Celebrating the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time and Optional Memorial of St. Romuald, Abbot

The Church commemorates the Optional Memorial of St. Romuald, the founder of the Camaldolese monks, on June 19th. St. Romuald, born in Ravenna of a noble family, struggled to choose between a religious life and remaining in the world. After a period of penance, he entered a monastery and later founded an order of hermits known for their strict and austere way of life. St. Romuald’s dedication to prayer, penance, and bringing sinners back to God made him a revered figure in the Church.

Additionally, the Church remembers St. Juliana of Falconieri, a Mantellate nun known for her severe mortifications and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. St. Juliana renounced her inheritance at a young age and cared for the Servite Order under the guidance of St. Philip Benizi. Her miraculous death, marked by the imprint of the Crucified on her breast, solidified her reputation as a saintly figure.

The day also honors Sts. Gervase and Protase, twin brothers martyred in Milan in the second century. Their relics were discovered by St. Ambrose in 386 and are now enshrined in the crypt of St. Ambrose church in Milan. The lives and martyrdom of these saints serve as a testament to their faith and dedication to God.

As the Church celebrates these holy figures, believers are encouraged to reflect on their lives of prayer, penance, and devotion to God. St. Romuald, St. Juliana of Falconieri, and Sts. Gervase and Protase exemplify the virtues of faith, sacrifice, and perseverance, inspiring others to deepen their relationship with God and follow in their footsteps.