Today's liturgy celebrates Aquila and Priscilla, a Christian couple whom St. Paul met in Corinth. They had come from Rome and then moved to Ephesus with St. Paul. They were collaborators and effective helpers for the Apostle in his apostolic mission, who lived and worked with them. Acts of the Apostles. Also celebrated on July 8 are 15 Chinese martyr saints, 8 men and 7 women, all Franciscans.
"Just as already at the beginning of Christianity," he says. Aquila and Priscilla presented themselves as a missionary couple, so too the Church today bears witness to her unceasing newness and vigor with the presence of Christian spouses and families. Families that (...) go to mission lands to proclaim the Gospel, serving mankind, for the love of Jesus Christ", wrote St. John Paul II in 'The Gospel of Christ'.Familiaris consortio' (n. 54). In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul praises them and reveals that Aquila and Priscilla did not hesitate to expose their own lives for him.
Martyrs of China in 1900
St. Gregory Grassi and seven companions from China are remembered together today, although they died on different dates in early July 1900.
Their names, according to the franciscan directory (next to the date of martyrdom), were: Gregorio Grassi (July 9), Francesco Fogolla (July 9) and Antonino Fantosati (July 7), bishops. Cesidio Giacomantonio (July 4), José María Gambaro (July 7), Elías Facchini (July 9) and Teodorico Balat (July 9), priests. And Andres Bauer (July 9), professed brother.
St. Mary Herminia and their companions were martyred on July 9, 1900, but their memory is also celebrated on July 8. They are seven Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who shared the palm of martyrdom with St. Gregory Grassi and his companions in Taiyuanfu (China).
Canonization of 120 Blesseds
The seven Franciscans were named Maria: Maria Herminia, Maria de la Paz, Maria Clara, Maria de Santa Natalia, Maria de San Justo, Maria Amandina and Maria Adolfina. They are the protomartyrs of their Congregation and had arrived the previous year at the mission of Taiyuanfu. They were canonized by St. John Paul II in 2000.
The Polish Pope canonized that year to 120 blessed martyred in China. San Juan de Triora and 29 others belonged to the Franciscan Family. Eight Friars Minor (three bishops, four priests and one lay brother). Seven Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, as noted above. Eleven Chinese Secular Franciscans, five of whom were seminarians. And three Chinese lay faithful. All were killed by the 'boxers' in early July 1900.
