Memorial of Saints (June 27)

Cyril of Alexandria is a bishop and doctor of the Church. St. Cyril was the most brilliant theologian of the Alexandrian tradition. His writings are characterized by accurate thinking, precise exposition, and great reasoning skill. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1882 A.D.

Other Saints (June 27):

• 1 Zoilus and Companions, martyrs;
• 2 Samson of Constantinople;
• 3 John of Chinon;
• 4 George Mtasmindeli of the Black Mountains, abbot;
• 5 Ladislaus of Hungary;
• 6 Benvenuto of Gubbio

1 Zoilus and 19 others suffered martyrdom at Cordova for their Christian faith during Diocletian's persecution.

2 Samson of Constantinople was a wealthy physician who became a priest and built a hospital for the sick.

3 John of Chinon was from Britanny. He became a hermit near Chinon, Touraine, and was famed as a healer and as a prophet. He was the spiritual director of Queen Radegund of Neustria.

4 George Mtasmindeli, 1014-1066 A.D., was a disciple of Hilarion Tvalei the monk. He lived as a hermit in Syria, and was for a time abbot of Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. He is remembered mainly for his translations of several theological treatises into Iberian and his revision of St. Euthemius' Iberian translation of the Bible.

5 Ladislaus of Hungary, 1040-1095 A.D., was elected King of Hungary by the nobles in 1077 A.D. He was chosen to lead the armies of the First Crusade but before he could do so died at Nitra, Bohemia, on July 29. He was venerated from the time of his death for his zeal, piety, and moral life, and was canonized in 1192 A.D. by Pope Celestine III.

6 Benvenuto of Gubbio joined the Franciscans in 1222 A.D. as a lay brother. He ws noted for his piety, visions and ecstasies.

Other Saints in the Month of June

Obligatory and Optional Memorials (June 26)

In the liturgy of the hours, the majority of Saints celebrated on a specific day are either celebrated as an obligatory or an optional memorial. For the special days of the Lord and the Blessed Mother, some are celebrated as Feasts or Solemnities. Feasts and Solemnities are more infrequent, but they are more important than the obligatory and optional memorials. Obligatory and optional memorials are more frequent.

June 26 is an optional memorial for St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer.

St. Josemaria is the founder of Opus Dei. To know more about St. Josemaria and the writings he published, visit this blog post.

Other saints honored on June 26 can be found in another blog post. Visit the page.

Memorial of Saints (June 25)

on June 25: William of Vercelli, abbot; Febronia, virgin and martyr; Gallicanus; Prosper of Aquitaine; Prosper of Reggio, bishop; Maximus of Turin, bishop; Moloc or Luan, bishop; Adalbert of Egmond; Eurosia, virgin and martyr; Gohard, bishop, and Companions, martyrs

William of Vercelli (1085-1142 A.D.) became a hermit on Monte Virgiliano and attracted so many disciples that he organized them into a community that by 1119 A.D. became known as the Hermits of Monte Vergine. There were conflicts within that community and so he organized other communities. He founded more monasteries at Conza, Guglietto, and Salerno opposite the palace where he became adviser to King Roger I of Naples.

Febronia (d. ca. 304 A.D.) refused a marriage and remained constant in her Christian faith. She was scourged, roasted, had her teeth pulled out and her breasts and limbs cut off, and then was axed to death.

Gallicanus (d. ca. 352 A.D.) became famous for his charity and good works, and was forced into exile by Emperor Julian the Apostate when he refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods.

Prosper of Aquitaine (ca. 390-465 A.D.) was probably a layman who may have been married. He wrote poetry and treatises, notably his Chronicle, a universal history from creation to the Vandal capture of Rome in 455 A.D.

Prosper of Reggio (d. ca. 466 A.D.) was bishop of Reggio, Emilia, Italy, who was known for his charities and ruled his see for twenty-two years until his death.

Maximus of Turin (ca. 380-467 A.D.) was born probably at Vercelli, Rhaetia, Italy. He attended the synod of Milan in 451 A.D. and the Council of Rome in 465 A.D. He is mainly remembered for his writings - sermons, homilies and ascetical writings.

Moloc or Luan (d. ca. 572 A.D.) may have been born in Scotland of a noble family, educated at Birr, Ireland, and was trained by St. Brendan the Elder. He returned to Scotland to work as a missionary bishop near Lismore.

Adalbert of Egmond (d. ca. 705 A.D.) accompanied St. Egbert to Ireland and became a deacon at Rathmelsigi Monastery. Miracles were reported at his tomb, which became a center of pilgrimage.

Eurosia (8th century A.D.) may have been a native of Bayonne, France, who was murdered by the Saracens at Jaca in the Pyrenees of Aragon near the French border when she refused to marry a Moorish leader.

Gohard and Companions (d. 843 A.D.) was murdered with a large number of priests, monks, and laypeople while saying Mass in Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Nantes by marauding Normans, who then pillaged and destroyed the entire city.