ST. JULITTA

JULY 30 was the traditional memorial of ST. JULITTA (+c. 303/4). Julitta was a rich lady who May my estate be ruined or given to strangers; may I lose my life, and may my body be cut to pieces, rather than that by the least impious word I should offend God that made...

POPE FORMOSUS, VICTIM OF HIS SUCCESSOR

A man known to be religious, moral, ascetic and an intellectual, Formosus did not fare well in the history books. Born around 816, Formosus spent his life in the Church but, much to his chagrin, did not have a calm life. Pope Nicholas I (858-867) appointed Formosus...

LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

JULY 22 is the traditional memorial of ST. LAURENCE OF BRINDISI (+1620). The son of Venetian merchants William and Elizabeth Rossi, he was born in Brindisi, the Kingdom of Naples on July 22, 1559. His given name was Giulio Caesar de Rossi (Julius Caesar Rossi). His...

POPE STEPHEN V, THE GENEROUS POPE

Pope Stephen, as was most common of popes in the Dark Ages, was the son of a wealthy Roman aristocrat whose name was Hadrian. At an early age, the child was seen to be very intelligent. To further his potential, as a young man, he was educated by a relative, Bishop...

St. Bonaventure

JULY 14 is the traditional memorial of ST. BONAVENTURE, BISHOP OF ALBANS (+1274). In 1221, a son was born to Giovanni de Fidanza and his wife, Maria Ritella. They named the child after the father, hence, Giovanni, Jr. The father was a physician and a man of means....