New Christian Year – July

SAN IGNACIO DE LOYOLA (oil painting by Juan Sariñena, 1606), closes the month of July with the greatness of the man in love with Jesus, whose Company has been and is of capital importance in the life of the Church. A thousand years earlier, San Benito began in Montecassino a path that has led to heaven countless saints who followed his rule, in the different monastic orders. Benedict is the father of Western monasticism and is Patron of Europe. In addition to these founders, there are others in the July calendar, such as Camilo, Brigida of Sweden, Antonio Ma Zacearía, Pedro Poveda, Nazaria Ignacia, Ma Pilar Izquierdo, Ángel Riesco, etc. Going back to the origins, this month offers the figures of the parents of Mary, Joachim and Anne. Among the apostles, SANTIAGO EL MAYOR stands out, evangelizer and Patron of Spain. We also find the figures of another apostle, Thomas, whose incredulity has helped believers so much; of Mary Magdalene, with her passion for the Master; with the three brothers of Betama, friends of Jesus, Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Among the Fathers of the Church, St. Peter Chrysologus, and among the doctors of the Church, St. Bonaventure and St. Lawrence of Brindisi. But July has turned out to be the month of martyrs. And not only because the first groups of religious persecution in Spain appear (1936) - Carmelites of Guadalajara, Passionists of Daimiel, Recollects of Motril, etc. - but because it is the month in which most martyrs from China (Franciscans) and Vietnam (Dominicans Valentin de Berriochoa, Ignacio Clemente Delgado, José Ma Díaz Sanjurjo, Melchor de Quirós) gave their lives for Christ; there are many martyrs of the Anglican persecution and of the French Revolution: Carmelites of Compiégne. In addition to Saints Justa and Rufina, and the Martyrs of Gorcum. July is, popularly, the month of the Virgin of Carmen, for the great Carmelite family, for the people of the sea, for so many towns, especially coastal ones, who acclaim Saint Mary of Mount Carmel.

JOSÉ A. MARTÍNEZ PUCHE

709