May 25: St. Gregory VII, pope
Hildebrand was born in Tuscany about the year 1028. He was educated at Rome and entered the monastic life. He helped the popes of his time through many missions on behalf of Church reform, and in 1073 ascended to the chair of St. Peter
under the name of Gregory VII. Besieged by King Henry IV, he died a refugee at Salerno in 1085.
May 25: Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, virgin
St. Mary Magdalene was born at Florence in 1566 and after a religious upbringing she entered the Carmelites. She led a solitary life of prayer and self-denial, praying fervently for Church reform and directed her fellow sisters on the road to perfection. She was blessed by many gifts from God and died in 1607.
May 26: Philip Neri, priest
St. Philip Neri was born at Florence in 1515. He went to Rome and began to work with young men among whom he fostered Christian life and formed an association for the poor and the sick. Ordained to the priesthood in 1551, he founded the Oratory where spiritual reading, singing and works of charity were practiced. He excelled in his love of neighbor and in evangelical simplicity along with a joyous service to God. St. Philip died in 1595.
May 27: Augustine of Canterbury, bishop
St. Augustine was sent in 597 from St. Andrew’s monastery in Rome by St. Gregory the Great to preach the Gospel in England. He was aided there by King Ethelbert and chosen bishop of Canterbury. He converted many to the faith and established many dioceses, especially in the kingdom of Kent. He died on May 26 about the year 605.
Reference: Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours. Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House, Daughters of St. Paul, 2650 F.B. Harrison St., 1300 Pasay City, Phil. 13th printing 2010. ISBN 971-590-357-6.
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 