Memorial of Saints (July 12)

John Gualbert, abbot; Nabor and Felix, martyrs; Veronica; Jason, martyr; Hermagoras and Fortunatus, martyrs; John the Iberian, abbot; John Jones, priest and martyr

John Gualbert (d. 1073 A.D.) repented after revenging on the death of his brother. He became a Benedictine monk. When he felt that he was to be made abbot, he left and founded a monastery of his own at Vallombrosa, near Fiesole. He followed the primitive Rule of St. Benedict. He and his monks became known as the Vallombrosans. They stressed charity and poverty. Their way of life spread all through Italy, particularly in Tuscany and Lombardy. John Gualbert was canonized in 1193 A.D.

Memorial of Saints (July 11)

Benedict: (died 547 A.D.); wrote famous monastic Rule noted for its wisdom and moderation; founded 12 monasteries including Monte Cassino; Benedictines today number some 8,500 religious; considered the "Patriarch of Western Monasticism"; patron of Europe.

Learn more

• The Way of Integration (depth psychology based on Benedictine spirituality)
• Benedictine Reform at Cluny and other Monastic Reforms in the 10th centruty

also on July 11:

• Drostan, abbot;
• John of Bergamo, bishop;
• Hidulf, bishop;
• Olga, widow

Memorial of Saints (July 10)

on July 10:

• Rufina and Secunda, virgin and martyrs;
• Amalburga, widow;
• Amalburga, virgin;
• Antony and Theodosius of Pechersk, abbot

Rufina (d. ca. 257 A.D.) and her sister Secunda were daughters of a Roman senator. They were engaged to be married, but when the men they were engaged to be married to apostasized during the persecution of Christians under Valerian, they refused to do the same. They fled from Rome to escape the persecution. They were then captured and then beheaded for their faith.

Antony Pechersk (983-1073 A.D.) was educated to be a hermit. He went to Russia and built a hermitage at Kiev on the Dnieper River. He attracted others and thus began the Caves of Kiev - the first Russian monastery established by Russian monks for Russians. With Theodosius Pechersk, he is considered the father of Russian monasticism.

Theodosius Pechersk (d. 1074 A.D.) in about 1032 A.D. became a monk at the Caves of Kiev, founded by Antony Pechersk. When he became abbot after Barlaam, he replaced Antony's concept of monasticism based on the austerities of the Egyptian hermits with the more moderate approach of the Palestinian monks. He emphasized harmony between the active and contemplative life. During the four decades of his abbacy, the Caves of Kiev became a great monastery.