Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus, "Friends of Christ."

In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that he loved them. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.

 The Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis,  has decreed that 29 July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, considering the important evangelical witness they offered, and  resolving Mary's mistaken identity with Mary of Magdala.

 

SAINT LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI, CAPUCHIN PRIEST AND DOCTOR

 

He was born in 1559. He entered the Capuchin Friars, taught theology to his fellow religious, and was chosen to fill positions of leadership in his Order. He became famous throughout Europe as an effective preacher. He wrote many works explaining the faith and died at Lisbon in 1619.

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SAINT HEDWIGE

 SAINT HEDWIGE, the wife of Henry, Duke of Silesia, and the mother of his six children, led a humble, austere, and most holy life amidst all the pomp of royal state.

- Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament was the keynote of her life.

- Her valued privilege was to supply the bread and wine for the Sacred Mysteries, and she would attend each morning as many Masses as were celebrated. 

-After the death of her husband she retired to the Cistercian convent of Trebnitz, where she lived under obedience to her daughter Gertrude, who was abbess of the monastery, growing day by day in holiness, till God called her to himself in 1242.

St. Margret Mary Alacoque

It is impossible to deny the message she heralded as revealed: that God loves us with a passionate love. She promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart.

After considering marriage this lady entered the order of Visitation nuns at the age of 24. On Dec. 21 1674, she received the first revelation of the heart of Jesus as a symbol of love. After serving as novice mistress and assistant superior she died at the age of 43 saying 'I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus'

SAINT BRUNO, priest, founder of the Order of St. Bruno (Carthusians)

 

He was born at Cologne, about A.D. 1030, 

- With six companions he applied to Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble, who led them into a wild solitude called the Chartreuse. There they lived in poverty, self-denial, and silence, each apart in his own cell, meeting only for the worship of God, and employing themselves in copying books. 

He died in 1101.

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin Priest, stigmatist and incorruptible.

 St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin Priest, stigmatist and incorruptible.

Born May 25, 1887 at Pietrelcina, Benevento, Italy to a southern Italian farm family as Francesco Forgione, the son of Grazio. He was a shepherd, and at age 15 he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars in Morcone, Italy, joining the order at age 19. He suffered several health problems, and at one point his family thought he had tuberculosis. He was ordained at age 22 on August 10, 1910.

While praying before a cross, he received the stigmata on September 20, 1918, the first priest ever to be so blessed. 

- He would hear confessions by the hour, reportedly able to read the consciences of those who held back. 

-Reportedly, he was able to bilocate, levitate, and heal by touch. 

-In 1956 he founded the House for the Relief of Suffering, a hospital that serves 60,000 a year. 

-In the 1920’s he started a series of prayer groups that continue today with over 400,000 members worldwide.

- He died September 23, 1968 in San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy of natural causes.

Canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II on December 20, 2001. 

-Usually the testimony book during the course of canonization is have up to 3 books but St. Pio's was up to 16.

St. FrancisMary of Camporoso, Capuchin Brother.

An Italian Roman Catholic professed religious from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He became a beggar(questor) in Genoa where he sought alms from people and was known for his holiness which prompted people to come and see him.