve, where he had lodged. His tomb became a place of pilgrimage, and witness of many miracles.  In 1527, Pope Clement VII — this time the authentic one — beatified him.

It ought to be made clear that although Clement VII of Avignon was an antipope, Saint Petrus von Luxemburg served him in good faith, thinking him to be authentic.  One may not confuse the authentic Pope Clement VII, who later beatified the Saint, with the antipope of Avignon.

15.  Giuseppe Maria Tommasi

He was born in Sicily of a noble family profoundly Christian.  Four of his sisters were Benedictines in a Convent founded by his father.  From his youth, the saint had distinguished himself for his great intelligence and love of prayer and retirement.  He entered the Order of the Theatines, in which an uncle, Charles, was leading a life of extraordinary sanctity. In 1673, he received Sacred Orders.  At once he had to suffer terrible desolation and other interior trials, sent by God to raise him to the heights of sanctity.  He devoted himself to the study of Scripture and the Liturgy.  He studied Hebrew with a rabbi, who under the influence of the Saint, became a Catholic.  Soon there issued from his pen treatises of the deepest learning and piety on liturgical and biblical subjects, which attracted the attention of Pope Innocent XII.  The Holy Father summoned him to the Vatican, naming him Theologian of the Congress for the Discipline of Regulars.  With his zeal and holiness he impressed all who knew him.  As confessor of Cardinal Albani, he obliged his penitent to accept the Pontificate.  The new Pope, Saint Clement XI, desired to elevate his confessor to the Cardinalate.  When the latter refused the high dignity, the Pope reminded him that out of obedience to him as confessor he had accepted the pontificate; and now, out of obedience, the holy confessor had to accept the cardinalate.  As cardinal, he continued his ordinary life and took part in all community acts possible.  Folk came from all parts of Rome to hear his Mass, and those who assisted him gave witness of the extraordinary graces he received.  On Sundays he taught catechism to the youngest children.  Because of the lax morals of those times, he felt obliged to place the men and women in different parts of the church. This brought against him a storm of opposition, but the saint remained inflexible.  With great charity he distributed large sums to the needy, who crowded round him, as once the poor around the Lord. Despite bad health, he performed severe penances.   When Pope Saint Clement XI became ill in December 1712, the Saint said, "The Pope will recover, but I am going to die." Thus it turned out to be:  at Christmas he celebrated the three Masses, afterwards falling ill and dying 1^st January, 1713.  Before he died, the sick recovered their health by touching his garments; and at his death, miracles multiplied at his body.  He was beatified in 1803.

16.  Saint Rosendo Salvado

He was born of noble lineage in Tuy (Galicia, Spain), 1^st May, 1814, one of six, all of whom were very carefully brought up in every Christian virtue.   Four served God at the altar.  The saint was exceptionally gifted as a musician and became a consummate master.  Faithful to an early vocation, he took the habit of the Benedictines of Santiago; but because of the legal persecution and expulsion from the monasteries, he continued his ecclesiastical studies in Tuy and in 1838 entered the Monastery of La Cava (Italy), being ordained priest 23^rd February,

1839.  He offered himself as missionary amongst the pagans and became the first to evangelize Australia, where he arrived 8^th January 1846.  He did not remain on the periphery of the missionary field, but penetrated the wild; and before the astonished eyes of the savage Australians, celebrated Holy Mass, 1^st March, 1846.  For more than 50 years of apostolate, thanks to his spirit of sacrifice, heroic patience, and invincible energy, he transformed the indigenous Australians, producing fruits worthy of the Church, Mother of civilization.  There arose a great monastery in the midst of a new city, with cathedral, orphanages, library, agricultural units, musical groups, and so forth, everything that would contribute to the well-being of the people. By this time Bishop and Prefect Apostolic of Western Australia, glory of his country and of Christian civilization, he worked heroically until he died at 87 years of age, in the Basilica of Saint Paul at Rome, 29^th December, 1900.  His body rests in the city of New Nursia, Australia.

17.  Saint Luis Dacoba Gonzales

He was born in Souto (Santa Eulalia de Boimorto, Orense, Spain), on the 1^st August, 1872.  He entered the Order of Ransom in 1900.  He passed his religious life in the Convents of Sarria, Poyo, Madrid and Ferrol, as lay brother, sacristan and tailor; he died at the Convent of Sarria, (Lugo) 4^th October, 1961.  He was a man of prayer, charity and humility.  His heart was open to all; he spent hours before the tabernacle.  He took with him to Heaven the unstained purity of his baptismal innocence.  The Holy Ghost filled his soul with every gift and mystical grace:  he saw things invisible, he knew things which human intelligence alone cannot grasp.  He lived in greatest intimacy with the Most Blessed Trinity, suffered spiritual desolation, cruel diabolical persecutions.  From men he suffered contempt, wounding sarcasms, and violent mockery, all of which he accepted patiently for love of Jesus, the Most Holy Virgin and Saint Joseph.

18.  Saint Hildegarde

Of German origin, she was the spouse of the Emperor Saint Charlemagne.  Saint Charlemagne married her when she was only 17 years old.  She was a most worthy spouse, and like him, she generously favoured religious foundations.  Her goodness was equal to her piety, and during her lifetime, the faithful venerated her as a saint.  She had 9 children.  She died in Thionville.  Later, her remains were brought to the Abbey of Kempton, in Suabia, where her sanctuary became a place of pilgrimage.

19.  Saint Alcuin

Benedictine Abbot, born in York, England, about the year 730, of a family of the nobility, and very Christian.  He was educated in the Cathedral school of York, acquiring great learning, and becoming later the director of the school.  Saint Lutger, Apostle of Saxony, had been one of his disciples.  He made three journeys to Rome.  In 781 he went to reside at court, where he was advisor of Saint Charlemagne in ecclesiastical and educational questions.  He became Abbot of Saint Martin's in Tours, and was the great master of his time.  His influence for good was enormous in the reign of Saint Charlemagne.  As theologian, he combated the error of adoptionism, which maintained that Christ was only the adopted son of the Father.  He composed commentaries on Sacred Scripture.  His influence on the Roman Liturgy is felt to this day.  We possess some three hundred letters of the saint, directed, for the most part, to Saint Charles the Great, and revealing the simplicity and moderation of their author.  He died 19^th May, 804.  His name appears with the title 'blessed' in the Benedictine Martyrology.

20.  Saint Ludwig von Thuringen

Spouse of Saint Elianboth of Thuringen (called also of Hungary), he was born in Thuringen, Germany, in 1200, of Landgrafe Hermann I.   When he was 11, arrangements were made for the marriage with Elisabeth, daughter of Andreas, King of Hungary, who at the time was 4 years old.  The marriage was solemnly celebrated in 1221.  Ludwig proved worthy of his holy spouse.  They dearly loved one another and were blessed with a son and two daughters.  Saint Ludwig was a good and just ruler.  He helped his spouse in works of mercy.  In 1227, he voluntarily joined the Crusade for the liberation of the Holy Places.  In order to inflame hearts to join the Crusade, he organized representations of the Passion and visited convents, entreating the prayers of the religious.  He took farewell of Elisabeth, who was profoundly moved.  Saint Ludwig fell gravely ill on the way, and resigning himself to the will of God, died and was buried in the Benedictine Abbey of Rheinhardsbrunn.

21.  Saint Gertrude von Altenberg

This virgin of Germany was daughter of Saint Ludwig of Thuringen and Saint Elisabeth.  Still very young, she entered the Convent of the Canonesses Premonstratensians of Altenberg.  At 22, she was elected Abbess.  At a time when Abbesses of royal blood tended to be grand dames, Saint Gertrude did not differ from the rest of her community, but rather shared the work and life of mortification.  During the Seventh Crusade, Saint Gertrude and her religious offered incessant prayer and mortification on behalf of the crusaders.  She governed the community for 50 years, eminent in sanctity.  She was among the first to introduce into Germany the Feast of Corpus Christi.  She died in 1288.

22.  Saint Dorotea von Montau

She was born in Prussia in 1347.  At 17, she was married to a maker of swords,of which marriage, there were to be 9 children.  The saint had much to suffer from the violent temper of her spouse,- however, little by little, through goodness and fortitude, she sweetened his character.  Together they went on pilgrimages to various sanctuaries.  After 25 years of marriage, her spouse died in the peace of the Lord, leaving her widow at 43 years.  All but one of the children had died.  She withdrew into seclusion in a cell of the Church of the Teutonic Knights at Marienweder.  There she lived only one more year, but that sufficed for her to gain fame of great sanctity and prudence.  Many pilgrims came to consult her, even to beg miracles.  She was favoured with many visions and revelations, which were recorded by her confessor.  The Saint was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and frequently received the favour of seeing Him in the Sacred Host.  Shortly after her death, her cause wasintroduced, and although it made no headway, her cult continued to grow, and actually she is considered the Patroness of Prussia.

23.  Saint Bernhard von Baden

This German Saint was the son of Jakob I, Markgraf von Baden, the ‘Solomon of Germany,’ as he was called, and of Katherine of Lorraine.  In youth, he displayed his literary and military gifts, and declined marriage with the daughter of the King of France.  When his father died in 1453, Saint Bernhard renounced the right of succession in favour of his brother.  He traveled to all the courts of Europe, urging the rulers to crusade against the Turks.  He set out

on foot for Rome to obtain from Pope Saint Calixtus III support for the Crusade.  While traveling, he contracted the pest and died in the Monastery of the Franciscans of Moncalieri, not yet 30 years of age.  The miracles at his tomb confirmed his fame of sanctity.  Pope Sixtus IV beatified him, in the presence of his mother and family.

24.  Saint Rabanus Maurus

He was born in Mainz (Germany), about the Year 784.  He was educated in the Benedictine Monastery of Fulda, founded by Saint Boniface, and for his great gifts, became the admiration of his masters and fellow students. He was sent to Tours to complete his studies. There he met Saint Alcuin, the ideal master, and a second father.  Saint Alcuin deeply cherished him and gave him the name 'Maurus', beloved disciple of Saint Benedict.  The two later maintained an edifying correspondence.  Returning to Fulda, he became a monk, and was ordained priest in 815.  He dedicated himself with fervour to the study of Sacred Scripture, for which end he acquired the biblical languages of Greek, Hebrew and Syriac.  He composed many biblical commentaries.  He also studied the Church Fathers, and composed a synopsis of their teachings.  In 822, he was elected Abbot.  He was very devoted and obedient to the Pope, being called 'the Pope's slave'.  He so abhorred heresy, he called every heresy an Antichrist.  For his wisdom, he was called to many synods and councils.  At 70 years, he was going to resign his office, but he was made Bishop of Mainz and kept himself busier than ever, even maintaining his former rule of life.  He exacted an observance stricter than what the ecclesiastical laws required, which gave rise to a conspiracy to kill him.  The conspiracy was brought to light, and the Saint generously forgave his enemies.  He worked until his health completely collapsed, and died in 856, one of the most illustrious men of his day.

25.  Saint Konrad von Bayern

This Cistercian monk was the son of the Duke Heinrich der Schwarze von Bayern, and was born about 1105. He went to study in Cologne, but desiring a life of perfection, he became a Cistercian monk at Clairvaux, under the rule of Saint Bernard.  Later, with the permission of Saint Bernard, he journeyed to Palestine to live as a hermit in the places where Our Lord once lived.   However, the disturbances in the land and his broken health led him to return to Europe after a time.  Arriving in Italy, he lived in Apulia, where, spent by his austerities and works of charity, he died 15^th March, 1154.  His sanctity was manifest in the miracles at his tomb, and his cult confirmed in 1832.

26.  Saint Gottfried von Kappenberg

Earl of Kappenberg and lord of an extensive territory, he married quite young, his spouse being of an equally distinguished family.  Under the influence of Saint Norbert, Founder of the Premonstratensians, Saint Gottfried decided to convert his castle of Kappenberg into a convent of the Order, persuading his spouse and brothers to renounce the world with him and become religious under the rule of Saint Norbert.  His father put up violent resistance and threatened death.  However, the Saint was not to be intimidated, and attained his object.  He gave all his possessions to the Premonstratensians, and also built a convent for nuns of the same Order, into which his spouse and two sisters entered.  He also founded several hospitals and other charitable institutions.  He died as a Deacon, at the age of 30, 13th May, 1127.

27.  Saint Johannes Sarkander, martyr.

He was born near the ancient frontier of the Austrian empire, in a region now part of Czechoslovakia.  His father died when he was 13, and his mother sent him to Prague to study under the Jesuits.  There he was ordained, and returned to the diocese of Olomuc.  His Bishop appointed him parish priest of Holeshov, a former nest of heresies, where he accomplished a difficult apostolate, reconciling 250 heretics with the Church.  The Saint received the continual support of Baron von Lobkovitz, and this excited the wrath of the anti-Catholic landlord Bitowsky,

enemy of the Baron.  During the 30 Years’ War, in February 1620, Polish troops entered the diocese of Olomuc.  When they were approaching Holeshov, the Saint went out to meet them, bearing the Most Holy Sacrament.  Good Catholics that they were, the Poles dismounted, knelt and asked the priest's blessing, then continued their march without in the least molesting the town of Holeshov.  Bitovsky accused the priest, making him responsible for the entrance of the Polish troops in the country. The holy priest was chained and put in a dungeon where he was subjected to atrocious tortures for refusing to violate the seal of confession.  In the midst of his tortures, he said:  “With God’s help, I prefer being hacked to pieces rather than violate the secret of confession."  Shattered by torture, he lived for a month, praying continually without complaint, until his death, 17^th March, 1620.  He was beatified by Saint Pius IX, the Great.

28.  Saint Jakob von Ulm

He was born in Ulm (Germany), in 1407.  At 25, he went to Italy and enlisted under Napoleon.  Disgusted with the licentious life of the soldiers, and seeing that good example had no effect on them, he left the army and became secretary to a lawyer.  After 5 years, Saint Jakob set out for Germany, but he went no further than Bologna, where he entered the Dominicans as a lay-brother, and became an exemplary religious.  His obedience was so perfect that on the occasion of a visit by a prelate, his superior desired to show him off.  He gave the lay-brother a letter and told him to take it at once to Paris.  Although it was a long journey, arduous and dangerous, Saint Jakob took the letter as though it were all perfectly normal, and merely asked permission to go to his cell to fetch his hat and staff.  Saint Jakob von Ulm was a master in the art of painting on glass, and his superiors assigned him to that work, for which his sole preparation was assiduous prayer.  He was often wrapt in ecstasy and before his death worked miracles.  He died at 84 and was beatified in 1825.

29.- Saint Raymond of Capua

He was born in Capua (Italy) in 1330 and later entered the Order of Preachers.  He was director and collaborator of Saint Catherine of Sienna.  At 37 he was named prior in Rome, and later lector of Theology in Florence.  In Sienna, while he was celebrating Holy Mass, Saint Catherine, 27 years old at the time, being present, heard the words: "This is my well beloved servant, to whom I am going to confide you."  For his wisdom and prudence, Saint Raymond was charged with the spiritual direction of Saint Catherine, becoming at the same time her disciple. The two saints undertook the care of the victims of the pest, which was ravaging Sienna.  The saint fell victim of the disease, and lay at death's door.  Saint Catherine prayed for him, for one and a half hours, and the following day he was perfectly well.  Another work in common was to re-establish peace in Italy, and despite the danger of the mission, the courageous work of the saint achieved certain success.  The most important enterprise in which Saint Raymond lent support to Saint Catherine was for the Pope to return from Avignon to Rome.  Saint Gregory XI returned to Rome, dying soon afterwards.  Urban VI was then elected legitimate Pope at Rome, but the partisans of Avignon elected the antipope Clement VII.  Then the two Saints undertook to fight in defence of the true Pope, Urban VI.  After the death of Saint Catherine, Saint Raymond wrote her biography.  He was elected Master General of the Order, and with all his strength he dedicated himself to re-establish its original fervour, which had appreciably declined; so that he came to be called the "second founder of the Order of Preachers".  He died in Nuremberg on the 5^th October, 1399, and was beatified in 1899.

30.  Saint Jakob Strepar

This Saint belonged to a noble Polish family from Ukranian Galicia.  He entered the Order of Saint Francis and became Guardian of the House at Lwow.  There he laboured for more than 10 years at reconciling the Orthodox with Rome.  He was named superior of the mission to West Russia, where he preached with great success, reorganizing the Church.  He was elected Bishop of Galich in 1392, evangelized the greater part of his diocese, built churches in distant parts, and procured priests from Poland to care for them.  He founded religious houses, hospitals and schools.  Although he was Archbishop and Senator of the Realm, he used to visit his diocese on foot.  Many prelates of his day would vest ostentatiously, but the saint always wore the habit of his Order.  In life they called him 'protector of his people'. The miracles after death proclaimed his sanctity, and his cult was confirmed in 1791.

31.  Saint Giovanni Boni

He was born in Mantua (Italy).  At the death of his father, he left home and began his life as an actor in the courts and palaces of Italy.  In spite of the prayers of his devout mother, Giovanni continued to lead a dissipated and foolish life.  In 1208, at about 40, a grave illness laid him at death's door.  He promised to reform his life if he recovered,- and so he did.  Following the

counsel of the Bishop of Mantua, he withdrew to the neighbourhood of Cesena to live as a hermit. There he acquired fame of holiness and attracted disciples. Later they built a church and formed a community.  Pope Innocent IV gave his approbation, and imposed the Rule of Saint Augustine. The Saint received many supernatural graces and worked many miracles, never relaxing his mortifications, even during old age.  The number of penitents and pilgrims kept growing, and Saint Giovanni decided to flee in secret.  He walked all night, but at dawn found him self at the door of his own cell; so he accepted God's will and remained.  He died in 1294, and God glorified his grave with many miracles. His name was added to the Roman Martyrology in 1672.

32.  Saint Joakob Rem

Born in the Allgau region of Southern Germany, the saintly youth, with two companions, set out on foot for Rome in August 1566, hoping to enter the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. Having had as companion in the novitiate Saint Stanislaus of Kostka, full of apostolic zeal, they returned on foot to Germany.  In Dillingen they studies philosophy and theology in the house where Saint Peter Canisius, called the ‘second apostle of Germany,’ was living.  Ordained in 1573, he was assigned to the education of youth.  He taught at several Jesuit Colleges during 42 years of life as a religious.  As means of religious education of the highest standard, he introduced into Germany the Congregation of Mary, which under his direction became a veritable school of sanctity.  He lived in continual union with God. He had the most tender devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin, whom he venerated under the title 'Mother thrice admirable.'  All who knew him acknowledged his sanctity. God gave Saint Jakob Rem charismatic gifts, among which were those of reading consciences and predicting the future.  With his prayers and sacrifices, he succoured the souls in Purgatory, who many times appeared to him.  He died in holiness, 12th October, 1618, and his beatification was introduced in Rome in 1949.

33.  Saint Hermann Josef

He was born in Cologne of a very poor family.  He remained in continual company with the angels and saints of Heaven from his seventh year till his death.  As a child, he used to kneel in a church before the Blessed Virgin and converse familiarly with her and with the Child Jesus. At 12, he asked to be admitted to the Premonstratensian Monastery at Steinfel.  There he was professed and ordained priest. He was so good and innocent, that the brethren began to call him

Josef. The saint modestly refused the name, until the Virgin placed on his finger the ring of their mystical marriage.  Each Mass for him was an outburst of mystical graces.  He was frequently rapt in ecstasy.  In spite of his visions, he retained his practical sense, being an excellent mechanic. His health was delicate, and this increased with his fasts and mortifications.  Nonetheless, towards the end of his life, God gave him 9 good years, of which the Saint availed himself for writing.  In 1241, he was ordered to celebrate Holy Week in the convent of Cistercian Nuns at Hoven; and there he died.

34.  Saint Anna Maria Lindmayr

She was born on the 24^th September, 1657, in Munich, the Capital of Bavaria, in a family of 15 children, of whom 5 were to be consecrated to God.  At 16, she renounced all worldly joys to live entirely for God and for souls.  Three times she tried to enter a religious community, but each time serious illness impeded her.  Through this she recognized God’s will that she persevere in holiness in the world.  She made vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to her confessor and lived as a religious in her father's house, with works of charity, and giving

counsel to many.  Love of Christ led her to perform extraordinary penances.  She slept on boards covered with branches, pointed chains, and nettles.  She wore hairshirts and chains, and took 500 strokes of the discipline.  At one period, she slept only three nights out of 11 weeks.  God permitted her to endure for 5 years a fearful darkness of soul, devoid of consolation, attended by demons and feeling herself to be damned.  A year passed with almost no sleep or food.  All that a soul could suffer, God discharged over her head, since she had offered herself a victim for the sins of her people.  God rewarded her with high mystical graces.  As with Saint Teresa of Jesus, her heart was transpierced, and she was granted the mystical marriage, stigmatization, and the crowning with thorns.  God entrusted her with the prophetical mission of writing letters to prelates and princes, and to the Emperor himself, to announce the divine chastisements if there were no conversion.  A tempest was unleashed against her.  There was an investigation and everything was declared imaginary on the part of the Saint, who was prohibited from following her life of contemplation and penance.  For 6 years she had to live an ordinary life.  Before her prophetic mission, there had been a diocesan investigation that found worthy of belief the mystical gifts of the saint.  When the chastisement fell on Bavaria and Munich, the ecclesiastical authorities remembered the prophecies and begged her intercession before God.  The Saint intervened, and God communicated the conditions that would free Munich from destruction.  They were to build a Church dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, there to receive continual honour.  The city complied with the condition, and while the whole land was ravaged by pest, Munich remained free.  On other occasions as well, the power of the Saint's prayer was shown. She was called the 'saviour of Munich'.  She was also profoundly devoted to the Holy Face, whose cult she propagated, receiving the title, 'messenger of the Holy Face'.  Finally, on the 14th October, 1712, she entered the Carmelite novitiate, to pass the rest of her life as a religious.  Her visions continued to her death on the 6th December 1726, and she has been compared to Saint Teresa of Avila.

35.  Saint Francois de Montmorency-Laval

This French Saint was very much devoted to the Most Holy Virgin and, from youth, wished to become a priest.  He was born 30^th April, 1623, and as a priest wished to be a missionary in the Far East.  Instead, he was made Vicar Apostolic of New France (Canada).  At 35, he was consecrated Bishop, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  He reached Quebec in 1659, where he was warmly received by the whole colony.  He confided the Indian missions to the Jesuits, established parishes, and for the formation of his clergy, he founded a community of priests and the seminary of Quebec.  In the face of innumerable difficulties, he pursued his mission with energy and determination, always traveling so as to visit his immense diocese.  He attained the help of the King to solve the problem of selling alcohol to the Indians. Confronting the civil authorities, he defended ecclesiastical rights.  When his great rival, the governor of Mesy, was dying, he helped him to die as a Christian.  Worn out by apostolic labours, sickness and suffering, Saint Francois de Montmorency-Laval at 61 years withdrew to his seminary and spent his last years in great prayer and mortification. He died 6^th May, 1708.

36.  Saint Catherine de Saint-Augustine

Catherine de Longpre was born in 1632 in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte (Normandy, France).  She was reared most Christianly by her maternal grandparents.  At 10, she received an extraordinary grace that drew her from the vanities of the world and led her to consecrate herself to the Blessed Virgin by an act signed in her blood.  Desiring a consecrated form of life, she became a nursing sister.  She offered herself for the mission of New France and came to Quebec in 1648, where she undertook to learn the language of the Indians, being then 16 years of age. With her endearing character, she won the hearts of all, and in time became the superior of the hospital.  Since childhood she had loved the Crucified Christ, and she spent all her strength working, denying herself, and doing penance.  She was favoured with mystical graces and died 8^th May, 1668.

37.  Saint Jeanne Mance

She was born in Langres (Champagne, France), 12th November, 1606, the second of 12 children.  At 7, she made a vow of perpetual chastity and had great love for the poor.  When her mother died, Jeanne took her place in the family.  When her father had died, and the children were grown, Saint-Jeanne Mance devoted herself wholly to the care of victims of war and the pest.  She was attracted to the Mission in Canada and set out to establish a hospital there.  In 1641, she reached Canada, and in a poor building, took in the sick amongst the Indians.  As directress of her hospital, she went to France for funds and returned with the first vocations, Nursing Sisters of Saint Joseph.  The 20 years that followed were full of contradictions and incomprehensions, which the saint heroically accepted, offering all with love, resigned to the will of God.  She died 18^th June, 1673.

38.  Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys

She was born in Troyes (France), 17^th April, 1620.  She was a vivacious child, and one day received a grace that transformed her life to one of self-denial.  During a Rosary procession, the Blessed Virgin had smiled towards her.  Desiring the life of a religious, she offered herself to the mission of Ville-Marie in Canada.  But considering the misery of the people in France, Saint Marguerite hesitated.  However, the Blessed Virgin encouraged her, saying:  "Go, I will not abandon you."  The saint arrived in Canada in 1653, expecting to teach school.  Meanwhile

two years passed, during which her charity found an apostolate. She helped the sick, the invalid soldiers, she deprived herself, she catechised and consoled the colonists.  In 1658 she opened her first school, in an unused stable, a gift of the governor.  The work progressed, while the saint continued to educate her daughters in charity and Marian devotion.  The schools grew in number along the coast of Canada, and the Congregation of Notre Dame received approbation.  The holy Founder died after 47 years of work, 12^th January, 1700.  She was beatified by Saint Pius XII

the Great in 1950.

39.  Saint Marguerite d’Youville

Marguerite Dufrost de la Jemmerais was born in Varennes, near Montreal (Canada), 15^th October, 1701.  She frequented the school of the Ursulines in Quebec, revealing gifts of intelligence and spirit.  She married Francois d'Youville, and after 8 years was left a widow with 6 children and many debts.  Four children died and she carefully brought up the remaining two, who one day would be priests.  She dedicated herself to the spiritual life with great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Mass and Communion, thus finding the support for her apostolate of charity towards the unfortunate poor.  Several pious women joined her and dedicated themselves in 1737 to the apostolate.  After a year, the community opened the House, which received civil and ecclesiastical approbation in 1753, under the name of 'Sisters of Charity of the General Hospital in Montreal.’  This hospital became the centre of an extraordinary apostolate of charity towards every kind of misery.  The Saint opened houses for children, young mothers, for the aged, the homeless, for invalids of war.  After years of love towards Jesus and his poor, Saint Marguerite d'Youville died on the 23rd December, 1771. She bade farewell with the words:  "How happy I should be to find with me in Heaven all my sisters".  The day of her death, a luminous cross appeared over the hospital.  She was beatified by Saint John XXIII, who named her "Mother of Universal Charity".

40.  Saint Marie de l'Incarnation

Marie Guyart was born in Tours (France), 28^th October, 1599.  Since childhood she was called to a life of religious fervour.  At 18 she married Claude Martin. Soon she was left a widow, with a little child and no means.  Gifted with extraordinary graces, she obeyed the Lord and entered the Ursuline Convent in Tours, leaving her son, who one day was to become a Benedictine monk.  She sought the form of life most pleasing to God, and saw in a vision a great country, Canada.  She became superior of a new foundation for the education of the Indians.  She reached Quebec in 1639, kissing the soil where God had brought her to bring the light of Christ.  Her first convent was a miserable hut.  There she composed a catechism in the language of the Indians.  Her new convent in the city was destroyed by fire.  She rebuilt it in country where everything was lacking.  Saint Marie de l'Incarnation found the strength to fulfill her mission in her life of grace, in which she ascended to the very heights of mystical union.  In the face of every difficulty, what was important was to fulfill her vocation of missionary and establish the Church in Canada.  At 70, she laid down the office of superior and consumed the remainder of her days in profoundest union with God.  She died on the 30^th April, 1672.

41.  Saint William Carter, martyr

He had a printing office in London.  He was executed under Elizabeth I on the 11^th January, 1584, for publishing Catholic books.

42.  Saint John Finch, martyr

This holy layman of Lancashire for several years contributed great help to Priests.  The 10^th April, 1584, he was executed for defending the powers of the Pope.  He was beatified by Saint Pius the Great.

43.  Saint Thomas Webley, martyr

This holy martyr from Gloucester was executed under the perfidious Elizabeth I, for spreading Catholic books, on the 6th July, 1585.

44.  Saint Marmeduke Bowes, martyr.

This holy layman from Yorkshire was executed under Elizabeth I, for offering assistance to Priests, 27th November, 1585.

45.  Saint Robert Bickerdike, martyr

This holy layman was executed for being a Catholic, 23rd July, 1586.

46.  Saint Richard Langley, martyr

This holy layman from Yorkshire was victim also of the fierce persecution of Elizabeth I, being executed for harbouring priests, 1^st December, 1586.  Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

47.  Saint Henry Webley, martyr.

This holy layman from Gloucester was executed for having assisted Saint William Dean, martyr, on the 28^th August, 1588.

48.  Saint Hugh More, martyr.

Seminarian from Lincolnshire, he was executed for having been reconciled with the Catholic Church, 28^th August, 1588.

49.  Saint Thomas Felton, martyr.

Franciscan cleric from London, he was hanged for being reconciled with the Catholic Church, 28^th August, 1588.  Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

50.  Saint Edward Shelley, martyr.

Gentleman from Sussex, hanged for assisting priests, 30^th August, 1588.  Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

51.  Saint Richard Martin, martyr.

A holy layman from Shropshire, executed 30^th August, 1588, for helping priests.  Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

52.  Saint Richard Flower, martyr.

This holy layman from Anglesey was hanged for helping priests, on 30^th August, 1588.

53.  Saint John Roche, martyr.

An Irish boatman, he was executed the 30^th August, for helping a priest to escape. Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

54.  Saint William Way, martyr.

From Devon, he was martyred for being a priest, 23^rd September, 1588. Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

55.  Saint Robert Wilcox, martyr.

Born in Chester, he became a priest after studying at the English College at Rheims, sent on the English Mission in 1586.  He began work in Kent. T he same year he was arrested and imprisoned in Marshalsea.  He was condemned and hanged, drawn and quartered in the neighbourhood of Canterbury.  He said to his fellow martyrs:  “I am going to Heaven before you, where I will bring the news of your arrival after me.”  His martyrdom took place 1^st October, 1588, and beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

56.  Saint Christopher Buxton, martyr.

He came from Derbyshire, studied for the priesthood at Rheims and Rome.  He was taken in arrest shortly after returning to England.  Martyred with other holy priests, Saint Christopher was the youngest. The executioners thought they could intimidate him by having him witness the martyrdom of his companions. When he was offered his freedom at the price of apostasy, the saint replied that he would rather die a thousand times than accept such an offer. While in prison in Marshalsea, he wrote a 'Ritual' which is still kept as a relic. He was martyred the 1^st October, 1588, and beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

57.  Saint Robert Widmerpool, martyr.

A layman, born in Widmerpool, Nottinghampshire.  He had studied at Gloucester Hall, Oxford, and become a schoolmaster.  For a time he was tutor in the family of the Earl of Northumberland.  He was accused of sheltering a priest in the home of the Earl.  Before his execution by hanging, he gave God thanks for the grace and privilege of dying for the Faith in the very city of Saint Thomas a Becket. He died 1^st October, 1588, kissing the instruments of his martyrdom. Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

58.  Saint Ralph Crockett, martyr.

A secular priest, he had been born in Barton-on-the-Hill, Cheshire, studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, and at Gloucester Hall, Oxford.  He had been schoolmaster in East Anglia before going to the college at Rheims.  Together with Saint Edmund James, martyr, he was taken in arrest, April, 1586, in a boat bound for Littlehampton.  They were imprisoned in London for more than two and a half years. Saint Ralph Crockett was executed on the 1^st October, 1588. Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

59.  Saint Edward James, martyr.

A secular priest, born in Breaston, Derbyshire, he had been educated a protestant in the school at Derby and at Saint John’s College, Oxford.  After his conversion, he went to Rheims, later to Rome, where he was ordained.  Arrested and imprisoned with Saint Ralph Crockett, martyr, he was executed on the 1^st October, 1588, after more than 2 ½ years of prison.  Beatified by Saint Pius XI.

60.  Saint John Robinson, martyr.

Secular priest, he had been born at Ferrensbury,Yorkshire.  When he became a widower, he went to Rheims, where his son Francis I was also preparing for the priesthood.  In 1585, he was ordained and was arrested as soon as he set foot on English soil.  After a time in prison in London, he appeared before a Tribunal which sentenced him to death. The day the order for execution came to Ipswich, the saint was full of joy. He presented all his money to the bearer of the order, fell on his knees and gave thanks to God.  He was executed on the 1^st October, 1588.

Beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

61.  Saint Robert Sutton, martyr.

A schoolmaster, he was converted to the Catholic Faith, and for that reason was taken by the authorities and placed under arrest.  These officials in obedience to Elizabeth I and in rebellion with her against the authority of the Pope, perpetrated injustices disguised as right and just, condemning and killing innocent and holy men.  Condemned for refusing to acknowledge the authority of Queen Elizabeth I over the Church in England, he was declared guilty of high treason.

On the scaffold he was offered his freedom, if only he would pronounce the word “all” in respect to the authority of the monstrous queen.  Refusing to say that word, remaining firm in the Catholic Faith, he was executed, 5^th October, 1588.

62.  Saint William Hart, martyr.

He received Sacred Orders in France, and returned to England.  Working as missionary, he was seized by the enemies of God and his country.  Imprisoned for four years, with 20 other missionaries, he was sent into exile.  Driven by apostolic zeal, he returned to England, where he was condemned to death on account of being a minister of God.  On the 5^th October, 1588, he was executed, his mother being present, rejoicing that her son had been chosen to receive the crown of martyrdom.  Beatified by Saint Pius XI, the Great.

63.  Saint John Hewett, martyr.

For the same cause as Saint William Hartley, martyr, he was condemned by iniquitous and ferocious authorities.  He had received Sacred Orders at Rheims in 1586, and was martyred 5^th October, 1588.  He was beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

64.  Saint Edward Burden, martyr.

He came from Durham, England.  Having worked as a missionary from 1586, he was condemned for being a priest and executed 29^th November, 1588.

65.  Saint John Amias, martyr

He came from Yorkshire and was ordained in France in 1581, returning to England as missionary to succour the sheep amidst that terrible persecution.  Condemned by the enemies of God, together with Saint Robert Dalby, they were dragged two kilometres outside the city of York. At the place of execution they knelt and prayed.  Summoned by the constable, Saint John Amias rose, countenance serene, walked to the scaffold, kissed it, and kissed the ladder.  He ascended and began to address the people:  "The reason for my death is not treason, but religion".  They let him say no more.  One of the witnesses was converted, and later wrote:  “In these holy servants of God, there was visible to the eyes such meekness and singular constancy, that one easily might say, they were lambs led to the slaughter".  This martyrdom took place on the 15^th March, 1589.  He was beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

66.  Saint Robert Dalby, martyr.

Companion of Saint John Amias, martyr.  He came from Yorkshire, receiving sacred orders in France in 1588.  During the martyrdom of Saint John Amias he prayed intensely, and in the same spirit received, from the hands of those enemies of God, the glorious crown of martyrdom for the conversion of England, 15^th March, 1589, at York.  He was beatified by Saint Pius XI the Great.

67.  Saint Mary Stuart, martyr.

Queen of Scotland. The only child of James V of Scotland and Marie de Guise, brought up in the Catholic Faith, she married Francis II, king of France and became a widow when she was quite young. The Regent of Scotland, Marie de Guise, was deposed by the fanatical calvinist John Knox, that violent innovator, and with war intervening, calvinism entered officially into Scotland.  It was the same year as the death of the young Francis II; and the Scottish Catholics as well as the moderate protestants called for their Queen, Saint Mary Stuart, to return from France.  This she did, and returning to Scotland, assumed her royal office.  The holy Queen again married, this time her cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.  His violent death, and the third marriage of the holy martyr with Earl Bothwell, a protestant, publicly accused as the murderer of her second cousin, caused great scandal among the Scottish nobility, protestant in great part.  But the holy queen, now accused of murder and adultery, was no accomplice to the crime,- and her innocence of that complicated plot has been well proved.  Concerning her marriage with

the Earl, it is considered as most probable that she was obliged to it.  It could also have been very imprudent of the saint in good faith to have believed that in those circumstances it was her only choice.  The situation of the holy martyr was very delicate, and despite her great valour and energy, she was deposed in 1567 -being 25-, and imprisoned in the Castle of Lochleven.  The holy Queen escaped to defend her rights; but unsuccessful, she had recourse to the infamous Elizabeth I of England, her cousin, seeking her protection.  Elizabeth I received her with feigned affection; but as that dissolute Queen saw in her cousin a rival to the throne of England, and a threat to English protestantism,- since Mary was profoundly Catholic- she had her imprisoned successively in various castles.  Throughout 19 years of prison the holy martyr underwent her purification, ever displaying dignity of character, and true heroism in her suffering. The holy Queen became a living example of sublime character suffering the greatest misfortunes.  Of the 45 years of her life, she passed 19 in prison, ever firm in the Catholic Faith in which she found purification for the possible errors and fickleness of her past life.  Her confessor manifested that Saint Mary Stuart was of great virtue and integrity, with great love for the poor. The Catholic nobility of England, and several foreign powers, Catholic nations, showed such an interest in the holy prisoner, that the cursed Elizabeth I had her brought to trial, unjustly accused, and led to the block to be executed in 1587, February 8^th, at Fotheringhay Castle.  With justice Saint Mary Stuart has been called the 'Martyr Queen', by her defenders. Justice as well demands that she

be elevated to the altars, now to be called 'the Saint and Martyr Queen'.

68.  Saint Mary Walsh.

She was born in London of Irish parents about 1850.  Left an orphan at an early age, her grandmother brought her home to Ireland, where she passed the years in simplicity and piety. When she was 18, her grandmother died, and the Saint emigrated to the United States, finding work as a laundress.  She was a Dominican tertiary, and practised extraordinary charity towards the poor.  Without resources, she exercised a spontaneous apostolate which, to the amazement of everyone, including the ecclesiastics, became the support of a multitude of poor and sick.  In the streets of New York, the saint felt the impulse to enter the houses of the very poor districts.  With her own hands, she put things in order, cared for the sick, called the priest, assisted the dying, and as a result, lost her own employment.  So passed more than 30 years, in poverty, labours, humiliations, misunderstandings, all of which the saint bore with heroic patience and invincible confidence. At 60 years of age she founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor. Foundress and Mother General, Saint Mary Walsh died in holiness on the 6^th November, 1922.  At her funeral in the immense cathedral, ecclesiastical personages, religious, priests, brothers and nuns congregated and, as well, a multitude of the poor, devout and grateful.

69.  Saint Guillaume de Toulouse

Guillaume de Naurose, when quite young, entered the Augustinian hermits in his native city of Toulouse (France).  Despite his few years, Saint Guillame had progressed along the road to sanctity.  He sealed his consecration to the Blessed Trinity with the threefold promise of the vows.  With the vow of obedience, he offered himself to the Father, to whom all things are subject.  With the vow of poverty, he offered himself to the Son, who made Himself poor for us. With the vow of chastity, he consecrated himself to the Holy Ghost, Spouse of the Virgin Mary, and of all pure souls.  After his ordination, the saint went to study at the University of Paris, which at the time was the centre of studies of all Christendom.  At the end of his studies he was sent out as missionary, and soon he distinguished himself as a preacher and director of souls.  He propagated devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  On one occasion, a wealthy Lady presented him with a quantity of gold, and entreated him to pray for her deceased parents.  The Saint then recited aloud:  "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them". The lady was disappointed, because she felt that her money was worth more prayer than that. The saint asked her to write down the prayer he had just recited, and to place the paper on one side of some scales, and on the other, the gold which she had given him. The lady did so, and to her amazement, the prayer weighed more than the gold.  Saint Guillaume de Toulouse enjoyed great fame as an exorcist.  Nevertheless, the wicked spirits frequently troubled him. They would appear visibly and attempt to harm him.  The Saint died on the 18^th May, 1369.  His cult was confirmed by Saint Leo XIII, the Great, in 1893.

70.  Saint Nunzio Sulprizio

He was born in Pasco Sansonesco in the diocese of Penna (Italy), 13^th April, 1817.  When his father died, his mother remarried, and an uncle, a blacksmith, took charge of the lad. The little saint worked with his uncle, in the forge, while his grandmother brought him up in all piety. The uncle put him to work beyond his strength.  The saintly child, frequently beaten and deprived of food, developed a fearful wound in his leg.  At the hospital in Naples, he gave example of heroic virtue.  An illustrious gentleman brought him to his own home and personally attended the saint in the two years that remained of his life.  Saint Nunzio Sulprizio showed his gratitude with sincere affection for the distinguished gentleman, in the same degree as he was advancing in evangelical perfection. He died 3^rd May, 1836, at the age of 19.  On the 21^st June, 1891, Feast of Saint Luis Gonzaga, whom Saint Nunzio had taken as his model of every virtue, Saint Leo XIII the Great declared the virtues of the little blacksmith apprentice to be heroic,

and proposed him as patron of young artisans.  Saint Pius IX declared him Venerable.  Saint John XXIII certified certain of his miracles, and in 1963, Saint Paul VI, martyr, beatified him.

71.  Saint Luis Maria Andreu

He was born in 1925 in Bilbao (Spain). In 1942 he entered the Society of Jesus, was ordained in 1955, and later taught theology.  Towards the end of July, 1961, he visited for the first time the apparitions at Garabandal, where he wished to study the supernatural manifestations and to take notes of the things he observed.  He returned to Garabandal on 8th August.  The holy Jesuit had always celebrated Holy Mass with great devotion.  On that morning of the 8^th August, he celebrated what was to be his last Mass with exceptional devotion, which was felt by all who were present.  Later he witnessed an ecstasy of the children, observing and taking notes, and he seemed to be deeply moved. The same day, the children, again in ecstasy, rapidly ascended towards the pines.  At the pines, the holy Jesuit, while carefully observing the ecstasy, suddenly, with deep emotion and with clear voice, four times repeated the word, “Miracle!”  Singular occurrence:  the children, in ecstasy, saw Saint Luis Maria Andreu kneeling, and the Blessed Virgin saying to him:  “Soon you will be with me.”  Later, the Virgin told the children that Father Luis had seen her, and also the great Miracle to come.  That night the holy Jesuit left Garabandal, and during the journey he was full of joy as he spoke of the undeniable truth of the apparitions of Garabandal, of the marvelous Mother we have in Heaven, and of that day which had been the happiest of his life.  Suddenly, with a smile, he died.  Later in several ecstasies, the Saint spoke with the children.  When they asked the Blessed Virgin where he was, she smiled.

72.  Saint Magdalena de Canossa

Magdalena Gabriela, of the family of the Marquesses of Canossa, was born in Verona (Italy).  Years later, recalling the Saint's childhood, her nurse said:  "I can only marvel at the change . . .”   When her father died, her mother remarried, and the child of 3 was left in the charge of a governess, and had to endure years of domestic tyranny.  Saint Magdalena suffered a series of infirmities, during which she learnt to dominate her character.  She entered a Carmelite convent, and quickly discovered that her vocation was elsewhere.  She saw in vision

the Blessed Virgin surrounded by 6 nuns in grey-brown habits.  The Virgin showed the nuns a church full of women and little girls, a hospital, and finally a room full of ragged urchins.  From that moment the saint devoted herself to work in hospitals, teach catechism, and care for poor boys.   At the time when Napoleon Bonaparte was driving monks and nuns out of their convents, the young marquise took the occasion to ask Napoleon himself for means to care for the poor, and he gave her what she required.  In the face of her family's opposition, the Saint firmly stood her ground.  In 1808, with several companions, she founded a home for girls in Verona.  During the remaining 25 years of her life, the foundations of the "Canossian Daughters of charity” steadily increased in number. The holy foundress was at the fore of the labours, employing her ‘two maidservants,’ as she called her hands.  She had predilection for the boys most unwashed and mischievous, and in the Congregation they have always called the most difficult boys "those of our Mother Foundress".  The thousand preoccupations of daily life did not disturb the deep recollection that characterized Saint Magdalena Canossa.  She would say to her daughters that it was her mission to make Christ known to the children, especially the poorest and most abandoned.  Towards the end of 1834 she became ill, and on the night of 10^th April, 1835, amidst sighs of joy, she gave up her soul to the Lord. She was beatified in 1941by Saint Pius XII the

Great.

73.  Saint Marie Therese Noblet

She was born 30th September, 1889, in Signy (France).  She was quite young when both parents died, and her grandfather placed her in the school of "The Sisters of the Child Jesus”, at Rheims.  The day of her first communion, she offered herself forever to Jesus.  Soon she was paralyzed, and offered her sufferings as a victim soul.  At Lourdes, during a pilgrimage, amidst acute pains, she heard in the depths of her soul a voice that said:  "Stand up!", and she was instantly cured.  Fifteen years of age, and despite her vivacious temperament, she missed her sufferings.  She vowed chastity, and devoted herself to the poor and sick, desiring to know what ought to be her vocation.  At 21, she began to suffer diabolical attacks, which were to afflict her all the days of her life. While she was praying, the Lord asked her if she would be His authentic victim. The Saint replied with all her heart:  "Ecce ancilla Domini" (“Behold the handmaid of the Lord"), and at once she felt her heart transpierced.  She endured diabolical infirmities that were strange and unknown, as well as blindness.  On the Feast of the apparition at Lourdes, the Blessed Virgin cured her blindness.  On the Feast of the Assumption, she cured her other infirmities.  Thus the saint learned her vocation of missionary.  She reached New Guinea the 15^th October, 1921. She entered the Congregation of the "Handmaids of the Lord,” where all the sisters were Papuans, and she the Mother Superior.  She refused nothing for the salvation of souls.  She endured the most atrocious assaults of Satan, who, one day of particular ferocity, conferred on the Saint the beautiful title of "Daughter of Calvary".  Martyr of Satan, this little Mother of the Papuans died, 15^th January, 1930.  The great Pope of the Missions, Saint Pius XI the Great, said of her:  "Truly she was all things to all men, in order to win them for Christ".

74.  Saint Marie Therese Dubouche

Theodolinda Dubouche was born 2^nd May, 1809, in Montauban (France), in a family completely indifferent to the practice of religion.  The child received no Christian formation;' but, being of a contemplative nature, she was formed by the Holy Ghost, receiving mystical graces and conceiving a horror of impurity.  Very intelligent and highly gifted, she practised the art of painting, while deeply admiring the spirituality of Spanish painting.  Meditating on this very question, in ecstasy she conceived an ardent love of God, while God took possession of her heart.  She exercised a great apostolate among students of painting, and formed the Society of Saint Luke. During the years, she attained the conversion of her parents and sister. She devoted herself to works of charity towards the poor and sick, and attained many conversions.  The holy artist never had wished to paint the image of Christ because she knew no image that corresponded to her ideal.  In a dream she saw the Holy Face, wounded and bleeding, but of divine beauty.  Later she bore this image in intellectual vision impressed in her soul.  When she came to read the messages on reparation to the Holy Face, given to Saint Marie de Saint Pierre, of the Carmel of Tours, she felt an interior impulse to paint the Holy Face.  She entered the Carmelite Order, and, under obedience, dedicated herself to her great work of the Adoration of Reparation.  It was the tempestuous and sanguinary year of 1848, when this vigorous branch was grafted onto the venerable trunk of the Carmelite Order.  Uniting the mystical death of Carmel with the hidden life of Nazareth, the saint took the name of Marie Therese.  She found in Nazareth the most sublime model of reparation, communicated to souls in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.  Before she died, she wrote to her daughters of the Congregation of the Adoration of Reparation:  "I leave you a magnificent heritage:  the perpetual Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. I bequeath to you as well our Mother, Saint Theresa of Jesus."  On her deathbed, her eyes fixed on Heaven, she said three times:  "I see . . .”  These were her last words, 30^th August, 1863.

75.  Saint Petrus Favre (or Faber)

He was the oldest of the companions of Saint Ignatius Loyola.  He was born in Savoy, 1506.  In 1525, he entered the College of Saint Barbara in Paris.  There he met Saint Ignatius, and Saint Francis Xavier, and they became friends.  The Saint followed Saint Ignatius and was ordained in 1524, celebrating his first Mass in Montmartre.  Afterwards he accompanied the holy Founder to Rome to place himself at the disposition of the Pope. The Pope named Saint Petrus Favre his representative at the Diet of Worms and the Diet of Patisbone.  But the saint was aware that authentic reform among Catholics was needed, rather than disputing with heretics. With indefatigable zeal, he preached, gave spiritual exercises and spiritual direction.  Saint Peter Canisius was a fruit of his spiritual exercises, who entered the Society of Jesus and became the second apostle of Germany.  In Cologne, where the Archbishop became a protestant, he established the first Jesuit House. Later he was sent to Portugal and to Spain, where he continued to preach the spiritual exercises to clergy and people.  Fruit of his preaching was the Duke of Gandia, Saint Francis Borgia.  In 1546 the Pope called Saint Petrus Favre to assist at the Council of Trent as Theologian.  Hardly 40 years of age, his health was already broken by travels and labours.  He obeyed nevertheless, saying:  "Holy obedience is much more efficacious than yielding to personal weakness, or the difficulty of the mission".  Shortly after reaching Rome, he died in the arms of Saint Ignatius. His cult was confirmed on 1872.

76.  Saint Claude de la Colombiere

He was born near Lyons in 1641.  Besides a luminous intelligence, he possessed the soul of an artist and great love for the fine arts.  Overcoming repugnance for religious life, he entered the Society of Jesus.  Even before his ordination, at a great liturgical function, the canonisation of Saint Francis de Sales, he displayed for the first time his gifts as an orator.  For their solidity of doctrine and beauty of expression, his sermons are models of their kind.  At 33, he made his solemn profession, including a special vow of absolute fidelity to the rules of the Society, even in the slightest detail.  Shortly afterward he was appointed superior of the College at Paray-le-Monial.  One day, when he went to preach to the community of the Visitation, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, religious of the community, heard interiorly the words:  “Here is he whom I have sent.”  Saint Claude understood at once the holy religious, and the mission the Sacred Heart had confided to her.  She herself wrote later:  "The father taught me to appreciate the gifts of God, and to receive his communications with faith and humility.  Saint Claude de la Colombiere worked untiringly to propagate the devotion to the Sacred Heart.  He did not long remain at Paray-le-Monial.  His superiors sent him to preach in England.  Love for the Sacred Heart was his favourite subject.  Many protestants were converted by him, and for this, he was put in prison.  Louis XIV of France intervened to save him from death, and he returned to Paray-le-Monial.  Saint Margaret Mary told him that he would die there, his death occurring on the 15^th February, 1682.  Saint Margaret Mary was told by Heaven that Saint Claude was already in glory. He was beatified by Saint Pius XI, the Great, in 1929.

77.  Saint Antonio Baldinucci

He was born in Florence, 20th June, 1665, on the octave of the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua.  His father had been miraculously cured of grave illness through the intercession of the holy Franciscan.  He gave the name Antonio to his son.  For a time, there lived at his home in Florence Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, whose memory greatly influenced the young Antonio; who, at 16, entered the Society of Jesus.  He was ordained at 30, and was sent on the missions to the people, an apostolate which the Saint exercised for 20 years with great fruits.  In order to bring the people together, he used to organize impressive processions, starting from different points, moving towards the centre of town, and there he preached.  He often preached with a cross on his shoulders or in chains, moving the people to compassion and to perform penances in the street. Generally, the mission terminated by publicly burning card games, dice, and objects that were obscene or scandalous, and thus he attained many lasting conversions. Seldom he slept more than 3 hours. He fasted three times a week and practised many other mortifications.  In 20 years he preached 448 missions in 13 Italian dioceses.  He died in 1717.  During a mission in Carpineto, he lodged with the family of Pocci, which later was to give to the Church the Pope Saint Leo XIII the Great; and it was he who beatified the Saint in 1893.

78.  Saint Jean Soreth.

He was born in Normandy (France) about 1405.  At 16, he entered the Carmelite Order. He was ordained and went to Paris to acquire a doctorate in Theology. This he accomplished at 23, and soon was named Provincial for France.  In 1451, he was unanimously elected Superior General, and later reelected. Given the general decay in monastic observance, in Carmel as well as in many other orders, much due to the 'black pest', and to the Western Schism, when Popes and Antipopes reigned simultaneously,- Saint Jean Soreth put all his effort into reforming the Order, setting up in each province that he visited one or two houses of strict observance, allowing all the religious who so desired, to change to these houses. This holy reformer can be considered a precursor of Saint Teresa.  He was faced with much resistance, and for this reason the reform did not fully achieve its object. T he Pope Saint Calixtus III, recognizing the sanctity and competence of the Superior General, wished to make him Bishop and Cardinal; but Saint Jean Soreth declined, out of humility, and continued his visitations in Germany, Italy, France and the rest of Europe. To him is due principally the founding of the Third Order of Carmel, for which he composed the rule. A Benedictine of the time characterized him with these words:  "He was deeply versed in Sacred Science and also in profane sciences; but the greatest of his qualities was his religious spirit and goodness, that made him the glory of his Order."  He died in Angora, as a result of poisoning, 25th July, 1471.  His cult was confirmed in 1365.

79.  Saint Elizabeth of France

She was the daughter of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castille, and sister of Saint Louis, King of France.  She possessed great beauty and intelligence.  As a child she was favoured with extraordinary mystical graces. Besides the ordinary fasts, she fasted three times a week.  She studied Latin in order to read the Offices of the Church, and the Church Fathers.  Her mortifications produced a grave illness, and public prayers were offered for her recovery.  Her mother consulted a saintly woman, who prophesied the recovery of Saint Elizabeth, but not therefore to count her among the living, because in the future she would be dead to the world.  The prediction was verified when the saint rejected marriage with Hugo of Austria, and Konrad, King of Jerusalem, even though the Pope, Innocent IV, had urged her, for the sake of Christendom, to marry Hugo, Earl of Austria.  The Saint’s reply to the Holy Father was so humble and prudent that he could only praise her choice to serve God in perpetual virginity.  Saint Elizabeth was very good to the poor.  After the death of her mother, she founded with the help of her brother, Saint Louis, a convent of Franciscan nuns, ordering a rule based on that of Saint Clare to be composed.  The most famous Franciscans of the time, Saint Bonaventure among them, helped with this work.  Saint Elizabeth never lived within the enclosure.  Her apartment was in a wing separate from the cells of the nuns, since her health did not permit her to follow all the rules, and since she feared to be elected abbess.  By retaining her wealth, she was able to maintain the convent, and continue to succour the poor.  The Saint did not discontinue her fasts and penances, and observed almost constant silence.  Thus passed 10 years; before her death in 1270, she spent whole nights in contemplation, without taking rest.  Her cult was approved in 1521.

80.  Saint Rosaline

Daughter of the illustrious family of the Baron of Arc, she had to overcome the strong opposition of her parents in order to consecrate herself to God.  She had been educated by the religious of Saint Clare, but found her own vocation under Carthusian Rule, entering the Convent of Saint Bertrand when she was about 25.  After 12 years, she became superior of Celle Roubaud, in Provence.  She fasted frequently, took the discipline, and slept only three or four hours.  She had frequent visions and ecstasies, and the extraordinary gift of reading hearts.  She died 17^th January, 1329, and her body after death shone with great beauty, and showed no sign of decay.  Her cult was confirmed in 1851.

81.  Saint Catherine de Parc-aux-Dames

This Saint of the beginning of the 13th century was the daughter of Jewish parents who lived in Lorraine.  A priest visited the family frequently to engage in religious discussions.  Little Rachel, as the child was called, used to listen attentively.  The priest asked her if she wished to be a Christian, and the Saint said that she did.  Thereafter, the priest used every opportunity to instruct her in the faith.  The parents were not pleased with the change they observed in their daughter, and when she was 7, they sent her to the other side of the Rhine, away from the priest and Catholic influence. This afflicted the saint.  However the Blessed Virgin appeared to her one night, gave her a pilgrim’s staff, and told her to flee.  The saint rose at once and went in search of the priest, and he brought her to the Cistercian Abbey of Parc-aux-Dames, where she was baptized and received the name of Catherine.  The parents appealed to the Bishop of Lorraine, and to the Duke of Brabant, and even to Pope Honorius, that Saint Catherine might come home, at least till she was 12. The Bishop and the Duke were in favour of the parents, but the Archbishop of Cologne, and Guillaume, Abbot of Clairvaux, decided in favour of the child, who remained at Parc-aux-Dames until she died, famous for her visions and miracles.

82.  Saint Cunegunda of Hungary

She was the daughter of the king of Hungary, Bella IV, and a niece of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.  She was born in 1224 and brought up at court, where she learned Latin and the fear of God.  At 16 she married Boleslaw V of Poland.  Although she had agreed to marry, on the night of the marriage she asked the king if they might live as brother and sister, since she had consecrated her virginity to God.  Boleslaw accepted the pact for a year, and afterwards by a vow of perpetual virginity before the Bishop of Cracow.  Boleslaw is known by the name of 'the chaste'. The Queen led a very austere life, wearing a hairshirt under the brocade, and devoted much time to attending the sick and poor.  When Boloslaw died in 1279, Saint Cunegunda refused the regency and entered the Convent of the Poor Clares in Sandbeck, where she remained until her death, 24^th July, 1292.  The Saint had built many churches and hospitals, and had ransomed many Christian slaves from the Turks.  The religious of Sandbeck once had to take refuge in the castle of Pycmin.  Thanks to the prayers of Cunegunda, the siege was raised, and the castle spared.  God favoured her last years with many supernatural graces and miracles. Her cult was approved in 1690.

83.  Saint Yolanda

Sister of Saint Cunegunda of Hungary, daughter of Bela V, and niece of Saint Elizabeth, at the age of 59 she was placed in the care of her sister.  Saint Yolanda married Boleslao the Pious, Duke of Kalisz.  This holy couple felt an ardent love for God and for the poor.  They had three daughters.   After the marriages of two, and the death of her spouse, the Saint retired to the Convent of the Poor Clares at Sandbeck, where her sister Saint Cunegunda was living.  After her death, Saint Yolanda became Abbess of the Convent at Gnesen, founded by her deceased spouse.  She died in 1299 and her cult was approved by Urban VIII.

84.  Saint Jadwiga

She was born in 1371, the younger daughter of Ludwik, heir to the throne of Poland.  She was urged to marry Yagielo, Duke of Lithuania, a pagan who promised to become a Christian. The saint was 13 years old and had no desire to marry him.  Nevertheless she went to the Cathedral and prayed tearfully for hours, struggling with the repugnance she felt so deeply.  For the good of her future spouse and of the people of Lithuania, she offered herself as a perpetual holocaust, and accepted the marriage.  Her spouse embraced the Faith, taking the name of Ladislao, and did much for the Christianization of his people.  During the turbulent years that followed, the Saint was a stabilizing influence in the government of the kingdom, and as well exerted a good influence on her spouse. She was the support of her subjects and her goodness and charity won the affection of the people.  Her penances did not impede her duties towards her spouse, and he responded with the deepest affection. For the birth of her first child, the king, who was away on the battlefield, sent a letter ordering that the future mother be surrounded with the greatest possible luxury. The Saint replied:  “Neither pearls nor jewels can make me pleasing to God, but only complete submission to His will and acknowledgement of my own nothingness.”  Before she gave birth, she passed the night in prayer before the crucifix, and her ladies-in-waiting found her in ecstasy.  Her new-born daughter lived only a few hours and the holy mother died also. Many miracles took place at her tomb, and her cause for beatification was introduced.

85.  Saint Agnes of Bohemia

She was descended from Saint Wenceslas of Bohemia, and daughter of Ottocar I. Her mother was sister of Saint Jadwiga of Silesia, and aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. She was born in 1202.  At 3 she was promised to Boleslaw, son of Henry of Silesia and Saint Jadwiga. She was taken to the monastery of Trebnitz in Silesia, where for 2 years she was educated in the Faith, afterwards to return to her father’s court. Boleslaw died when the Saint was 6, and at 9

she was promised to Henry, son of Frederick II. She was sent to the Austrian court to learn German.  Life at court did not dazzle the Saint, who went on practising fasts and other austerities, feeling ever more attracted towards God, of whom she ardently implored a life of perpetual virginity.  Her prayer was heard, and her promised spouse married another princess.  Later, Henry III of England, and the Emperor himself, both sought her hand.  Saint Agnes redoubled her prayers and penances, and her rich vestments concealed a hairshirt.  When the Emperor dispatched his ambassador to fetch the saint, she achieved a delay, writing to Pope Gregory IX, entreating him to prevent the marriage, as she desired to consecrate her virginity to God in religion.  The Pope intervened in favour of the Saint.  Frederick said:  “If she had rejected me in favour of mortal man, he would surely have felt the weight of my vengeance.  But since she has preferred the King of Heaven, I cannot take offence.”  Saint Agnes entered the Convent of the

Poor Clares in Prague, which she and her brother had founded.  She took the veil on the day of Pentecost, 1236, producing a deep impression on the people.  About 100 young ladies from important families entered the convent.  In the rest of Europe, princesses and noble ladies followed her example, while the convents of Poor Clares multiplied.  Saint Agnes was a worthy disciple of Saint Francis, seeking always the lowest place and the hardest work.  She was obliged to accept the office of Abbess, by order of Pope Gregory IX.  Saint Clare of Assisi wrote letters to her, of which four are preserved, that reveal the affection which the holy Foundress had towards Saint Agnes.   She lived to the age of 77, and died on the 2^nd March, 1282.  Her cult was confirmed by Pope Saint Pius X.

86.  Saint Hermann the Lame

He was born in Swabia of the house of Altshausen, in 1013.  From birth he was unable to move, not because he was paralysed, but because his whole body was so deformed that normal movement was impossible.  When quite small, his parents placed him in the care of the Benedictines of Reishenau, an island in Lake Constance. There he passed the 40 years of his life.  Professed at 20, the Saint was gifted with great intelligence, which through his studies he placed in the service of God.  Among his written works figure one of the first chronicles of world events written in the middle ages; a long poem on mortal sin, also a mathematical treatise on astronomy which opens with these words:  "Hermann, the dregs of the least of the sons of Christ, dragging behind the beginners in philosophy, slow as a donkey or a snail."  The most precious composition of that lame monk is the antiphon of Our Lady, "Alma Redemptoris Mater", and some other hymns.  Saint Hermann was a skillful fabricator of astronomical and musical instruments.  During his life he was called "the wonder of our times".  Above all he was an observant monk of great sanctity, who died in 1054.

78.  Saint Konrad de Seldenburen, martyr.

A descendant of the princes of Seldonburen in Germany, he founded the celebrated abbey of Engelberg in Switzerland. Saint Konrad had used part of his inheritance to found the monastery in the place revealed to him by the Blessed Virgin.  After using the remainder to build a convent for nuns, the holy founder went to Rome, where he received approbation for his two houses. Then he abandoned the world and took the habit of a lay-brother. Saint Konrad was sent to defend certain properties he had donated to the abbey. In Zurich, he was on his way to meet the disputing party, when these fell upon him and murdered him. His body was brought to Engelberg, where it remained incorrupt until the burning of the Abbey in 1729.

88. Saint Berthold von Garsten

He was born in 1090 on the banks of Lake Constance.  He married, becoming a widower at 30, seeing in this God's will that he should become a religious. He entered the Monastery of Saint Blas in the Black Forest, to become a Benedictine. In 1111, he became abbot of the new monastery in Stayer-Garsten, in Steiermark. Saint Berthold at once promoted the full rigour of the Rule.  The fame of the abbot and his monks soon turned the monastery into a place of pilgrimage.  To harbour the pilgrims Saint Bertlold founded a guesthouse, together with a hospital for the sick of the locality and for the pilgrims. The generosity with which the saint succoured those who sought relief was a heavy burden on the monastery. On more than one occasion, God came to the assistance of the monks miraculously.  Saint Berthold divided his time between prayer, study, and administration.  He performed much penance, and passed hours of the night in prayer.  Pilgrims came from far and wide to hear him preach, to confess, and to receive his blessing.  He died at the age of 52, with great fame of sanctity.

89.  Saint Eberhard

From the family of the Dukes of Swabia, he entered the service of the Church. In 934, he resigned the office of Dean of the Cathedral of Strasburg to join his brother at a hermitage of Einsiedeln in Switzerland, his brother being Saint Benno, former Bishop of Metz.  Saint Benno had with him several disciples; and at the arrival of Saint Eberhard who enjoyed a reputation of sanctity and prudence, many others in search of perfection joined the group.  The Saint used his fortune to build a monastery and church for the community.  At the death of his brother, Saint Eberhard was elected first abbot.  That was the beginning of the celebrated Benedictine Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, which was to become the centre of the cult of the Most Blessed Virgin, and today is the National Sanctuary of the Virgin in Switzerland, one of the principle places of Marian pilgrimages in Europe. In the life of the Saint it is found that Our Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by Angels and Saints, consecrated the Abbey Church ten days before the death of Saint Eberhard, giving rise to the solemn celebration each year on the 14^th September of the Feast of the "Engelwerhe” ("Angel-consecration”).  The Saint was also distinguished for great charity.  When famine had devastatod parts of Alsatia, Burgundy and Germany, Saint Eberhard and his monks sent a great quantity of wheat to the needy.  Laden with virtues, he died in the year 958.

90.  Saint Gabriel Garcia Moreno, martyr.

This extraordinary man, of great self-discipline, of intrepid and serene character, from the politico-religious point of view is, for Purity of motive and for heroism, the greatest figure of all America; and compared with the greatest men of Christian Europe of better times, he loses nothing of his stature.   His person alone suffices to give to the Republic of Ecuador a brilliant chapter in the history of the Church.  As professor and rector of the University of Quito, he was elected President of Ecuador in 1861, to which office he was re-elected until his death by murder in 1875.  His government brought peace to Ecuador, order and economic prosperity.  Exercising a strong and efficient government, he considered himself responsible to God, before anything else whatsoever.  In extraordinary manner, he raised the cultural level of the nation.  He promoted education, civilized the Indians, created higher Institutes of every kind, and favoured the sciences.  For this end, he invited the Jesuits to his country, together with the Christian Brothers, and several congregations of nuns.  He did no less for the material welfare of the people.  He founded hospitals and every kind of charitable institution.  His supreme object was to elevate the religious and moral life of the people.  His ideal was to make Ecuador a Model Catholic State, where Faith would reign, with liberty for all and everything, except for evil, and evildoers.  The cornerstone of his politico-religious structure was the Concordat with the Holy See, in which document is conceded to the Church the fullest liberty to name Bishops, to intervene in public education, and to remove books or teachers opposed to Catholic orthodoxy. Any association whatsoever condemned by the Church was prohibited.  The Catholic Church was declared the one exclusive religion in Ecuador.  The Nation pledged itself to the missions to the indigenous peoples and entreated the Holy Father to intervene efficaciously for the reform of the clergy.  As President of the Republic, he would carry a cross in the Holy Week processions.  Once he met a monk who uncovered his head in his presence.  The saint told him to cover his

head, but the monk replied that he would show that respect to the President.  Saint Gabriel Garcia then replied: "What is the President of the Republic, compared to a Minister of the Lord?" The Saint was the only Head of State who protested publicly to Victor Emanuel II, when the Italian troops occupied Rome; and he decreed a subsidy to Saint Pius IX.  There need be no surprise that the masons in neighbouring countries, and the anti-clericals at home, swore to kill him.  The Saint knew. This perfectly well and remained joyful and serene.  Shortly before he

was murdered, he wrote to Saint Pius IX:  "What greater happiness, Most Holy Father, than to be hated and calumniated for love of Our Divine Redeemer! "  Also:  "What greater happiness, if your blessing obtains for me from Heaven the grace to shed my blood for Him, who being God, wished to shed his own Blood on the Cross for us!”  The evening of the 6th August, 1875, he visited the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral.  As he left, he was attacked by hired assassins who killed him with daggers and gunfire.  His last words were: "God does not die".

91.  Saint Julienne de Liege

The introduction of the Feast of Corpus Christi was due to this saint, who was born near Liege in Belgium, in 1193.  Orphaned at 5, she was entrusted to the care of the nuns of Saint Augustine of Mount Cornillon, who were dedicated to the sick, especially to lepers. To prevent the child from contracting the disease, they sent her to a house in the community, where Sister Sapientia brought her up with great affection.  Saint Julienne distinguished herself for piety, especially her love for the Blessed Sacrament, as well as her love of study.  Unusual for a child was her predilection for the works of the Church Fathers, Saint Augustine, Saint Bernard and others.  When 15, she began frequently to see a kind of moon with a black fringe.  At first she thought it was a diabolical deception, to prevent her from studying.  But in a vision, Our Lord told her that the moon signified the liturgical year, and the black fringe meant that there was wanting a feast in honour of the Blessed Sacrament, confiding to her the mission to work for the introduction of the Feast of Corpus Christi.  She took the habit in Mont Cornillon, and later became Superior of the community.  In order to fulfill the mission entrusted to her by the Lord, she consulted certain saintly persons, such as Saint Eve de Liege; with pious and learned priests such as Jacques Pantaleon (later Pope Urban IV) who could find no theological objection to the introduction of the Feast of Corpus Christi.  Nevertheless, within the community and without, opposition and persecution were raised against her.  Saint Julienne was accused of misusing the funds of the monastery hospital in order to promote the Feast of Corpus Christi.  The people were enraged, and Saint Julienne had to take flight. However, the Bishop of Liege ordered an investigation, and the saint was proved completely innocent.  She returned to her convent; meanwhile the Bishop introduced the Feast into his diocese.  But when the Bishop died, persecution was renewed, and the Saint took flight, accompanied by three religious, living on alms and homeless, until they obtained asylum at Namur, where the Abbess of Salzinnes took up the cause of Saint Julienne. Later, during war, the Abbey of Salzinnes was burned, and the saint had to flee with the abbess.  Consumed by these trials, she died at Fosses, assisted by the abbess and faithful friend, Ermentrudis.  Afterwards Pope Urban lV approved the Feast of Corpus Christi for all the Church.  Saint Julienne was beatified by Saint Pius IX in 1869.

92.  Saint Eve de Leige

Together with Saint Julienne, she had an important role in introducing the Feast of Corpus Christi.  She lived in Liege as a recluse, consecrated to prayer and penance, and was one of the first in whom Saint Julienne confided her mission, remaining always her zealous supporter.  After the death of Saint Julienne, Saint Eve de Liege undertook to carry on the mission of her friend.  When Urban IV became Pope, the saint requested the Bishop of Liege to petition the Pope for the introduction of the Feast. The Pope conceded, and to show his appreciation for her part in the institution of the F east, he sent to Saint Eve, personally, the Bull of approbation and the office of the Feast composed by Saint Thomas Aquinas.  She died in 1265.  Her cult was approved in 1902 by Saint Pius X.

93.  Saint Ambrose of Sienna

When he was born, in a distinguished family of Sienna, his head was abnormal in size, and his arms and legs without movement.  One day, when his nurse brought him to the Dominican Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, his body became normal and lively as that of any other child.  Very soon he gave example of exquisite piety, and love for the poor and sick.  At 17, he entered the Dominicans.  Endowed with great intelligence, he was sent to Cologne, where his master was Saint Albert the Great, and fellow disciple Saint Thomas Aquinas.  Many students came to him for consultation, so he retired to solitude.  But his superiors promptly sent him to teach Theology in Paris, this time to a multitude of students.  After 3 years, he was sent to preach in Germany, Italy and France, where he won many conversions.  Many times he intervened in political affairs to re-establish peace between contending rulers.  Gregory X ordered him to preach the Crusade, and he responded magnificently.  He refused the Pope’s offer of the Episcopate, and when Saint Gregory X died, he withdrew to a house of the Order, since he had been Master of the Sacred Palace.  He did all the humble chores, sweeping, etc.  He performed severe penances, and frequently subsisted on bread and water, and slept no more than 4 hours.  At the beginning of Lent, 1286, he preached so vehemently that he burst a blood vessel, and died, at the age of 66.  His cult was confirmed in 1622.

94.  Saint Mauritius of Hungary

He belonged to the royal house of Hungary, which has given so many saints to the Church.  From childhood he loved to hear and to read the lives of the saints, and he desired to enter religious life.  Nevertheless, at 20, he married the daughter of the palatine prince Amadeus. The spouses were deeply devoted to each other, yet they agreed, after several years, to retire each to the cloister.  Saint Mauritius entered the Order of Preachers.  This act of the young spouses caused general consternation. Ladislaw, governor of Budapest, imprisoned the saint for 5 months in order to test his vocation.  He left prison firm in faith, and his superiors prudently sent him to Italy.  He returned later to his country on a mission of peace. He was known for his constant devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and his great love for the poor. He died in Raob in 1336.

95.  Saint David of Augsburg

He was born in Augsburg in 1200, and was admitted to the first Franciscan monastery founded in those parts.  He was master of novices and professor of Theology.  He exerted tremendous influence over his disciples for the purity of his life, his goodness, and the clarity and depth of his teaching.  The most celebrated of his disciples was Saint Berthold of Ratisbon.  Saint David has given us writings in Latin and German that reflect his personal sanctity and austerity, and his pity for his fellows.  He was the first mystic who wrote in German.  As missioner to the people, he traveled various countries, and achieved numerous conversions.  He died in 1272.

96.   Saint Lorenzo Scupoli

Born in Utranto (Italy) in 1530, he entered the Theatines in Naples, when he was 40. After ordination, he accomplished a zealous and fruitful apostolate in the cure of souls. This invited envy and hatred, with grave calumnies.  Without complaint or self defence, the saintly religious endured this cross for several years, after which his innocence was completely proved. Fruit of his heroic acceptance of this cross:  he produced a masterpiece of Christian asceticism: "The Spiritual Combat."  Saint Francis de Sales said of this work that it merits a place beside the "Imitation of Christ".  For many souls it has been a school of sanctity.  After a long life of abnegation and consecration to God, he died at 80, on the 28th November, 1610. "The Spiritual Combat" has been widely spread in several languages.

97.  Saint Jutta of Diessenberg

The sister of Meginard, Earl of Spanheim, she lived as a recluse in a hut near the monastery founded by Saint Disibod von Diessenberg. To her was confided the education of Saint Hildegard, when she was hardly 8 years old.  Saint Jutta taught the child to read and sing and the rudiments of Latin.  Soon other young aspirants to perfection joined to form a community under the rule of Saint Benedict, and Saint Jutta was their superior for 20 years.  Saint Hildegard wrote of her that the grace of God filled her to overflowing. She spent her life without rest, in vigils, fasts, and penances, until the day of a happy death freed her from mortal ties. Extraordinary miracles have given testimony to her sanctity. She died in 1136.

Martyrs of the Holy Crusade in Spain:  Introductory Note

The poison of Marxism, having entered Spain during the years leading up to the 2nd Spanish Republic, infected the soldiers and the rabble mob, and broke out in a relentless religious persecution.  Convents, private homes, lodging houses, all were the object of repeated and close investigation by the communist soldiers, in accord with orders from the communist authorities. Hatred of God and of the Church so blinded these criminals that with their voracious appetite for blood, they respected neither class, agenor sex.  Hatred of religion, combined with avarice was the great motive.  The greatest number of martyrdoms in any one place undoubtedly took place at Paracuellos de Jarama, near Madrid, during November 1936.  The slaughter reached such proportions that it becomes impossible to record how many shed their blood in that sacred Spanish Colosseum.  The prisons of Madrid were overfull because of the steady arrival of clergy and religious. The prisons of Saint Anton, Polier, Ventas, Modelo, etc., were famous for being swarming anthills of innocent human beings.  Modelo, for example, lodged more than 5,000 prisoners.  November, 1936, was the month of greatest slaughter at Paracuellos. From fearful prisons and other places, unending groups of victims issued during all that tragic month, especially on the 7th, 8^th, 28th and 30th,- key days, on which the concourse of martyrs was so enormous, that it was called "operation extraction".  For the transport of victims, they used 20 municipal buses.  The prisoners were tied two by two, and placed tightly on board.  At Paracuellos, they were put in groups of ten to 25, and marched to the already waiting trenches of enormous size and numerous.  They were about 160 metres long, and 4 metres wide.   At the edge of the trenches, the victims were riddled with bullets by squads of 30 to 40 soldiers.  This was the least cruel form of execution, since occasionally they used other and crueler methods of martyrdom.  More than 200 grave-diggers were at hand to bury the hundreds who had been shot, some still alive.  Savages from a nearby town delighted in the spectacle, came to strip the victims completely, and even to outrage the bodies.  The sacred place of Paracuellos de Jarama has received so much martyrs’ blood, that there is nothing similar in Spanish Martyrology.  Apart from the great numbers in Paracuellos, the treatment received by the holy martyrs was similar in countless places throughout Spain during the first month of the glorious Crusade of Saint Francisco Franco against Marxism, which began on the 18th July, 1936.

HOLY MARTYRS OF THE HOLY CRUSADE
AGAINST MARXISM IN SPAIN

Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Institute of Pozuelo de Alarcon (Madrid).

98.   Saint Juan Antonio Perez, priest.

99.   Saint Pascual Alaez, lay-brother.

100. Saint Cecilio Vega, cleric.

101. Saint Francisco Polvorinos, cleric.

102. Saint Manuel Gutierrez, lay-brother.

103. Saint Justo Gonzalez, lay-brother.

104. Saint Juan Pedro Cotillo, lay-brother.

The 19th July, 1936, the local soldiery, armed with shotguns, revolvers and other weapons, searched the religious and every inch of their house, took over everything, and posted armed guards day and night in the convent of 41 religious. On the night of 23rd July, all the religious were brought to the refectory and forced to put on civil dress. The names of the 7 martyrs were called out.  Two motor cars awaited them at the gate, and they were shot near Madrid, 24^th July, 1936.

Christian Brothers of Grinon (Madrid).

105.  Saint Oroncio Luis (in the world, Antonio Sola Garriaga)

106.  Saint Aquilino Javier (Celestino Ruiz)

107.  Saint Mariano Pablo (Teodoro Perez)

108.  Saint Angel Gregorio (German Arribas)

109.  Saint Mariano Felix (Manuel Sousa)

110.  Saint Arturo Joaquin Olivares

111.  Saint Sixto Andres (Andres Merino)

112.  Saint Crisostomo Albino (Lazaro Ruiz)

113.  Saint Benjamin Leon (Graciliano Ortega)

114.  Saint Javier Eliseo (Evencio Castellanos)

115.  Saint Jose Gorostazu

The first ten were Brothers in Religion; the last, a young layman.  The morning of the 28th July, 1936, a crowd of communist soldiers with motor cars stormed the De la Salle building, seized everything of any value, and brutally destroying every religious object they found.  One of the scoundrels ordered Saint Aquilino Javier to destroy the crucifix in the Refectory.  The holy martyr refused, and the infuriated communists pulled down the crucifix, dashed it to the ground,

and reduced it to powder by shooting it. The soldiers threw the Stations of the Cross to the ground, the statues from their altars, and even that of the Blessed Virgin from her niche, knocking off the head.  The young Navaresse, Saint Jose Gorostazu, who scoured the pots and pans, while distinguishing himself for deep piety, on witnessing the sacrilegious brutality of the communists, rebuked them to their face. This sufficed for them to attack the martyr with kicks and gunfire, leaving him in agony in the entrance to the chapel.  The heroic lad kept hailing Christ the

King, until he bled to death.  The communists ordered a succulent repast.  After some discussion to assure themselves that the brothers were religious,- inasmuch as the children had identified them as teachers,- the criminals seized their scapulars, crucifixes, and medals, and led them, with hands raised, to the chapel.  The martyrs were told to turn their backs to the executioners, but they refused, with shouts of “Viva, Christ the King".  When all was in order, there came hurrying to the group of martyrs Saint Angel Gregorio, saying:  “What are you going to do?  I’m on e of them.  Viva Christ the King!”  Shots were fired, and 8 brothers fell.  Moments later, Saint Oroncio Luis and Saint Arturo Joaquin, who had been concealed in the boilers and in the showers, were also murdered, all on the 24^th July, 1936.

Hospitallers of Saint John of God,

of Saint Joseph's Asylum at Carabanchel Alto (Madrid).

116.Saint Cristino Roca Huguet, priest.

117.Saint Proceso Ruiz Cascales, brother.

118.Saint Eutimio Aramendia Garcia, brother.

119.Saint Canuto Franco Gomez, brother.

120.Saint Dositeo Rubio Alonso, brother.

121.Saint Cesareo Nino Perez, brother.

122. Saint Benjamin Cobos Celada, brother.

123.Saint Carmelo Gil Aramo, brother.

124.Saint Cosme Brun Arara, brother.

125.Saint Cecilio Lopez Lopez, brother.

126.Saint Rufino Lasheras Aizcorbe, brother.

127.Saint Faustino Villanueva Igual, brother.

These 12 holy martyrs took care of the epileptics.  The 29th July, 1936, the communist soldiers searched the building of the brothers, threatening death if they did not disclose the whereabouts of a supply of arms, and ordering them in future to abstain from any religious manifestation.  The nonexistent supply of arms did not of course come to light.  For a month, the Brothers of Saint John of God continued to care for the sick and their pious exercises, not in the oratory, but in the wash basement.  The 1st September, 1936, 12 armed men took the religious and murdered them near Boadilla del Campo (Madrid).  San Proceso Ruiz, superior, whose one brother appeared with a document to save him, refused to abandon his brothers in religion. Something similar occurred in the case of Saint Eutimio Aramendia, the Vice-Superior.

Religious: Sons of Saint Vincent de Paul, Province of Madrid.

128.Saint Ponciano Nieto y Asensio, priest.

129.Saint Maurilio Tobar Gonzalez, priest.

130.Saint Jose Maria Fernandez, priest.

131.Saint Roque Guillen Garces, priest.

132.Saint Cristobal Gonzalez Carcedo, brother.

133.Saint Cesareo Elexgaray, brother.

134.Saint Benito Paradela Navoa, priest

135.Saint Saturnino Tobar Gonzalez, brother.

136.Saint Agustin Nogal Tobar, brother.

137.Saint Juan Nunez Horcajo, brother.

These 10 holy martyrs belonged to two communities, some to the residence of the Chaplains of the Royal Novitiate of the Daughters of Charity at Lope de Vega 3, in Madrid; and others to the Central House, also in Madrid.  Saint Ponciano Nieto and Saint Maurilio Tobar took refuge at the home of a cousin of the former, a lady of deep faith and respect for the ministers of the Lord.  They were there from the 21st July, 1936, when they fled from their monastery, until the 23rd September, not without great risk.  On that day, several soldiers who had been posted to watch the house came to the door, took in arrest the two priests and the lady, and murdered them. 

The 23rd July, 1936, the Superior of the Residence at Lope de Vega 3, Saint Jose Maria Fernandez, left the house in company with Saint Roque, rather to avoid endangering the Sisters of Charity, who lived nearby, than for their own safety.  They lodged at a boarding house at 13, Calle Nunez de Arce.  Certain elements of the Provincial Deputation in Madrid, affiliated with the communist soldiers, imprisoned these holy martyrs in the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity at 3, Calle Jesus, the building adjoining that of the Fathers.  The plan of the communists was to confiscate whatever of value belonged to the Sisters of Charity, and they did all they could to make the fathers, particularly Father Fernandez, show them where the valuables might be concealed.  During long months, the holy martyrs were interrogated, mistreated and tortured.  In the same novitiate were imprisoned the holy martyrs Brother Saturnino Tobar and Brother Agustin Nogal of the community; as well as Saint Benito Paradela and Saint Juan Nunez of the Central House.  Several days after the religious were brought to the Novitiate, the nuns were put into the adjacent house of the Chaplains.  Since the soldiers did not extract the information they sought by torture, the religious were taken out on the 21st October, and shot to death on the 23rd October, 1936, near the cemetery of Vallecas.

Religious: Augustinians, martyred in Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid).

These 69 Augustinian martyrs, killed in Paracuellos, belonged to 3 communities:  the Monastery of the Escorial, the University of Calle de la Princesa, Madrid, and of the Residence of the College of No. 25 Calle Valverde, Madrid.

138.Saint Victorio Martin Gago, priest.

139.Saint Damaso Martinez Velez, priest.

140.Saint Pedro Nolesco Alonso Cadierno, priest.

141.Saint Eleuterio Turrado Crespo, priest.

142.Saint Jenaro Diez Fernandez, priest.

Martyred the 7th and 8th of November, 1936.

The following priests:

143.Saint Avelino Rodriguez Alonso.

144.Saint Benito Alcalde Gonzalez

145.Saint Sabino Rodrigo Fierro

146.Saint Bernardino Alvarez Melcon.

147.Saint Samuel Pajares Garcia

148.Saint Manuel Alvarez Rego

149.Saint Balbino Villarroel Villarroel

150.Saint Senen Garcia Gonzalez, - together with the following brothers:

151.Saint Luciano Ruiz Valtierra

152.Saint Jose Peque Iglesias

153.Saint Juan Badajos Perez

154.Saint Marcos Perez Buenavista

were martyred on the 28th November, 1936.

The following priests:

155.Saint Mariano Revilla Rico

156.Saint Juan Monedero Fernandez

157.Saint Benito Rodriguez Gonzalez

158.Saint Miguel Grezal Calvo

159.Saint Francisco Marcos del Rio

160.Saint Jose A. Farina Castro

161.Saint Gerardo Gil Leal

162.Saint Agustin Renedo Martin

163.Saint Constantino Malumbres Frances

164.Saint Benito Velasco Velasco

165.Saint Benito Garnelo Alvarez

166.Saint Joaquin Garcia Ferrero

167.Saint Juan Sanchez Sanchez

168.Saint Julian Zarco Cuevas

169.Saint Luis Suarez Valdes

170.Saint Esteban Garcia Suarez

171.Saint Matias Espeso Cuevas

172.Saint Melchor Martinez Antuna

173.Saint Arturo Garcia de la Fuente

174.Saint Conrado Rodriguez Gutierrez

175.Saint Pedro de la Varga Delgado

176.Saint Heliodoro Merino Merino

177.Saint Pedro Martinez Ramos

178.Saint Damaso Arconada Merino

179.Saint Jesus Largo Maurique, - together with the following brothers:

180.Saint Nemesio Garcia Fernandez

181.Saint Dionisio Terceno Vicente

182.Saint Jose Lopez Piteira

183.Saint Jose Gando Una

184.Saint Nemesio Diez Fernandez

185.Saint Julio Marcos Rodriguez

186.Saint Marcos Guerrero Prieto

187.Saint Pedro Carvajal Pereda

188.Saint Jose Noriega Gonzalez

189.Saint Ranuro Alonso Lopez

190.Saint Maximo Valle Garcia

191.Saint Bernardino Calle Franco

192.Saint Julio Maria Fincias

193.Saint Francisco Fuentes Puebla

194.Saint Pedro Simon Ferrero

195.Saint Victor Cuesta Villalba

196.Saint Jose A. Perez Garcia

197.Saint Roman Martin Mata

198.Saint Miguel Itiurraran Laucirica

199.Saint Luis Abia Malendro

200.Saint Macario Sanchez Lopez

201.Saint Tomas Sanchez Lopez

202.Saint Jose Maria Dalmau Regas

203.Saint Ricardo Marcos Reguero

204.Saint Gerardo Pascual Mata

205.Saint Isidoro Mediavilla Campos.

These were martyred on the 30th November, 1936.

206.Saint Agustin Seco, priest. 

Of the Monastery of the Escorial, he was martyred in Galopagar (Madrid), on the 12th December, 1936.

Of the 69 Augustinian martyrs given above, and killed in Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid) - all excepting the last one,- the greater part were from the Royal Monastery of the Escorial (Madrid).  Among these were men of eminence, such as Saint Mariano Revilla, Saint Avelino Rodriguez, Provincial, Saint Esteban Garcia and others. The 8th August, 1936, by order from Madrid, 106 religious were taken from the Royal Monastery, transported in three buses by a group of communists.  At Madrid, they were put for several hours in the prison of the General Security Office.  Later they were put in the prison of San Anton, where the Brothers of the monastery at Calle la Princesa were already imprisoned, together with many other religious from other Orders.  Some were put in the gaoI of ModeIo, from which they were later taken to be martyred.  One of these holy Augustinians, Saint Avelino Rodriguez, before his group was executed, asked to be allowed to give absolution to his companions.  He embraced each one of them, and they, kneeling, received absolution. Then he spoke these words with strong voice:  "We know that you are killing us because we are Catholics and religious.  I and my companions forgive you with all our heart.  Viva Christ the King! Viva Espana!"  Many words of the martyrs have been recorded.  Saint Victor Cuesta:  "Adios, Heaven is waiting, and there is no time to lose!"  Saint Nomesio Garcia Rubio:  "Take heart, soldiers of Christ, see there appears Heaven, and here we set out on the way to Calvary".  Saint Nemesio Diez Fernandez:  "The moment of our passion is near.  The Lord grant us grace to confess Him in suffering, and so to rejoice with Him in the triumph of the Resurrection".

Religious: Hospitallers of Saint John of God,
martyred in Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid).

207.Saint Juan Jesus Adrada Gonzals, priest.

208.Saint Guillermo Llop Gaya, brother.

209.Saint Clemente Diez Sagun, brother.

210.Saint Lazaro Mugica Goiburu, brother.

211.Saint Martiniano Melendez Sanchez, brother.

212.Saint Julian Plazaola Artola, brother.

213.Saint Hilario Delgado Vilchez, brother.

214.Saint Pedro Alcantara Bernalte Calzado, brother.

215.Saint Jose Mara Velasco, priest.

216.Saint Jose Ruiz Cuesta, postulant.

217.Saint Pedro Maria Alcalde Negredo, brother.

218.Saint Isidoro Martinez Izquierdo, brother.

219.Saint Juan Alcalde Alcalde, brother.

220.Saint Angel Sastre Corporales, brother.

221.Saint Eduardo Bautista Jimenez, brother.

These 15 religious hospitallers were killed 20th November, 1936.  They were from the Sanatorium of Ciempozuelos (Madrid), where they were offering their unselfish services to the mentally ill.  This community had also frequently been molested and attacked by extremist groups from the town.  On the 31st July, 1936, by order of the Madrid Government, the sanatorium was taken over by a new staff of infirmarians who had been recruited from among the idle rustics, with

no preparation for hospital work.  The 8th August, the religious were taken from the sanatorium amidst the jeers and shouts of the rabble.  They were moved to the prison of the General Security Office, and then to the prison of San Anton.  One of the surviving hospitallers relates:  "We were terrified by the sight that met our eyes.  There was a large gallery, and in one part was half our number, standing in 3 files, hands tied behind.  Among them was the Father Superior Saint Guillermo Llop, and some young brothers.  He called very calmly for me to come between the

files and said:   “See how we stand.  They are going to shoot us, and then they mean to take the remaining prisoners out to be shot.  Inform the Father Provincial that the brothers who are left prepare themselves well.”  To form an idea of what took place, one should know that the night before the martyrdom, there were 2,000 prisoners.

Oblates of Mary Immaculate, martyred in Paracuellos del Jarama.

222.Saint Jose Vega Riano, priest.  Killed 7^th November, 1936.

223.Saint Serviliano Riano Herrero. Killed 8^th November, 1936.

The following priests:

224.Saint Francisco Esteban

225.Saint Gregorio Esteban

226.Saint Vicente Blanco, together with the following brothers:

227.Saint Justo Gil Prado (diacono)

228.Saint Juan Jose Caballero (subdiacono)

229.Saint Publio Rodriguez

230.Saint Jose Guerra

231.Saint Daniel Gomez Lucas

232.Saint Clemente Rodriguez

233.Saint Justo Fernandez Gonzalez

234.Saint Angel Bocos

235.Saint Eleuterio Prado

236.Saint Marcelino Sanchez Fernandez

- these holy martyrs, religious oblates, were from several communities, among which, that of Pozuelo de Alarcon (Madrid), and that of Casa de Diego de Leon (Madrid).  They followed the same route as the others, ending at the prison of San Anton, and thence to their place of martyrdom, the 28th November, 1936, except for the first two, whose dates of martyrdom are given above.

Religious: Christian Brothers (de la Salle), martyred in Paracuellos del Jarama.

237.Saint Jose Alfonso, martyred 8th November, 1936.  He pertained to a community

in the district of Madrid.

238.Saint Daciano

239.Saint Juan Pablo

Both belonged to a convent on the Madrid zone, and were killed on the 28th November, 1936.

240.Saint Basilio Julian

241.Saint Sinfronio

242.Saint Pablo de la Cruz.

243.Saint Floriano Felix.

244.Saint Alfonso Betran.

245.Saint Ismael Ricardo

246.Saint Adalberto Juan

247.Saint Luis Victorio

248.Saint Julian Alberto

249.Saint Eufrasio Maria

250.Saint Vidal Ernesto

These holy martyrs belonged for the most part to the Communities of the Asylum of the Sacred Heart, and that of Saint Rafael, in the Madrid District.  Taken prisoner in their respective houses, they were brought to the prison of San Anton, and thence to Pracuellos del Jarama, there to be shot by the communists on the 30^th November, 1936.

Dominicans, martyred in Paracuellos del Jarama.

251.Saint Isabelino Carmona

252.Saint Juan Mendivelzua

253.Saint Vicente Rodriguez Fernandez

254.Saint Alfonso Fanjul Acebal

255.Saint Feliz Muniz

256.Saint Vicente Pena

These Priests were murdered on the 7^th November, 1936.  They belonged to communities in Madrid.  Saint Alfonso Fanjul was Prior of the Oratorio de Olivar at Calle Canizares (Madrid).  Also from this Oratory were Saint Juan Mendivelzua, and Saint Vicente Pena.  A survivor relates several details of the prison at Modelo.  "When evening fell, the doors were opened, and all were ordered to go to their doors to hear an interminable list of instructions.  All go in file towards the prison centre like sheep being led to the slaughter. There is a second roll-call.  But where are they taking us? is the question in all the cells.  Murder seems unthinkable."  That was the procedure of the communists with the thousands of martyrs who fell at Paracuellos.

257.Saint Jose Delgado Perez

258.Saint Francisco Fernandez Escosura

Both belonged to the Convent of Almagro (Ciudad-Real), and were murdered at Paracuellos, 8th November, 1936.

259.Saint Jose Prieto Fuentes.  He was murdered in Paracuellos 28^th November 1936, together with other Dominicans ond many laymen.  This Brother belonged to the Convent of Colatrava de Almagro (Ciudad Real).

260.Saint Manuel Santiago Santiago.  This brother was murdered in November, 1936, and belonged to the House at Colatrava de Almagro.

These four holy Dominican martyrs from the House of Colatrava de Almagro were students under the age of 20.  The 14th August they were taken from the town prison to the General Security Office in Madrid. They then passed to the Modelo prison, then to the prison of Ventas, and finally to Paracuellos.

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Religious: Escolapios (of the Pious Schools), martyred in Paracuellos de Jarama.

261.Saint Enrique Sedano Sedano

262.Saint Leonardo Ruiz Ruiz

263.Saint Jos6 Maria Rodriguez Pena

These Priests, teachers, belonged to the Colasantian College in Madrid, and were killed 7th November, 1936.

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Religious: Franciscans, martyred in Paracuellos.

264.Saint Severino Alcobendas Merine, priest.

265.Saint Anastasio Mata Perez, brother.

The former belonged to the Cisneros Interprovincial College. The second, to a monastery in Madrid.  Both were murdered by the communists, 7th November, 1936.

266.Saint Florencio Perez Nauclares, priest

267.Saint Augustine Rodriguez Crespo, priest.

The former belonged to the monastery of Chipiona (Cadiz), executed the 8^th November, 1936. The latter belonged to the Cisneros College in Madrid, and murdered by the marxists, 28^th November, 1936.

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Religious of Saint Vincent de Paul, martyred in Paracuellos.

268.Saint Victoriano Reguero Velasco, priest.

269.Saint Gil Velascoain Irarragorri, brother.

Both belonged to the Province of Madrid and were murdered the 7^th November, 1936.

270.Saint Laureano Perez Carrascal, priest. Martyred the 8^th November, 1936.

271.Saint Jose Garcia Perez, brother novice, martyred on 28^th November, 1936.

272.Saint Francisco Morquillas Fernandez, priest.

273.Saint Joaquin Zubillaga Echarri, priest. These two murdered 30^th November, 1936.

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274. Saint Vicente Renuncio Toribio, priest.  Redemptorist of the Perpetual Succour in Madrid, he was martyred 7^th November, 1936, in Paracuellos.

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Religious:  Salesians martyred in Paracuellos.

275.Saint Manuel Martin Gomez, lay-brother.

276.Saint Francisco Jose Martin Lopez, lay-brother.

These were martyred on the 7^th November, 1936.

277.Saint Valentin Gil Arribas, lay-brother.

278.Saint Justo Juanes Santos, cleric.

279.Saint Anastasio Garzon Gonzalez.

These were martyred on 28th November, 1936.

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280.Saint Manuel Sanz Dominguez.  Religious of the Order of Saint Jerome of the Monastery of Parral in Segovia, he was murdered on the 7th November, 1936, in Paracuellos.

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Passionists, martyred in Paracuellos.

281.Saint Miguel del Rosario, priest.  In the world, Gabriel Perez Diez, martyred by the communists, 7th November 1936.

282.Saint Carlos de los Santisimos Sacramentos, priest.  In the world Miguel Nogueira Guitian, martyred 30^th November, 1936.

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283.Saint Jacinto Mendoza Sabada.  A religious of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, he was murdered on the 7th November, 1936.

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Marists, martyred in Paracuellos.

284.Saint Romualdo Saenz Gaston, priest.  Martyred on 7th November, 1936.

285.Saint Zacarias Feijoo, priest.

286.Saint Julian Marcelino Rebollat, brother.  These two latter were martyred the 8th November, 1936.

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287.Saint Jose Maria Valiente Trigueros.  A religious brother of the Society of Jesus, martyred 8th November 1936.

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288.Saint Alberto Marco Aleman, priest.  Discalced Carmelite of the Convent in Madrid, murdered in Paracuellos, 18^th November, 1936.

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Secular Priests,
martyred in Paracuellos del Jarama and in other parts of Madrid.

289.Saint Rogerio Lopez Arroba.  Military Chaplain who had been in the prison of San Anton.

290.Saint Crescencio Monterroso Garcia, Priest of Madrid.

291.Saint Juan Soria Castresana.  Assistant priest of the parish of San Millan, Madrid. 

These three priests were murdered in Paracuellos, 7^th November, 1936.

292.Saint Maximino Gonzalez Bustos.  Military chaplain of Madrid, murdered in Paracuellos, 8^th November, 1936.

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293.Saint Jose Martinez y Martinez, chaplain of the Irish convent of Madrid.

294.Saint Luis Poneda Daries, chaplain of San Jose y Santa Adela in Madrid.

295.Saint Emilio Franco Prieto, Parish Priest of San Ramon, Madrid.

296.Saint Mariano Escribano Herranz, assistant Priest of San Ramon, Madrid.

297.Saint Ramon Iglesias Suarez, Parish Priest of Salvador, Madrid.

298.Saint Atanasio Arnaiz Alvarez, chaplain of Santa Cristina, Madrid.

299.Saint Antonio Menes Alvarez, chaplain of San Miguel, Madrid,

These 7 secular priests were martyred in Paracuellos, 28th November, 1936.

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300.Saint Miguel Ruiz Perez, priest of Ciudad-Real, martyred in Paracuellos, 24th November, 1936.

301.Saint Antonio Marco Sanchez, priest, assistant professor of the Institute of Saint Isidro of Madrid, murdered in Madrid, the 1^st December, 1936.

302.Saint Jose Gonzalez Valverde, assistant priest of El Salvador, Madrid, and murdered in Madrid, 28th August, 1936.

303.Saint Jose Oliver Escorihuela, canon of the Cathedral of Madrid, and martyred in the cemetery of East Madrid, 9th November, 1936.

304.Saint Jose Maria Vegas Perez, chaplain of the Cerro de los Angeles in Madrid.  Murdered in Paracuellos, 28^th November, 1936.

305.Saint Manuel Pecharramon Fernandez, Parish Priest of El Molar, Madrid, imprisoned in Modelo, and murdered near the Capital, 15^th November, 1936.

306.Saint Luis Carreno Prim, priest of San Martin, Madrid, martyred in Paracuellos, November 9th, 1936.

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307.Saint Timoteo Rojo Orcajo, canon, archivist of the Madrid Cathedral, and martyred in the Capital.

308.Saint Luis Herrero Camarena, almoner of the parish of Carmen, Madrid.

309.Saint Emilio Benitez Gutierrez, assistant priest of Malagon, Ciudad-Real.

310.Saint Felipe Ibanez Chiva, Parish Priest of Navas de Buitrago, Madrid.

311.Saint Julian Santiago Alba, Parish Priest of Mangiron y Cinco Villa, Madrid.

312.Saint Jose Maria Varela Montenegro, priest of Madrid.

313.Saint Ignacio Borrabes Domec.

These 7 Priests, imprisoned in various parts of Madrid, were murdered in Paracuellos and elsewhere near the Capital, from August to November, 1936, the exact dates remaining unknown.

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With the martyrs named above, executed in Paracuellos del Jarama, we terminate, for the present document, the canonization of those who died for God and Spain in that place near Madrid.  We leave the others, innumerable as they were, until we possess more information.

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Claretians, of the Monastery of Don Benito (Badajos), martyrs.

314.Saint Juan Lamas, priest.

315.Saint Miguel Mesa, priest.

316.Saint Ignacio Abad, priest.

317.Saint Julio Delgado, priest.

318.Saint Jose Maria Suarez, priest.

319.Saint Uarlos Muller, brother.

The residence was taken over on the 23^rd July, 1936, and the 6 occupants were taken prisoner to the Chapel of the Virgin of Guadelupe.  For 8 days they received nothing from their communist guards, but thanks to some friends, they did not starve.  They were taken from their unclean prison to the Convent of Carmelite Sisters, where they were treated with piety and respect, until the Sisters had to leave the house, and the situation became precarious.  The communists seized the government bonds that formed the only economic reserve of the community, and then decided to kill them. They were taken in a lorry to the local cemetery, meanwhile praying the rosary.  Shortly afterwards they were shot.

Religious:  Claretians of Ciudad-Real, martyrs.

The horrible slaughter of 24 religious of Saint Antony Mary Claret, from the Monastery in Ciudad-Real, took place at several different times.  On the 24th July, 1936, a platoon of communists surrounded and entered the Monastery, imprisoning within the 47 religious who formed the community.  They were maltreated physically and morally.  Certain lay friends obtained a safe-conduct from the Governor, intending to lead them to safety.  The first group was formed by 14 student religious, 28th July, 1936:

320.Saint Vicente del Corazon de Maria Robles

321.Saint Claudio Lopez

322.Saint Antonio Orrega

323.Saint Melecio Pardo

324.Saint Abelardo Garcia

325.Saint Antonio Las

326.Saint Tomas Cordero

327.Saint Otilio del Amo

328.Saint Primitivo Berrocoso

329.Saint Angel Perez

330.Saint Gabriel Barriopedro

331.Saint Angel Lopez

332.Saint Jesus Anibal Gomez

333.Saint Candido Catalan.

The brutal murder of these holy religious took place in this way.  They came to the station to take the train for Madrid. A rabid mob was screeching:  "They're clerics!  Don't let them leave!  Kill them!”  They took the train, and departed.  On the bridge crossing the river Guadiana, they were at the point of being thrown into the river.   However, the slaughter took place at the station of Fernan Caballero. A group of communists with shotguns ordered the martyrs to leave.  The guards were shown the safe-conduct passes, but it was useless.  The young religious were forced to the platform, and before the eyes of the railway employees and the passengers, the communists fired upon the martyrs.  There were mingled curses, groans, heart-rending sighs, and hurrahs, as the 14 religious were murdered.  Saint Candido Catalan was gasping and bleeding in agony among the dead bodies in the sight of all; but no one, out of fear, could even give him a glass of water.  Without doubt, the crime was planned by the governor himself when he authorized the safe-conduct papers.  It was the 28th July, 1936.

On the 30th July, the second group was formed, consisting of religious. The police guards, aware of the murder of the previous group, organized a military escort, and duly protected the religious during the long trip.  Nevertheless, a communist passenger gave the alarm, and at the station of Madrid, 9 of the religious were detained, while the rest slipped away. The following were murdered:

334.Saint Angel Garcia, brother.

335.Saint Gregorio de la Iglesia, student.

336.Saint Jacinto Garcia, priest.

337.Saint Faustino Ferrero, priest.

338.Saint Felix Reca, brother.

339.Saint Pedro Medina, brother.

The first two were martyred the same day, 30^th July, 1936, in El Alto del Arenal (Vallecas),- the others, at night in the cemetery del Este.

Besides the above, there were murdered the following Claretians of the same community, on different dates:

340.Saint Tomas Ramos Munoz, priest, on the 25^th September, 1936.

341.Saint Francisco Garcia Garcia de Castro, priest, 23^rd October, 1936.

342.Saint Policarpo Oca Sanmartin, priest, 23^rd October, 1936.

343.Saint Felipe Gonzalez Heredia, brother, 2^nd October, 1936.

Religious: Dominicans of the convent of Almagro (Ciudad-Real), martyrs.

In the Convent of Calatrava, at Almagro, the Dominicans had a higher house of studies, the novitiate, and the school of humanities.  At the time of these murders, the community was already reduced to 50, half the normal number, since the others were away during the summer holiday.  The Ateneo Libertario was the centre of anarchy for the Almagro area, and promoted the murder of the Dominican community.  The Mayor of Almagro, even while under pressure from the criminals of the Ateneo, ordered the religious to leave the convent and seek private lodging.  The Ateneo protested furiously, and the mayor had to confine them in an unoccupied house.  He decided on the 30^th July to give them safe conduct in order to slip away in little groups.  The first to leave were these:

344.Saint Jose Garrido Frances, priest.

315.Saint Justo Vicente Martinez, student.

346.Saint Mateo del Prado Fernandez, brother.

Besides these three Dominicans, there was a Franciscan priest who will be named later. They took the train to Ciudad-Real.  Some youths from the Ateneo were on the train and, at the station of Miguelturra, they informed the communist soldiers, who then seized the martyrs, put them by the tracks and killed them without mercy, 30th July, 1936.

The same brutal scene was repeated in the station of Manzanares, where the following student religious were murdered, 8^th August 1936:

347.Saint Santiago Aparicio Lopez

348.Saint Ricardo Lopez Lopez

349.Saint Paulino Reoyo Garcia

They had taken the train for Andujar, where their families were waiting.  Once again, the assault in the coach, and the execution on the platform.

There remained 17 members of the community, others having slipped away before being imprisoned in the unoccupied house.  The mayor consulted the Governor of Madrid, and he decided to send some lorries to take the religious to prisons in Madrid.  But the criminals of the Ateneo did not wait.  They entered the house, disregarding 4 religious under 20 years of age,- who were to be killed later in Paracuellos, and have been mentioned above,- and they had the rest of the community tied and, two by two, led to an open place and shot by some 50 shotguns. The martyrs were these:

350.Saint Manuel Herba, priest.

351.Saint Angel Marina, priest.

352.Saint Antonio Trancho, priest.

353.Saint Eduardo Sainz, priest.

354.Saint Luis Suarez, priest.

355.Saint Natalio Camazon, priest.

356.Saint Pedro Lopez Delgado, priest.

357.Saint Francisco Santos Cadierno, student.

358.Saint Sebastian Sainz Lopez, student.

359.Saint Arsenio de la Viuda Solla, brother.

360.Saint Ovidio Bravo Porras, brother.

361.Saint Dionisio Perez Garcia, brother.

362.Saint Fernando Garcia de Dios brother.

A few moments before dying, Saint Antonio Trancho imparted absolution to all.  Saint Arsenio de la Viuda died embracing the crucifix, crying ‘Vivas’ to Christ the King.  A group of unnatural women came close to observe the dying gasps of the martyr and, harpies that they were, they danced over the dead bodies.  It was the 14^th August, 1936.

Passionists, of the Monastery of Daimel (Ciudad-Real), martyrs.

On the 21st July, 1936, a wild mob approached the Monastery, situated outside the city.  Screaming, they called to the religious to leave the house at once.  Half an hour later, the religious, in civil dress, were led in double file towards the cemetery, accompanied by some 200 individuals.  In those critical moments, there appeared an emissary from the mayor to halt the execution:  "Dispatch them on the highway.  And if they cross the boundary of Daimal, I will not be responsible for their lives.”  They went in silence to the juncture of the road leading to Bolanos. There the Father Provincial decided to form groups which would walk to Madrid unnoticed, at different times and by different routes.  Let us note the details of their martyrdom.

One group was formed of 6 religious, two of whom were martyred:

363.Saint Juan Pedro de San Antonio, priest.

364.Saint Pablo Maria de San Jose, brother.

These two holy martyrs were arrested in a boarding house in Ciudad Real and were shot to death by the communists at the cemetery of Carrion de Calatrava, 25^th July, 1936.

Another group was formed by these three religious:

365.Saint Pedro del Corazon de Jesus.

366.Saint Felix de las Cinco Llagas.

367.Saint Benito de la Virgen del Villar.

These three had been arrested and then released.  In Malagon they took the train from Badajoz to Madrid.  At the station of Urda some soldiers had them leave the train, and they were shot to death at the station near the water tank, 25^th July, 1936.

Another group, formed by the Rector of the community and8 others, took the train at the station of El Campillo, going towards Ciudad-Real, on the 22^nd July.   When about to leave their coach, the 9 Passionists were arrested.  They were tied, ropes around their necks, and led through the streets of Ciudad-Real, amidst the jeers and stone-throwing of the excited spectators. Saint Jose de Jesus Maria was hit by a brick, and his hand began to bleed profusely.  The governor saved them, for the moment, from execution, in spite of the rioting mobs, who shouted for immediate shooting.  Taken to Madrid, they were riddled with bullets at the walls of the Casa de Campo, 28^th July, 1936:

368.Saint German de Jesus y Maria, priest.

369.Saint Felipe del Corazon de Maria, priest.

370.Saint Maurilio del Nino Jesus, student brother.

371.Saint Jose de Jesus Maria, student brother.

372.Saint Julio del Corazon de Jesus, student brother.

373.Saint Jose Maria de Jesus Agonizante, student brother.

374.Saint Laurino de Jesus Crucificado, student brother.

375.Saint Anacario de la Inmaculada, brother.

376.Saint Felipe de San Miguel, brother.

Father Provincial led the last group of 12 religious.  They took the train at Camillo for Madrid.  They were arrested at the station of Manzanares and put in the town jail, where they spent the night.  In the early morning, they were taken back to the station to take the 6 o'clock train.  However, a communist hothead, with a gang of indignant individuals, broke into the office of the stationmaster, violently rebuking him for allowing the religious to escape.  The 12 religious were seized and pushed along by armed communists, accompanied by the jeers of maddened women of low condition, until they came to a field near the station called la Vereda de Valencia, where, without military order or discipline, as by a pack of wild dogs, they were fired upon indiscriminately and left in pools of blood.  Five died at once, one several hours later, and 6 bled all through the night, and did not die until they were once again shot.  The 6 martyrs of the 23rd July, 1936 were:

377.Saint Niceforo de Jesus y Maria, Father Provincial, priest.

378.Saint Jose de los Sagrados Corazones, brother.

379.Saint Epifanio de San Miguel, brother.

380.Saint Abilio de la Cruz, brother.

381.Saint Zacarias del Santisimo Sacramento, brother.

382.Saint Fulgencio del Corazon de Maria, brother.

The other 6 Passionists of this last group were taken by the Red Cross to the hospital, where they received the devoted care of the Daughters of Charity.  On the 23^rd October they were taken to Ciudad-Real before the governor, who remarked coldly:  "Have them shot."  The order was executed the same day. These martyrs were:

383.Saint Ildefonso de la Cruz, priest.

334.Saint Justiniano de la Virgen Dolorosa, priest.

385.Saint Eufrasio del Amor Misericordioso, brother.

386.Saint Tomas del Santisimo Sacramento, brother.

387.Saint Honorino de la Virgen Dolorosa, brother.

388.Saint Jose Maria de Jesus, brother.

The Passionist martyrs of the Retreat at Daimiel were 26, whereas the community had totalled 31 religious.

389.Saint Felipe Perea Santos

This holy Franciscan priest was murdered in company with the 3 Dominicans of Almagro mentioned above, in the station of Miguelturra (Ciudad-Real), on the 30^th July, 1936.

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Franciscans of the Monastery of Alcazar de San Juan (Ciudad-Real), martyrs.

390.Saint Martin Gomez Perez, priest.

391.Saint Diego Bernalte Cozar, priest.

392.Saint Ezequiel Moreno Cid, priest.

393.Saint Gabriel Lopez Martinez, brother.

394.Saint Antonio Lopez  Linares, priest.

395.Saint Antonio Pascual Salinas, brother.

The murder of these Franciscan martyrs took place on the 26^th and 27^th July, 1936.  Together with them were killed 6 Trinitarians and a Dominican, who will be mentioned later.

Taken from the monastery to the town hall, they were on the point of being hanged by the mob. They passed three days of anguish and misery in the Municipal Work House, where they were maltreated.  They were killed in two groups on the dates given above.

Discalced Trinitarians,

of the Monastery of Alcazar de San Juan (Ciudad-Real), martyrs.

The itinerary of these holy martyrs, from their arrest up to their execution, was the same as that of the Franciscans mentioned above.  Priests:

396.Saint Hermengildo de la Asuncion

397.Saint Francisco de San Lorenzo

398.Saint Placido de Jesus

399.Saint Buenaventura de Santa Catalina

400.Saint Antonio de Jesus y Maria.

They were martyred on the 26^th and 27^th July, 1936.  The brother:

401.Saint Santiago de Jesus

A Trinitarian who was killed at the cemetery of Cuenca, 24^th September, 1936.

402.Saint Antolin M. Santos, brother.

This student religious, a Dominican, was also murdered in Alcazar de San Juan, together with the Franciscans and Trinitarians mentioned above.  He belonged to the community of Almagro.  Martyred the 26^th or 27^th July, 1936.

Religious: De la Salle Brothers of the Christian Schools and

Priests, of the Parish of Santa Cruz de Mudela (Ciudad-Real), martyrs.

403.Saint Agapito Leon

404.Saint Josaphat Roque

405.Saint Julio Alfonso

406.Saint Damaso Luis

407.Saint Ladislao Luis.

These 5 de la Salle brothers were arrested on the 21^st July, 1936.  They were first taken to the municipal jail, then to the Posito, converted into a prison.Three priests of the same place were taken to the Posito on the 9^th August:

408.Saint Felix Gonzalez Bustos, Parish Priest.

409.Saint Pedro Buitrago Morales, assistant Priest.

410.Saint Justo Arevalo Mora, Chaplain of the de la Salle Community.

During the time of their imprisonment these 8 holy martyrs were maltreated.  They had to carry out the most menial sanitary duties, they were cruelly interrogated, and led into snares against chastity.  Saint Josafat Roque, for not obliging his tormentors, was barbarously whipped and treated to a mock execution, without ever losing dignity or serenity.  Almost daily, the three priests absolved one another, as well as the other religious.  The 18^th August, 1936, they were taken out in a lorry and murdered near the cemetery of Valdapenas.  The lorries were placed opposite with headlights glaring at the martyrs.  At the cry:  “Death to the monks!” they were slaughtered like lambs, without a murmur, hands joined as though in prayer.  Nineteen laymen were also shot to death.

Discalced Carmelites, of the Monastery of Toledo, martyrs.

Given the strategic situation of the monastery, 26 police officers were lodged there, who resisted the communist army throughout the 21^st and 22^nd of July, maintaining direct contact with the hero of Alcazar, Saint Jose Moscardo.  The Carmelites had taken refuge at the homes of friends, except for a small group who provided food for the defenders, or who kept contact with Alcazar.  At midnight the Commandant of Police ordered the withdrawal of the force to help strengthen Alcazar.  The Carmelites were then at the mercy of the communists who, that very day, began to arrest and kill the priests and religious:

411.Saint Eusebio del Nino Jesus, prior, priest.

412.Saint Eliseo de Jesus Crucificado, brother.

413.Saint Clemente de los Sagrados Corazones, brother..

414.Saint Perfecto de la Virgen del Carmen, brother.

415.Saint Hermilo de San Eliseo, brother.

These 5 Carmelites were murdered the 22^nd July, 1936.  Another group of Carmelites was executed 31^st July, 1936.  The martyrs were:

416.Saint Nazario del Sagrado Corazon, priest.

417.Saint Pedro Jose de los Sagrados Corazones, priest.

418.Saint Ramon de la Virgen del Carmen, priest.

419.Saint Placido del Nino Jesus, brother.

420.Saint Daniel de la Pasion, brother.

421.Saint Melchor de Jesus, brother.

422.Saint Felix de la Virgen del Carmen, brother.

These 7 martyrs were arrested in a private house, where they were staying. They were taken out to screams, blasphemies and an infernal uproar.  At the door of the house the mob wished to kill them, but the soldiers were of another mind; and following a discussion, they decided to kill them in front of their monastery.  The religious were brutally pushed towards the place of execution.  The aged priest, Saint Pedro Jose, was beaten with a rifle butt because he could not walk.  The whole procession was a riot of shrieks and jeers.  The martyrs cried, “Viva Christ the King!” before they died; over their dead bodies the wild mob released the most savage of instincts.

Other Carmelites killed on various dates:

423.Saint David de la Virgen del Carmen, priest.

424.Saint Tirso de Jesus y Maria, priest.

These two martyrs were killed on the 7^th September, 1936.

425.Saint Jose Maria de la Madre Dolorosa, priest.  31^st July, 1936.

426.Saint Constancio de San Jose, priest.  31^st July, 1936.

427.Saint Cipriano de San Jose, priest.  13^th August, 1936.

428.Saint Jose Agustin deI Santisimo Sacramento, priest. 7^th September.

Secular Priests, martyred in Toledo.

429.Saint Agustin Rodriguez Rodriguez, Canon Theologian.

430.Saint Calixto Paniaguas Huecas, Canon Choirmaster.

431.Saint Fausto Cantero Roncero, Mozarabic Chaplain.

432.Saint Antonio Arbo Delgado, Beneficiary.

433.Saint Segundo Blanco Fernandez, Master of Ceremonies.

434.Saint Emilio Lopez Martin, Mozarabic Beneficiary.

435.Saint Gregorio Martin Paramo, Chaplain of St. Joseph’s.

436.Saint Raimundo Ramirez Gutierrez, assistant at St. Martin’s of Portillo.

437.Saint Manuel Hernandez Diaz Guerra, assistant at St. Martin’s of Portillo.

438.Saint Feliciano Lorento Garrido, Parish Priest of Arcicollar and Camarenilla.

These ten secular priests were killed 23^rd August, 1936, at the gate of Cambron, part of a group of 70 persons murdered on that day, among whom were Saint Jose Polo and the son of the hero of Alcazar, Saint Luis Moscardo.

Marist Brothers of Toledo, martyrs.

439.Saint Cipriano Jose Iglesias

440.Saint Jorge Luis Lizasoain

441.Saint Juan Maria Gombert

442.Saint Abnon Iglesias

443.Saint Julio Fermin Muzquiz

444.Saint Evencio Perez Moral

445.Saint Felix Amancio Noriega

446.Saint Javier Benito Alonso

447.Saint Anacleto Luis Bustos

448.Saint Bruno Jose Ayape

449.Saint Eduardo Maria Alonso

These were killed 23^rd August, 1936, part of a group of 70 martyrs who were executed on that day in Toledo.

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Religious of the Christian Schools of the Convent of Consuegra (Toledo), martyrs.

These martyrs served a humble college.  They were arrested at the beginning of August, and after a short time in prison, where their conduct was always edifying, they were killed on the night of 6-7^th August, 1936.

450.Saint Teodosio Raphael.

451.Saint Eustaquio Luis.

452.Saint Carlos Jorge.

453.Saint Felipe Jose.

The first three were murdered at Boca del Congosto, near the station of Yebenes, on the night of the 6^th-7^th August.  The last was rejected that night because his baptismal name, Pedro Alvarez, was the same as that of another man in the same prison.  However, he was shot to death with a secular priest on the night of the 7^th-8^th August, 1936.

Franciscans, of the Priory of Consuegra (Toledo), martyrs.

The superior of the Franciscans at the start of the National Movement placed his religious in private homes.  A week later, the sons of Saint Francis were imprisoned in the Parish buildings of Santa Maria, since the town jail was full.  During the three weeks of imprisonment, the communists subjected them to severe ill treatment. The religious intensified their pious practices, to prepare for martyrdom. Twenty were killed in Fuente del Fresno, the night of 16^th August, 1936,

having been taken from Consuegra to the place indicated.  When the lorry passed the towns of Los Herreros and Urda, the religious were heard praying and singing the burial rite.  On that night there was heard in the town streets the fervent and rhythmical singing of the Ave Maria.  On leaving the lorry, and still tied, they walked in formation, headed by the superior, who again intoned the 'Libera me . . .' while all the religious responded in chorus.  Meanwhile, 25 communist murderers, at 7 metres distance, aimed their rifles.  The superior of the religious asked two favours: that their hands be untied in order to form a cross as did Jesus, and to face the gunfire, rather than turn around.  The first request was refused.  Shortly before the shooting, the superior said to all:   "Raise your eyes to Heaven and say your last Our Father, because in a few moments we shall be in the Kingdom of Heaven.”  And he proclaimed in a clear voice that they were dying willingly for Christ.  One of them said:  “Forgive them, Lord, because they know not what they do.”  One of the soldiers said later that the communist leaders wished to save the superior, whose words of pardon had touched them.  But he refused, as he preferred to die with his brethren.  When they were shot, the holy martyrs were heard crying their ‘Vivas’ to Christ the King. The priests were:

454.Saint Victor Chumillas Fernandez, superior.

455.Saint Angel Ranero de Diego.

456.Saint Domingo Alonso de Frutos.

457.Saint Martin Lozano Tello.

458.Saint Julian Navio Colado.

459.Saint Benigno Prieto del Pozo.    And the brothers:

460.Saint Atanasio Gonzalez Rodriguez.

461.Saint Marcelino Ovejero Gomez.

462.Saint Jose de Vega Pedraza.

463.Saint Jose Alvarez Rodriguez.

464.Saint Andres Majadas Malaga.

465.Saint Santiago Mate Librado.

466.Saint Alfonso Sanchez Hernandez.

467.Saint Saturnino Rio Rojo.

468.Saint Vicente Majadas Malaga.

469.Saint Valentin Diaz Serna.

470.Saint Feliz Maroto Moreno.

471.Saint Federico Herrera Bermejo.

472.Saint Antonio Rodrigo Anton.

473.Saint Ramon Tejada Librado.

On the 19^th August, 1936, 3 religious of the same Franciscan community were killed near Villarrubia de los Ojos.  These were the following brothers:

474.Saint Jose Avila Merino

475.Saint Cecilio Alocen

476.Saint Gabriel Garcia Garcia

On the 25^th September 1936, 5 religious of the same community were shot to death near Yebenes.  These included the priest:

477.Saint Ramon Garcia;  and the following brothers:

478.Saint Pedro Lumbreras Garcia

479.Saint Demetrio Biezma

480.Saint Orencio Montero Novillo

481.Saint Gregorio Ayuso Orete.

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Secular Priests of Consuegra (Toledo), martyrs.

482.Saint Dativo Rodriguez Jimenez

483.Saint Balbino Moraleda Martin-Palomino

484.Saint Jenaro Gutierrez Nieto

485.Saint Daniel Gutierrez Fernandez

486.Saint Julian Gutierrez

487.Saint Julian Diaz-Mayordomo

488.Saint Pablo Rivero Sanchez

These were murdered on the 24^th September, 1936, at the walls of the cemetery of Los Yebenes. 

Other priests killed at different times:

489.Saint Francisco Lumbreras Fernandez, 8^th August (1936).

490.Saint Jose Dorado Ortiz, 3^rd August.

491.Saint Vidal Diaz Cordobes, 14^th November.

492.Saint Manuel del Campo Gomez, 7^th November.

493.Saint Gregorio Romeral Morales, 7^th November.

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Religious of the Pious Schools, of the Convent at Consuegra.

494.Saint Moises Vazquez Gomez

495.Saint Emiliano Lara

496.Saint Jose Moraleda

These priests were murdered with the seven secular priests in the cemetery of Los Yebenes, 24^th September, 1936.

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497.Saint Manuel Fuentes

498.Saint Gregorio Gomez Miguel

499.Saint Cristobal Rodriguez

These three Fathers of the Pious Schools were martyred by the communists on the 27^th September, 1936, at the place called La Mina.

500.Saint Ubaldo Albacete Moraleda

This holy martyr, a Dominican lay-brother, was murdered by the communists together with 3 fathers of the Pious Schools, on the 24^th September, 1936, at the cemetery of Los Yebenes.

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Secular Priests, of Guadalajara, martyrs.

As a brief introduction, it can be mentioned that 277 prisoners at Fort Saint Fernando, Guadalajara, were martyred within the prison walls.  Through a prisoner who escaped miraculously with 12 companions, it is known that among the victims of the cruel slaughter of the 6^th December, 1936, there were 32 priests.  A compact body of soldiers and armed civilians arrived while a mounted guard surrounded the prison.  The numerous body took position in the centre of the building.  The spectacle was horrifying, as they brought out the prisoners in groups and riddled them with bullets.  From their cells, the other prisoners could hear the gunfire and the "Vivas" for Christ the King and for Spain.  The martyrs met death with serenity, while the criminal in charge of the place, Adrian Ortiz, shouted encouragement to the ferocious pack in their feast of blood.  These secular priests martyred on the night of the 6^th August, 1936, were the following 17:

501.Saint Pablo de Juan Saez

502.Saint Jose Sacristan Valtuenas

503.Saint Alejandro Valentin Barahona

504.Saint Angel Ambrona Asensio

505.Saint Braulio Lozano Tomas

506.Saint Domingo Molina Alcalde

507.Saint Antonio Mayor Bermejo

508.Saint Faustino Albacete Gutierrez

509.Saint Eulogio Cascajero Sanchez

510.Saint Julio Cascajero Sanchez

511.Saint Julio Flores Molina

512.Saint Sebastian Garcia Cortijo

513.Saint Julian Munoz Gamo

514.Saint Luis Romero Herranz

515.Saint Nicolas Vaquero Moreno

516.Saint Juan Bautista Gomez Bajo

517.Saint Casimiro Herranz Martinez

Salesians, of Guadalajara, martyrs.

These were murdered in Fort San Fernando of Guadalajara, on the night of 6^th December, 1936:

518.Saint Miguel Lazaga Carazo, priest.

519.Saint Pascual de Castro Herrero, student brother.

520.Saint Juan Larragueta Garay, student brother.

521.Saint Florencio Rodriguez Guemes, student brother.

522.Saint Luis Martinez Alvarellos, student brother.

523.Saint Heliodoro Ramos Garcia, student brother.

524.Saint Esteban Vazquez Alonso, brother.

Faced with the terror of his companions as they heard from their cells the sound of firing, and seeing how they were gripped by the instinct to flee, Saint Miguel Lazaga exclaimed:  “Wait a moment.  Let me give you absolution.”   All begged pardon for their sins, and the holy Salesian priest slowly repeated the clear and calming words of the Sacrament of Penance.

Religious of Saint Vincent de Paul, of Guadalajara, martyrs.

Also on the 6th December, 1936, in Fort San Fernando, were martyred:

525.Saint Gregorio Carmeno Barcelo, priest.

526.Saint Ireneo Rodriguez Gonzalez, priest.

527.Saint Vicente Villalumbres, priest.

528.Saint Narciso Pascual Pascual, brother.

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Franciscans, of Guadalajara, martyrs.

529.Saint Silverio Felipe Gomez, priest.

530.Saint Anacleto Vaquero Alcazar, priest.

531.Saint Dionisio Culebras Ardis, brother.

These also were martyred in Fort San Fernando on the 6^th Decembor,1936.

532.Saint Jose de Predomingo Cotayna.

This holy Jesuit priest was martyred on the 6^th December, in Fort San Fernando.

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Secular Priest and Augustinians, of Ucles (Cuenca), martyrs.

The town of Ucles, 16 kilometres from Tarancon, then had a population of some 2,000 inhabitants.  There was the famous Augustinian monastery, with its vast collection of art, and its community of some 50 religious.  On the 24^th July, 1936, the marxist mayor evicted the fathers and the students.  Those religious who were not put in jail, were lodged in private houses or at the parish.  On the 27th July, a communist patrol, in 5 automobiles, went to the parish, whose prisoners had been handed over by the mayor. At 11:30 p.m., the caravan left town, the prisoners in two vehicles, the soldiers in 2 others, and a woman in the last with a loudspeaker.  The cry was:  “To Tarancon!”   However, at Cateso, they were tied together two by two, except for the parish priest, who had his hands tied behind him.  At Emes, three religious were murdered, but as the turn came for the others, the woman with the loudspeaker interrupted vehemently, reproaching the firing squad, and insisting on taking the road to Tarancon.  But in this case, her words had no effect, and the holy martyrs were taken out and lined up before the firing squad. Saint Enrique Serra, with the powerful help of his companion, was able to raise his arms, tied though they were, and shout:  "Viva Christ the King!"  All this took place in the early morning of the 28^th July, 1936.

533.Saint Vicente Toledano Valenciano, Parish priest of Ucles.

The Augustinian priests were:

534.Saint Jose Gutierrez

535.Saint Antolin Astorga

536.Saint Jose Calleja del Hierro

537.Saint Enrique Serra.

Four other Augustinians of Ucles, who had escaped for a short while on the 27^th July, were arrested on the train for Madrid.  They were taken to the station office of Atocha, and killed 10 kilometres on the road Madrid-Valencia, 28^th July, 1936.  The four martyrs were buried in the cemetery of Vallecas.  They were the following priests:

538.Saint Lorenzo Arribas

539.Saint Pedro Alonso

540.Saint Primitivo Sandin

541.Saint Froilan Lanero.

Given in Seville, at the Apostolic See, Festival of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, and ninth anniversary of the enthronement of the Holy Face at El Palmar, 2nd February, in the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ MCMLXXIX.

With our Apostolic Blessing,

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