SAINTS FOR JULY 08

SAINTS FOR JULY 08

St. Maria Chaira, and St. Marie Adolphine Dierks Roman Catholic Chinese Martyrs. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes 120 Catholics who died between 1648 and 1930 as its "Martyr Saints of China". Feastday July 8

St. Jeanne-Marie Kerguin - She joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1887, with the name Marie Santa Natalia. She was beheaded on July 9, 1900, at at Taiyuanfu, China. Feastday July 8

St. Grimbald, Roman Catholic Benedictine abbot also called Grimwald, invited to England by King Alfred in 885. Grimbald arrived in England and declined the see of Canterbury, preferring to remain a monk. He became the abbot of New Minster Abbey at Winchester appointed by King Edward the Elder. Grimbald is credited with restoring learning to England. Feastday July 8

Bl. Peter the Hermit. A renowned hermit and founder. Originally a soldier, he is said in tradition to have become a hermit in the Holy Land before returning to the West to help preach the First Crusade throughout France, Italy, and Germany. He then embarked upon the crusade as a soldier and took part in the siege of Antioch and the capture of Jerusalem in 1099. Going home, he once more devoted himself to a spiritual life, founding the monastery of Neufmoutier, in Flanders. 1115 A.D While termed Blessed, he was never officially beatified. July 8

St. Kilian. An Irish monk, St. Kilian was consecrated Bishop, went to Rome with eleven companions in 686, and received permission from Pope Conon to evangelize Franconia (Baden and Bavaria). He was successful, with two followers - Colman, a priest, and Totnan, a deacon - in his missionary endeavors until he converted Gosbert, Duke of Wurzburg, who had married Geilana, his brother's widow. According to legend, while Gosbert was away on a military expedition, Geilana is reputed to have had the three missionaries beheaded when she found that Gosbert was going to leave her after Kilian had told him the marriage was forbidden by the Church.

St. Withburga, 743 A.D. Withburga (d.c. 743). Virgin and Benedictine nun. The youngest daughter of King Anna of East Anglia, England (d. 653). Following the death of her father in battle, she moved to Dereham where she established a nunnery and a church. She died with the church unfinished, on March 17. Her remains were later stolen by monks who enshrined her in Ely. A fresh spring, called Withburga's Well, sprang up at her grave in Dereham.

STS. AQUILA AND PRISCILLA, DISCIPLES OF ST. PAUL, Saints Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple who were friends of Saint Paul. In his letters, he praised their Christian witness and their commitment to the formation of neophytes. Their home, “a domestic church” became a point of reference for the communities of Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome.

B. EUGENE III, POPE