Monday 22nd July, St Mary Magdalene, stood by the Cross of Jesus; with two other women she discovered the empty tomb; she was granted an appearance of the Risen Lord early the same day, from which incident she has been described as ‘the apostle to the apostles. The Gospels give no warrant for identifying her with the ‘woman who was a sinner’, who anointed Christ’s feet (Luke 7:37) or with Mary the sister of Martha who also anointed him (John 12:3).
Tuesday 23rd July, St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious and Patron of Europe, was born in Sweden in 1303. She brought up eight children, and after the death of her husband dedicated herself to an ascetical life. Later she founded the Bridgettine Order and lived in Rome. She died there in 1373. She was declared a Patron of Europe in 2000.
Wednesday 24th July, St. Sharbel Makhluf, a priest, became a monk at the monastery of St. Maron at Annaya and was ordained in 1859. He became a hermit from 1875 until his death in 1898. He was much sought after for counsel and blessing and had a great personal devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
Thursday 25th July, St James, the Apostle, son of Zebedee and brother of John, called the Greater. He was put to death by Herod Agrippa about the year 44, being the first of the Apostles to die for Chrit. His shrine is at Compostela in Spain.
Friday 26th July, Ss. Joachim and Anne, are traditionally named parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of the Lord. The earliest reference to their names is the second-century apocryphal Gospel of James. Their feasts were celebrated separately until joined together in the Calendar reform of 1969.