St. Joseph Oriol

Saint Joseph Oriol

Confessor

Joseph was born to a poor family in Barcelona, in the year of Our Lord 1650. His father died young, but his stepfather ensured that Joseph was well-educated by the local parish. After his stepfather’s death, Joseph was sponsored by an unknown benefactor and studied at the university in Barcelona. He became a priest at the age of twenty-six, and offered his skills as a tutor for wealthy families, but when his arm was struck by paralysis as he reached out to begin a rich meal, Joseph renounced wealth and ate little but bread and water for the rest of his life. After his mother died, Joseph went on pilgrimage to Rome, and Pope Bl. Innocent XI granted him a benefice in Barcelona, though Joseph continued to live in poverty. Desiring martyrdom, Joseph left for Rome once more to become a missionary, but he fell ill on the way, and experienced a vision of Our Lady, who told him to return and care for the unfortunate in his own city. This Joseph did, and he worked so many miraculous cures that even during his lifetime he became known as the “Wonder-worker of Barcelona”. Joseph died in the year of Our Lord 1702, mourned by the entire city.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for March 23rd

IN Africa, the holy martyrs Victorian, proconsul of Carthage, and two brothers, of Aquaregia. Also two merchants, named Frementius, who, bishop Victor Africanus tells us, were subjected to most atrocious torments for their courageous confession of the Catholic faith, and gloriously crowned under the Arian king Hunneric, during the persecution of the Vandals.

Also in Africa, St. Fidelis, martyr.

In the same country, St. Felix, and twenty others.

At Caesarea, in Palestine, the holy martyrs Nicon, and twenty-nine others.

Also, the crowning of the holy martyrs Domitius, Pelagia, Aquila, Eparchius, and Theodosia.

At Lima, in Peru, the archbishop St. Turibius, through whose labors faith and ecclesiastical discipline were diffused through America.

At Antioch, St. Theodulus, priest.

At Caesarea, St. Julian, confessor.

In Campania, St. Benedict, a monk, who was shut up by the Goths in a burning furnace, but was the next day found uninjured.

At Barcelona, in Spain, St. Joseph Oriol, priest and beneficiary of the church of St. Mary of the Kings. He was remarkable for his love of poverty and his charity towards the needy and the infirm. Distinguished both in life and after death by the working of miracles, he was placed in the number of the Saints by Pius X.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.