Throughout the month of July, the Church celebrates many saints with feast days and memorials, honoring their unique contributions to the faith and reflecting on their examples of holiness. From Saint Camillus to Saint Mary Magdalene, they each have something to teach us. Read about six saints celebrated in July and why you should know their stories.
July 15 – St. Bonaventure
Born as Giovanni di Fidanza in the early 13th century, St. Bonaventure is said to have received his new name due to an incident with St. Francis of Assisi. Legend holds that when he was just a boy, he became gravely ill and was miraculously healed by St. Francis. Upon healing him, St. Francis remarked, “Buona ventura!” (good fortune) – inspiring the name by which he is known today. After studying theology and philosophy at the University of Paris, at the age of 20, Bonaventure joined the Franciscan Order and quickly ascended to a leadership position. Following Francis’ death, disunity began to fester amongst the members of the Order, but Bonaventure was able to reunite them, a feat which earned him the designation as the “second founder” of the Franciscans.
Rather than being caught up in accomplishing “great” things for God, Bonaventure sought to glorify God in the faithful achievement of the ordinary. He lived by the motto: “Do common things well and be constantly faithful to small matters,” even when he was appointed cardinal-bishop of Albano by Pope Gregory X. Over the course of his life, Bonaventure composed countless essays and sermons, as well as a biography of St. Francis, leaving a profound mark on Christian thought and philosophy. He passed away at the Council of Lyons, on July 15, 1274, and is portrayed in the East Apse of the Basilica in a Trani marble statue.
July 18 – St. Camillus de Lellis
Born in Italy in 1550, St. Camillus de Lellis grew to be an imposing man of six and half feet. He joined the army at a young age and fought against the Turks, but suffered a leg injury that brought him to a hospital in Rome. When he recovered, he worked as an orderly, and served on the battlefield for a time before finding himself homeless and destitute. After working on a building project for Capuchin monks, he eventually returned to the hospital in Rome as a nurse, where he worked tirelessly to reform the system of care. At the time, hospitals were essentially where people were sent to die: conditions were unsanitary and patients were often mistreated. Camillus revolutionized treatment, giving proper nutrition to the ailing, isolating contagious patients, and promoting cleanliness and fresh air, as well as showing the love of Christ to all he treated. Impressed by his work, the administrators made him superintendent of the hospital.
In 1584, Camillus was also ordained as a priest, and founded an order called the “Ministers of the Sick.” The men of his order served the wounded of the battlefields of Hungary and Croatia, making them the first recorded ambulance corps. Though he suffered from health problems himself, Camillus continued to serve the sick throughout his life, founding 15 houses for his order and eight hospitals by the time of his death. In the Basilica, St. Camillus de Lellis is portrayed in the west façade.
July 22 – St. Mary Magdalene
On July 22, we celebrate the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene, reflecting on her story of redemption. When Jesus first met her, Mary was possessed by seven demons – a number, which by some accounts, is thought to signify the completeness of the extent to which they had overtaken her mind. However, though her mind was altered, this did not affect her moral condition. Her behavior may have been extremely abnormal, but it was not extremely immoral. Jesus cast out these demons from Mary, restoring her sanity and redeeming her mental state.
Following her restoration, Mary Magdalene began to accompany Jesus and His followers, and participated in pivotal moments of His ministry – joining Him on His last trip to Jerusalem, at the foot of the cross, and most importantly, at the empty tomb, where she was the first to witness the Risen Christ and was charged with spreading the news of His resurrection.
July 29 – Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
With the Feast Day of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus on July 29, we reflect on their role in Jesus’ ministry. Their examples remind us to have faith in God’s plan for our lives, even when we undergo times of suffering and uncertainty.
The Gospel of Luke includes what is arguably the most well-known story of Martha and her sister Mary, when they invited Jesus to their home for dinner. When Jesus arrived, Martha was still busy preparing the food, striving to ensure that Jesus felt welcomed and at home in her house. But when Mary just sat listening to Jesus speak and did nothing to help her, Martha became upset, and told Jesus to bid Mary help her (Luke 10:39-40). Such a request did not seem unreasonable, and Jesus understood that Martha’s concern was legitimate. Yet He reminded her that while she was “anxious and worried about many things,” Mary’s desire to learn from Jesus was “the better part” (Luke 10:41-42).
Later, in John 11, when Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus contracted a terrible illness, they sent Jesus a message with the hope that He would come and heal him. However, Jesus did not arrive until four days after Lazarus’s death. While Martha believed that Jesus still had a plan for their brother, many were questioning why Jesus would let Lazarus die – including Mary, who was greatly mourning his loss. When Jesus saw Mary’s distress, He was moved to tears, and asked to be shown the tomb where Lazarus was buried, so that it could be opened. Jesus then performed one of the greatest miracles ever recorded: He brought Lazarus back to life.
In raising Lazarus, Jesus displayed His power as the Son of God, the only person to have power over death. At the Basilica, Sts. Mary and Martha are portrayed in the panels above the South Entrance, and St. Lazarus depicted in the Redemption Dome and the north apse of the Crypt Church.
Sources:
Butler’s Lives of Saints, ed. Bernard Bangley
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.
The Way of Saints, Dr. Tom Cowan
“St. Bonaventure,” New Advent