The Catholic saints' calendar celebrates on July 5 at chinese santas Teresa Chen Jinxie and Rosa Chen Aixie, virgins and martyrs. They were sisters belonging to the Christian community of Huangeryn (Hubei, China), whose lives were taken in 1900. Also celebrated is Saint Cyprilla, a Christian woman from Cyrene (Libya), widow, whose refusal to worship the Roman gods cost her martyrdom in the time of Emperor Diocletian (303).
Eight martyrs faithful to the Roman Church
The Church also commemorates four martyrs Englishmen hanged in Oxford in 1589 because of their Catholic faith (two of them priests). They are Blessed George Nichols, Richard Yaxley, Thomas Belson and Humphred Pritchard.
The Irish Blesseds Matthew Lambert, Robert Meyler, Edward Cheevers and Patrick Cavanagh also appear in the catalog on this day. One was a baker and the other three were sailors. For being faithful to the Roman Church and helping persecuted Catholics, they were hanged in Vexford (Ireland) in 1581. The event took place during the reign of Elizabeth Idaughter of the king Henry VIII of England and of Anne Boleynhis second wife.
Zaccaría, advocate of frequent communion
St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria was an Italian presbyter of the 16th century. known for his apostolic zeal and his defense of frequent communion and Eucharistic adoration. He studied medicine and was ordained a priest in 1528. He went to Milan in 1530 and founded the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, also called Barnabites after their motherhouse in Milan (dedicated to St. Barnabas). She also founded the community of the Angelicas of St. Paul and the Married Clerics of St. Paul. She died on July 5, 1539.
