19 October 2026
Saints Peter of Alcántara, John de Brébeuf and Companions; Paul of the Cross, Saint Laura and Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
Today, October 19th, we celebrate the feast of:
Saints Peter of Alcántara, Priest; John de Brébeuf and Companions, Martyrs; Paul of the Cross, Priest; Saint Laura, Martyr; and Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
Saint Peter of Alcántara, Priest
Peter of Alcántara was born in Alcántara, Extremadura, in 1499. He joined the Order of Friars Minor as a young man and was ordained a priest. He distinguished himself by a life of great austerity, prayer, and penance, working tirelessly for the reform of Franciscan life. He promoted a stricter observance of the rule and founded several friaries, including Pedroso de Acim, known as El Palancar, built with extreme simplicity.
He was also a spiritual director to Saint Teresa of Ávila and supported her in the early stages of the Carmelite reform. Teresa left a glowing testimony about him in The Book of Her Life, noting: "He was very old when I came to know him, and so extremely frail that he seemed to be made of tree roots. Yet with all this holiness he was very affable, though of few words unless questioned. When spoken to, he was delightful to listen to, for he possessed a very fine understanding." He passed away in 1562 and was canonized in 1669.
Saint John de Brébeuf and Companions, Martyrs
They were Jesuits who, during the 17th century, devoted themselves to evangelizing the Indigenous peoples of New France, in present-day Canada. Brébeuf arrived in the Huron region in 1625 and, along with other missionaries, learned their language and culture to preach the Gospel to them. Amid great hardships, several of these missionaries were captured and martyred between 1642 and 1649. Specifically, John, while visiting a mission that was attacked by the Iroquois, refused to abandon the people and was captured and subjected to severe tortures. Amid his suffering, he remained steadfast in faith, continuing to pray and encourage his fellow captives until his death in 1649.
The eight martyrs (John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Anthony Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel, René Goupil, and Jean de La Lande) were canonized together by Pope Pius XI in 1930 and are venerated as secondary patron saints of Canada.
Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest
Born in northern Italy in 1694, he felt a strong inclination toward prayer and penance from a young age and, after a period of spiritual searching, embraced an eremitic life. Ordained a priest in 1727, he dedicated himself to preaching and spiritual direction. Together with his brother John Baptist and other companions, he founded the Congregation of Clerics Regular of the Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, known as the Passionists, who combined a contemplative life with apostolic ministry centered on the spirituality of the Lord's Passion, which he considered "the highest expression of God's love for humanity." The order later expanded to include a female branch: the Passionist Nuns. He died in Rome in 1775 and was canonized in 1867.
Saint Laura, Martyr
Born in Córdoba, after becoming a widow she entered the Monastery of Cuteclara near the city, where she lived a life dedicated to prayer and monastic observance, eventually succeeding Saint Aurea (also a martyr) as abbess. In 864, during the persecution of Christians under Muslim rule, she was accused of publicly professing the Christian faith and condemned to death. According to tradition, she was thrown into a cauldron of molten lead. She suffered martyrdom on October 19, 864, and is venerated as one of the Martyrs of Córdoba.
Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
On the outskirts of Sabadell, in the Sant Iscle range, an image of the Virgin began to be venerated under the title of Our Lady of Health at the end of the 17th century. Devotion grew rapidly, and over time the location became a major pilgrimage center and site of Marian devotion. In 1882, the current sanctuary was inaugurated on the site of a former chapel dedicated to Saint Acisclus and Saint Victoria. The image was crowned in 1947, and in 2008, upon the creation of the Diocese of Terrassa, she was proclaimed patron saint of the new diocese. Since then, October 19th is celebrated as the solemnity of its patroness. Her traditional goigs (hymns) invoke her as the one who hears "the devout who trust in You and the suffering who seek Your help."
Saints Peter of Alcántara, Priest; John de Brébeuf and Companions, Martyrs; Paul of the Cross, Priest; Saint Laura, Martyr; and Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
Saint Peter of Alcántara, Priest
Peter of Alcántara was born in Alcántara, Extremadura, in 1499. He joined the Order of Friars Minor as a young man and was ordained a priest. He distinguished himself by a life of great austerity, prayer, and penance, working tirelessly for the reform of Franciscan life. He promoted a stricter observance of the rule and founded several friaries, including Pedroso de Acim, known as El Palancar, built with extreme simplicity.
He was also a spiritual director to Saint Teresa of Ávila and supported her in the early stages of the Carmelite reform. Teresa left a glowing testimony about him in The Book of Her Life, noting: "He was very old when I came to know him, and so extremely frail that he seemed to be made of tree roots. Yet with all this holiness he was very affable, though of few words unless questioned. When spoken to, he was delightful to listen to, for he possessed a very fine understanding." He passed away in 1562 and was canonized in 1669.
Saint John de Brébeuf and Companions, Martyrs
They were Jesuits who, during the 17th century, devoted themselves to evangelizing the Indigenous peoples of New France, in present-day Canada. Brébeuf arrived in the Huron region in 1625 and, along with other missionaries, learned their language and culture to preach the Gospel to them. Amid great hardships, several of these missionaries were captured and martyred between 1642 and 1649. Specifically, John, while visiting a mission that was attacked by the Iroquois, refused to abandon the people and was captured and subjected to severe tortures. Amid his suffering, he remained steadfast in faith, continuing to pray and encourage his fellow captives until his death in 1649.
The eight martyrs (John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Anthony Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel, René Goupil, and Jean de La Lande) were canonized together by Pope Pius XI in 1930 and are venerated as secondary patron saints of Canada.
Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest
Born in northern Italy in 1694, he felt a strong inclination toward prayer and penance from a young age and, after a period of spiritual searching, embraced an eremitic life. Ordained a priest in 1727, he dedicated himself to preaching and spiritual direction. Together with his brother John Baptist and other companions, he founded the Congregation of Clerics Regular of the Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, known as the Passionists, who combined a contemplative life with apostolic ministry centered on the spirituality of the Lord's Passion, which he considered "the highest expression of God's love for humanity." The order later expanded to include a female branch: the Passionist Nuns. He died in Rome in 1775 and was canonized in 1867.
Saint Laura, Martyr
Born in Córdoba, after becoming a widow she entered the Monastery of Cuteclara near the city, where she lived a life dedicated to prayer and monastic observance, eventually succeeding Saint Aurea (also a martyr) as abbess. In 864, during the persecution of Christians under Muslim rule, she was accused of publicly professing the Christian faith and condemned to death. According to tradition, she was thrown into a cauldron of molten lead. She suffered martyrdom on October 19, 864, and is venerated as one of the Martyrs of Córdoba.
Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
On the outskirts of Sabadell, in the Sant Iscle range, an image of the Virgin began to be venerated under the title of Our Lady of Health at the end of the 17th century. Devotion grew rapidly, and over time the location became a major pilgrimage center and site of Marian devotion. In 1882, the current sanctuary was inaugurated on the site of a former chapel dedicated to Saint Acisclus and Saint Victoria. The image was crowned in 1947, and in 2008, upon the creation of the Diocese of Terrassa, she was proclaimed patron saint of the new diocese. Since then, October 19th is celebrated as the solemnity of its patroness. Her traditional goigs (hymns) invoke her as the one who hears "the devout who trust in You and the suffering who seek Your help."
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[titol] => Saints Peter of Alcántara, John de Brébeuf and Companions; Paul of the Cross, Saint Laura and Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
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[cos] => Today, October 19th, we celebrate the feast of:
Saints Peter of Alcántara, Priest; John de Brébeuf and Companions, Martyrs; Paul of the Cross, Priest; Saint Laura, Martyr; and Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
Saint Peter of Alcántara, Priest
Peter of Alcántara was born in Alcántara, Extremadura, in 1499. He joined the Order of Friars Minor as a young man and was ordained a priest. He distinguished himself by a life of great austerity, prayer, and penance, working tirelessly for the reform of Franciscan life. He promoted a stricter observance of the rule and founded several friaries, including Pedroso de Acim, known as El Palancar, built with extreme simplicity.
He was also a spiritual director to Saint Teresa of Ávila and supported her in the early stages of the Carmelite reform. Teresa left a glowing testimony about him in The Book of Her Life, noting: "He was very old when I came to know him, and so extremely frail that he seemed to be made of tree roots. Yet with all this holiness he was very affable, though of few words unless questioned. When spoken to, he was delightful to listen to, for he possessed a very fine understanding." He passed away in 1562 and was canonized in 1669.
Saint John de Brébeuf and Companions, Martyrs
They were Jesuits who, during the 17th century, devoted themselves to evangelizing the Indigenous peoples of New France, in present-day Canada. Brébeuf arrived in the Huron region in 1625 and, along with other missionaries, learned their language and culture to preach the Gospel to them. Amid great hardships, several of these missionaries were captured and martyred between 1642 and 1649. Specifically, John, while visiting a mission that was attacked by the Iroquois, refused to abandon the people and was captured and subjected to severe tortures. Amid his suffering, he remained steadfast in faith, continuing to pray and encourage his fellow captives until his death in 1649.
The eight martyrs (John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Anthony Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel, René Goupil, and Jean de La Lande) were canonized together by Pope Pius XI in 1930 and are venerated as secondary patron saints of Canada.
Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest
Born in northern Italy in 1694, he felt a strong inclination toward prayer and penance from a young age and, after a period of spiritual searching, embraced an eremitic life. Ordained a priest in 1727, he dedicated himself to preaching and spiritual direction. Together with his brother John Baptist and other companions, he founded the Congregation of Clerics Regular of the Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, known as the Passionists, who combined a contemplative life with apostolic ministry centered on the spirituality of the Lord's Passion, which he considered "the highest expression of God's love for humanity." The order later expanded to include a female branch: the Passionist Nuns. He died in Rome in 1775 and was canonized in 1867.
Saint Laura, Martyr
Born in Córdoba, after becoming a widow she entered the Monastery of Cuteclara near the city, where she lived a life dedicated to prayer and monastic observance, eventually succeeding Saint Aurea (also a martyr) as abbess. In 864, during the persecution of Christians under Muslim rule, she was accused of publicly professing the Christian faith and condemned to death. According to tradition, she was thrown into a cauldron of molten lead. She suffered martyrdom on October 19, 864, and is venerated as one of the Martyrs of Córdoba.
Our Lady of Health of Sabadell
On the outskirts of Sabadell, in the Sant Iscle range, an image of the Virgin began to be venerated under the title of Our Lady of Health at the end of the 17th century. Devotion grew rapidly, and over time the location became a major pilgrimage center and site of Marian devotion. In 1882, the current sanctuary was inaugurated on the site of a former chapel dedicated to Saint Acisclus and Saint Victoria. The image was crowned in 1947, and in 2008, upon the creation of the Diocese of Terrassa, she was proclaimed patron saint of the new diocese. Since then, October 19th is celebrated as the solemnity of its patroness. Her traditional goigs (hymns) invoke her as the one who hears "the devout who trust in You and the suffering who seek Your help."
[imatge] => https://montserrat.sobrevia.net/gestiobeta/arxius/montserrat/santoral/abadiaeng_47.jpg
)