Listen Live
Pause
Sorry, no results.
Please try another keyword
When the Apostle St. James the Greater left Jerusalem to proclaim the Gospel, he made his way to Spain, where at first he made little progress, though he is now that land’s patron. One evening in Caesar Augusta, or Saragossa, he was praying fervently for heavenly assistance. At the very same time, the Blessed Virgin Mary was in Jerusalem praying for James at the bidding of her son Jesus. Our Lady was borne by angels to Saragossa and appeared to James, while also remaining in Jerusalem—the first Marian apparition in history and a miraculous act of bilocation. Showing James a pillar made of jasper supporting a wooden statue of herself and the Child Jesus, the Blessed Mother directed James to build a church and shrine on the spot, promising her intercession and protection. She also predicted his eventual martyrdom back in Jerusalem. To this day, the column and statue have remained where the angels placed it at the command of Our Lady. Today is also the national holiday of Spain, commemorating the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus on this feast in the year of Our Lord 1492. Our Lady of the Pillar is patroness of all the Hispanic peoples.
AT Rome, the holy martyrs Evagrius, Priscian, and their companions.
At Ravenna, on the Lauretine road, the birthday of St. Edistius, martyr.
In Lycia, St. Domnina, martyr, under the emperor Diocletian.
In Africa, four thousand nine hundred and sixty-six holy confessors and martyrs, in the persecution of the Vandals under the Arian king Hunneric. Some of them were bishops, some priests and deacons, with a multitude of the faithful accompanying them, who were driven into a frightful wilderness for the defence of the Catholic truth. Many of them were cruelly annoyed by the Moorish leaders, and with sharp-pointed spears and stones forced to hasten their march, whilst others, with their feet tied, were dragged like corpses through rough places and mangled in all their limbs. They were finally tortured in different manners, and won the honors of martyrdom. The principal among them were the bishops Felix and Cyprian.
At Cilly, in Styria, St. Maximilian, bishop of Lorch.
At York, in England, St. Wilfrid, bishop and confessor,
At Milan, St. Monas, bishop. He was chosen as head of that church, because a miraculous light from heaven surrounded him whilst they were deliberating on the choice of a bishop.
At Verona, St. Salvinus, bishop.
In Syria, St. Eustachius, priest and confessor.
At Ascoli, St. Seraphinus, confessor, of the Order of Minorite Capuchins, distinguished by holiness of life and humility. He was enrolled among the saints by the Sovereign Pontiff, Clement XIII.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.