Thursday 20th, St Apollinaris, bishop and martyr. In the second century he preached the gospel in the region of Ravenna. He was Bishop of Classis where he suffered martyrdom.
Friday 21st, St. Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1619, was a Capuchin who preached during the Counter-Reformation. He led German armies against the Turks in Hungary and gained peace for the people of Naples.
Saturday 22nd, 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 (Lk 7: 37) or with Mary the sister of Martha who also anointed him (Jn 12:3). For a long time Mary Magdalene had a bad reputation but gradually that understanding of her has been dropped and the focus has been on her as ‘the apostle to the apostles’ as we see her on Easter morning.