THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS, TOR

Saint Junipero Serra Saint of the Day for July 1 (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul01.mp3 Saint Junipero Serra’s Story In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States was being born in California. That year a gray-robed Franciscan founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, now famous […]

Saint Oliver Plunkett Saint of the Day for July 2 (November 1, 1629 – July 1, 1681) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul02.mp3 Saint Oliver Plunkett’s Story The name of today’s saint is especially familiar to the Irish and the English—and with good reason. The English martyred Oliver Plunkett for defending the faith in his native Ireland during a period of severe persecution. […]

Saint Thomas the Apostle Saint of the Day for July 3 (1st Century – December 21, 72) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul03.mp3 Saint Thomas the Apostle’s Story Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as “Doubting Thomas” ever since. But if he doubted, he also believed. He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith […]

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Saint of the Day for July 4 (1271 – July 4, 1336) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul04.mp3 Saint Elizabeth of Portugal’s Story Elizabeth is usually depicted in royal garb with a dove or an olive branch. At her birth in 1271, her father Pedro III, future king of Aragon, was reconciled with his father James, the reigning monarch. […]

Saint Anthony Zaccaria Saint of the Day for July 5 (1502  – July 5, 1539) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul05.mp3 Saint Anthony Zaccaria’s Story At the same time that Martin Luther was attacking abuses in the Church, a reformation within the Church was already being attempted. Among the early movers of the Counter-Reformation was Anthony Zaccaria. His mother became a […]

Saint Maria Goretti Saint of the Day for July 6 (October 16, 1890 – July 6, 1902) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul06.mp3 Saint Maria Goretti’s Story One of the largest crowds ever assembled for a canonization—250,000—symbolized the reaction of millions touched by the simple story of Maria Goretti. She was the daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer, had no chance […]

Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions Saint of the Day for July 7 (1804 – 1860) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul07.mp3 Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions’ Story Not much is known of the early life of Emmanuel Ruiz, but details of his heroic death in defense of the faith have come down to us. Born of humble parents in Santander, […]

Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions Saint of the Day for July 8 (d. July 9, 1900) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul08.mp3 Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions’ Story Christian missionaries have often gotten caught in the crossfire of wars against their own countries. When the governments of Britain, Germany, Russia, and France forced substantial territorial concessions from the Chinese in 1898, anti-foreign […]

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions Saint of the Day for July 9 (d. 1648 – 1930) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul09.mp3 Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions’ Story Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Depending on China’s relations with the outside world, Christianity over the centuries was free to grow or was forced […]

Saint Veronica Giuliani Saint of the Day for July 10 (December 27, 1660 – July 9, 1727) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul10.mp3 Saint Veronica Giuliani’s Story Veronica’s desire to be like Christ crucified was answered with the stigmata. Veronica was born in Mercatelli, Italy. It is said that when her mother Benedetta was dying she called her five daughters to her bedside […]

Saint Benedict Saint of the Day for July 11 (c. 480 – c. 547) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul11.mp3 Saint Benedict’s Story It is unfortunate that no contemporary biography was written of a man who has exercised the greatest influence on monasticism in the West. Benedict is well recognized in the later Dialogues of Saint Gregory, but these are sketches to illustrate miraculous elements of […]

Saints John Jones and John Wall Saint of the Day for July 12 (c.1530 – 1598; 1620 – 1679) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul12.mp3 Saints John Jones and John Wall’s story These two friars were martyred in England in the 16th and 17th centuries for refusing to deny their faith. John Jones was Welsh. He was ordained a diocesan priest […]

Saint Henry Saint of the Day for July 13 (May 6, 972 – July 13, 1024) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul13.mp3 Saint Henry’s Story As German king and Holy Roman Emperor, Henry was a practical man of affairs. He was energetic in consolidating his rule. He crushed rebellions and feuds. On all sides he had to deal with drawn-out disputes […]

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Saint of the Day for July 14 (1656 – April 17, 1680) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul14.mp3 Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s Story The blood of martyrs is the seed of saints. Nine years after the Jesuits Isaac Jogues and Jean de Lelande were tomahawked by Iroquois warriors, a baby girl was born near the place of their martyrdom, Auriesville, New York. […]

Saint Bonaventure Saint of the Day for July 15 (1221 – July 15, 1274) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul15.mp3 Saint Bonaventure’s Story Perhaps not a household name for most people, Saint Bonaventure, nevertheless, played an important role in both the medieval Church and the history of the Franciscan Order. A senior faculty member at the University of Paris, Saint Bonaventure certainly captured […]

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Saint of the Day for July 16 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul16.mp3 The Story of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in northern Israel in the 12th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. By the 13th century they became known as “Brothers […]

Saint of the Day for July 17 (March 10, 1549 – July 14, 1610) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul17.mp3 Saint Francis Solano’s Story Francis came from a leading family in Andalusia, Spain. Perhaps it was his popularity as a student that enabled Francis in his teens to stop two duelists. He entered the Friars Minor in 1570, and after […]

Saint Camillus de Lellis Saint of the Day for July 18 (1550 – July 14, 1614) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul18.mp3 Saint Camillus de Lellis’ Story Humanly speaking, Camillus was not a likely candidate for sainthood. His mother died when he was a child, his father neglected him, and he grew up with an excessive love for gambling. At 17, he […]

Saint Mary MacKillop Saint of the Day for July 19 (January 15, 1842 – August 8, 1909) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul19.mp3 Saint Mary MacKillop’s Story If Saint Mary MacKillop were alive today, she would be a household name. It’s not that she sought the limelight. On the contrary, she simply wanted to serve the poor wherever she found them in her native […]

Saint Apollinaris Saint of the Day for July 20 (d. c. 79) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul20.mp3 Saint Apollinaris’ Story According to tradition, Saint Peter sent Apollinaris to Ravenna, Italy, as its first bishop. His preaching of the Good News was so successful that the pagans there beat him and drove him from the city. He returned, however, and was exiled […]

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi Saint of the Day for July 21 (July 22, 1559 – July 22, 1619) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul21.mp3 Saint Lawrence of Brindisi’s Story At first glance, perhaps the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his outstanding gift of languages. In addition to a thorough knowledge of his native Italian, he had complete reading and speaking ability […]

Saint Mary Magdalene Saint of the Day for July 22 (d. c. 63) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul22.mp3 Saint Mary Magdalene’s Story Except for the mother of Jesus, few women are more honored in the Bible than Mary Magdalene. Yet she could well be the patron of the slandered, since there has been a persistent legend in the Church that […]

Saint Bridget of Sweden Saint of the Day for July 23 (c. 1303 – July 23, 1373) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul23.mp3 Saint Bridget of Sweden’s Story From age 7 on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather than spiritual favors. She lived her married life in the court of the […]

Saint Sharbel Makhluf Saint of the Day for July 24 (May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898 ) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul24.mp3 Saint Sharbel Makhluf’s Story Although this saint never traveled far from the Lebanese village of Beka-Kafra where he was born, his influence has spread widely. Joseph Zaroun Makluf was raised by an uncle because his father, […]

Saint James the Apostle Saint of the Day for July 25 (d. 44) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul25.mp3 Saint James the Apostle’s Story This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had already called another pair of […]

Saints Joachim and Anne Saint of the Day for July 26 (b. 1st century) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul26.mp3 Saints Joachim and Anne’s Story In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected, we also know nothing […]

Blessed Antonio Lucci Saint of the Day for July 27 (August 2, 1682 – July 25, 1752) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul27.mp3 Blessed Antonio Lucci’s Story Antonio studied with and was a friend of Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani, who after Antonio Lucci’s death, testified at the diocesan hearings regarding the holiness of Lucci. Born in Agnone in southern Italy, a […]

Saint Leopold Mandic Saint of the Day for July 28 (May 12, 1866 – July 30, 1942) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul28.mp3 Saint Leopold Mandic’s story Western Christians who are working for greater dialogue with Orthodox Christians may be reaping the fruits of Father Leopold’s prayers. A native of Croatia, Leopold joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained several years […]

v Saint Martha Saint of the Day for July 29 (b. 1st century https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul29.mp3 Saint Martha’s Story Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were evidently close friends of Jesus. He came to their home simply as a welcomed guest, rather than as one celebrating the conversion of a sinner like Zacchaeus or one unceremoniously received […]

Saint Peter Chrysologus Saint of the Day for July 30 (c. 406 – c. 450)v https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul30.mp3 Saint Peter Chrysologus’ Story A man who vigorously pursues a goal may produce results far beyond his expectations and his intentions. Thus it was with Peter “of the Golden Words,” as he was called, who as a young man became bishop of […]

Saint Ignatius of Loyola Saint of the Day for July 31 (October 23, 1491 – July 31, 1556) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJul31.mp3 Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Story The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, Ignatius […]