Memorial of Saints (June 19)

St. Romuald was the founder of the Camaldolese Order. He entered a monastery patterned after Cluny, but left to live a solitary life under the direction of a hermit near Venice. He then made extensive studies of the Desert Fathers, and discovered a pathway to holiness through solitude. Romuald founded a monastery at Camaldoli, in Tuscany, Italy. This religious foundation was then to develop into a religious order known as the Monk Hermits of Camaldoli - also known as the Camaldolese (died ca. 1027 A.D.).

St. Juliana Falconieri was the niece of one of the founders of the Servite Order. Her family wanted her to get married but she instead decided to become a Servite tertiary. When Juliana's mother died in 1304 A.D., she led a group of women who dedicated themselves to prayer and charitable works. This group developed until St. Juliana became religious superior and found it necessary to draw a religious rule for their community. This rule was approved 120 years later by Pope Martin V (died ca. 1341 A.D.).

Sts. Gervase and Protase were twin brothers. Just as their parents suffered martyrdom, so did the two brothers suffer martyrdom during the persecution of Christians in the first century. Gervase was beaten to death with a lead-tipped whip, while Protase was beheaded. These two brothers are considered the first martyrs of Milan, Italy (died ca. 1st century A.D.).

St. Deodatus became bishop of Nevers in ca. 655 A.D. After several years, he resigned from his position to become a hermit at Vosges. At Vosges, he was then driven out by the inhabitants. So he had to flee to an island near Strasbourg. When political tensions died down, Deodatus was able to return to Vosges. He settled here again and founded the Jointures monastery - becoming its abbot and spending his last years there (died ca. 679 A.D.).

St. Boniface of Querfurt studied at Magdeburg. After working in the court of Emperor Otto III, he became a Camaldolese monk in ca. 1000 A.D. Living only a year with the Camaldolese community, he left and joined a monastery founded by Emperor Otto III at Pereum. Five of the monks of this monastery were martyred. St. Boniface then decided to leave and be a missionary to Germany. Boniface lived an active missionary life - preaching also to the Magyars, the Pechenegs, and the Prussians. On February 14, together with 18 companions, St. Boniface was killed in a massacre near Braunsberg, Poland (died ca. 1009 A.D.).