Saints of 19 July

St Vincent de Paul, confessor

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, confessor, who slept in the Lord on the 27th of September. Leo XIII. declared him heavenly patron before the throne of God of all charitable organizations throughout the Catholic world owing in any manner their origin to him.

St Epaphras

The same day, the birthday of St. Epaphras, whom the apostle St. Paul calls his fellow-prisoner. By the same apostle he was consecrated bishop of Colossse, where becoming renowned for his virtues, he received the palm of martyrdom for defending courageously the flock committed to his charge. His body lies at Rome in the basilica of St. Mary the Greater.

Ss. Justa and Rufina

At Seville, in Spain, the martyrdom of the holy virgins Justa and Rufina. Arrested by the governor Diogenian, they were stretched on the rack and lacerated with iron claws, then imprisoned, and subjected to starvation and various tortures. Lastly Justa breathed her last in prison, and Rufina had her neck broken while confessing Christ.

St Aurea of Córdoba

At Cordova, St. Aurea, virgin, who repented of a fault she had committed, and in a second combat overcame the enemy by the shedding of her blood.

St Martin of Trier

At Treves, St. Martin, bishop and martyr.

St Symmachus of Rome

At Rome, pope St. Symmachus, who for a long time had much to bear from a faction of schismatics. At last, distinguished by holiness, he went to God.

St Felix of Verona

At Verona, St. Felix, bishop.

St Arsenius the Great

At Scete, a mountain in Egypt, St. Arsenius, a deacon of the Roman church. In the time of Theodosius, he retired into a wilderness, where, endowed with every virtue and shedding continual tears, he yielded his soul to God.

St Marcina (Cappadocia)

In Cappadocia, the holy virgin Marcina, sister of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa.