Today, 16 August, is the feast of ...
Joachim (first century BC?): Father of the BVM. The Benedictines celebrate
the feast of Joachim and Anne (the mother of the BVM) on 26 July.
Arsacius, Christian soldier (358): Predicted that a terrible earthquake
would hit the city of Nicomedia, but no one believed him. A few days later
an earthquake destroyed most of the city. The building in which Arsacius
lived was one of the few to escape destruction; unfortunately the same
cannot be said for Arsacius. When some of the people of Nicomedia ran to
the building where Arsacius lived to seek safety, Arsacius was found on
his knees but dead.
Armel, abbot (570): It is reported that Armel was converted to the
religious life upon entering a church and hearing a deacon sing: "And
whosoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
Laurence Loricatus (1243): Born in Apulia. As a young man Laurence
accidentally killed someone. In expiation he made a pilgrimage of penance
to Compostela, and on his return in 1209 went to Subiaco, where he joined
a community but was soon given permission to be a solitary. He lived in a
mountain cave near the Sacro Peco of St Benedict for thirty-three years
and practised bodily mortifications. In fact the name *Loricatus* was
given to him because he wore next to his skin a coat of mail studded with
sharp points.
Rock or Roch, healer (1378): Saint par excellence to be invoked against
pestilence.
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Carolyn Muessig
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