June 26, St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, St. Hermogius, St. Pelagius

St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, Roman Catholic Priest founded Opus Dei, an institution within the Catholic Church dedicated to helping people in all walks of life to follow Christ, to seek holiness in their daily life and grow in love for God and their fellow men and women. In 1930, responding to a new illumination from God, he started Opus Dei's apostolic work with women, making clear that they had the same responsibility as men to serve society and the Church. Feastday: June 26 St. Hermogius. Benedictine bishop whose nephew, St. Pelagius, served as his hostage with the Moors. Born at Tuy, Spain, Hermogius founded Labrugia Monastery in Spanish Galicia, Spain, in 915. Taken prisoner by the Moors in Cordoba, he was released when St. Pelagius took his place. He retired to Ribas del Sil where he died. 942 A.D. St. Pelagius. Martyr in Cordoba, Spain. Also called Pelayo, he was a young boy of Asturias who was left by his uncle as a hostage to the Moors of Cordoba. As he remained un-ransomed for three years, the Cordoban ruler Emir Abd al-Rahman III offered to free him if he would but renounce his Christianity and become a Muslim. He refused, and the emir ordered him tortured. Pelagius died after six hours of agony. Rhoswitha of Gandersheim, a Benedictine poetess, composed a poem in his honor. 912-925 A.D.