July 22 Blessed Augustine Fangi

A devout Dominican, Augustine was known for his ability to enter deep prayer. He had surgery without anesthesia, never cried out in pain and remained perfectly relaxed throughout the entire four hour procedure. in the 1530s, workmen found his coffin floating in the water that had seeped into the burial chamber – when opened, Augustine’s body and clothing were found to be incorrupt.

May 26 Blessed Peter Sanz, OP

Father Peter was born in Asco, Catalonia, Spain, 1680. He joined the Dominicans in 1697. Ordained on 24 September 1704. Missionary to the Philippines in 1712. Missionary to China in 1713.

The viceroy of Peking wrote this about the five martyrs that included Peter Sanz: “What are we to do with these men? Their lives are certainly irreproachable; even in prison they convert men to their opinions, and their doctrines so seize upon the heart that their adepts fear neither torments nor captivity. They themselves are joyous in their chains. The jailors and their families become their disciples, and those condemned to death embrace their religion. To prolong this state is only to give them the opportunity of increasing the number of Christians.”

The five men, bound together by their vows and their work, were brought more closely together during their imprisonment at Foochow. Fathers Serrano, Alcober, and Diaz were captured first, and tortured to reveal the whereabouts of Bishop Sanz. They did not break down, but the bishop and Father Royo, hearing about the torture, surrendered in the hope of sparing their brothers’ suffering, says another account.

The five priests were dragged in chains to the emperor’s court, where they were subjected to frightful torments. All of them, with a catechist named Ambrose Kou, were sentenced to death in December 1746. During the long imprisonment, a Dominican, Father Thomas Sanchez, managed to see them. He brought them some clothes and a little money, and all the news he could find.

On May 25, 1747, Bishop Sanz was beheaded at Fu-tsheu. Even the pagans were impressed with his gentle demeanor as he was led out to die, and a fellow prisoner who had been converted in prison, followed him closely through the mob, openly proclaiming his sanctity. As the headsman prepared to swing the axe, the venerable bishop looked at him and said, “Rejoice with me, my friend; I am going to heaven!”

“I wish I were going with you!” blurted out the unhappy man.

Laying his head upon the block, the bishop preached his last sermon: “If you want to save your soul, my friend, you must obey the law of God!” Pagan friends of the priests scurried through the crowd, gathering up the relics which they saved for the Christians. Many of these people, including the executioner, were later baptized.

March 22 St. Darerca of Ireland, Blessed Isnard de Chiampo, St. Lea of Rome

I could not decide between the three saints, there were all short so this is a bonus day.

St. Darerca of Ireland – sister of St.  Patrick, mother of nineteen children, ten of whom became bishops. I am feeling vastly inferior as a mother.

Blessed Isnard de Chiampo – I try not to copy directly from another source, but I could not write this any more succinctly then this site. From Saints.SQPN.com. “Dominican friar, receiving the cowl from Saint Dominic de Guzman in 1219. Founder and first prior of the friary at Pavia, Italy. Though he lived the life of a friar, he was a fat friar, for which he was mocked and ridiculed when he traveled to preach.”

St. Lea of Rome – For one of my regular readers, again from Saints.SQPN.com. “Born to the nobility. Lived in Rome, Italy. Widow. Part of the house run by Saint Marcella, and later served as the group’s superior. Known for her austere lifestyle and extreme penances. Saint Jerome wrote a panegyric in her honor.”

March 19 Blessed Clement of Dunblane

Blesssed Clement was a Scotsman by birth who met St. Dominic while they were both studying in Paris. One of the first Dominicans, Clement’s energy  and zeal led him back to Scotland at the request of  the king, Alexander II. He made friends with war leaders and farmers alike. His small band of Dominicans were granted permission to use Robert Bruce’s private mill, but also stayed with village and farm folks during his unceasing travels throughout Scotland. He raised money to build monasteries, rebuild churches and cathedrals, served on papal commissions, moved the Bishops seat from often unreachable Isle of Iona to Dunblane,  and wrote three books. He received perhaps the highest praise for a Dominican from a Protestant historian of the time – “This man was an excellent preacher, learned above many of that time, and of singular integrity of conversation”.

His relics are reported to be in the choir of the Dunblane Cathedral. They can be found along the south wall, below the Great South Windows.  One of which is called the Chaos Window, showing fire, storms, cold and snow – at the bottom of which the five members of Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1912 are named. If you are interested in church architecture, stained glass windows or art, take a minute to check out the Cathedral’s website.

February 21 St. Peter Damian

Patron Saint of Ravenna, Italy

St. Peter Damian was born into a large, but poor noble family in the 11th century. Orphaned at a young age, he was passed amongst his older siblings as free child labor until he landed on the doorstep of his brother Damian, a priest in Ravenna, Italy.     After joining the Dominicans, began a life of austere self deprivation. Taking to beating himself with a whip, he called for his fellow members of his monastery to do the same. Although when he became prior, he did institute the mid morning nap to give their wounds time to heal. A prolific writer, St. Peter Damian took on everything from masturbation to homosexuality to the evils of playing chess.  When not whipping himself, sleeping or writing scathing letters, he made wooden spoons.  As the daughter of a mother raised attending Dominican schools and parishes, I now understand (and appreciate) her beating us with wooden spoons and not leather whips.

February 19 Blessed Alvarez of Cordova

A late 14th century Dominican in Escalaceli, Spain, Alverez was known for his works of charity, preaching (he was a Dominican after all) and teaching. Although he died in 1430, two living testimonies to his life continue to live on in Escalaceli.

Legend says that Alverez found a man dying alone on the street. He wrapped the man in his cloak and carried him back to the monastery. When he arrived home and unwrapped his cloak, he and his fellow priest found a crucifix. That crucifix still hangs in the monastery in Escalaceli.

Just before a member of the monastery dies, the chapel bell which contains some of Alvarez’s relics begins to ring.