St. Anthusa, Bl. Rudolf Acquaviva, Bl. Titus Brandsma, Carmelite martyr July 27

St. Anthusa, Roman Catholic Abbess tortured by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine V. Anthusa was originally a hermitess, becoming abbess of the convent near Constantinople. Because of her veneration of sacred images, she was arrested by the emperor, who, as an ardent iconoclast, opposed such sacramentals. Anthusa was tortured severely until the empress intervened and secured her release.  Feastday: July 27

Bl. Rudolf Acquaviva, Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest and  Martyr. he was the nephew of Claudius Acquaviva, the fifth master general of the Jesuits, and he followed his uncle into the Society of Jesus. In 1549, he was sent to India, going to the court of Mogul Akbar near Agra. He became superior of the Salsette mission. Rudolf was martyred at Salsette, near Goa, by Hindus, with four companions, including Alfonso Pacheco.  Feastday: July 27

Bl. Titus Brandsma, Carmelite martyr who died at the hands of the Nazis. When the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, Titus was singled out as an enemy because he fought against the spread of Nazism in Europe. Arrested, Titus was sent to various concentration camps where he demonstrated charity and concern. In 1942, he was martyred in Dachau. July 27