Daily Martyrology for August 8

In 1221, in Bologna, St. Dominic. He was born near the Abbey of St. Dominic of Silos in Spain and named after its patron. He became a canon regular at Osma. With Bishop Diego of Azevedo, Dominic devoted himself to converting the Cathar heretics in southern France. Their method was to live in poverty and engage in patient theological discussion. After ten years, Dominic founded an order dedicated to contemplation, sacred studies and preaching, and the order grew rapidly.

In 1091, St. Altman, bishop of Passau. He was a canon and teacher in Paderborn and a chaplain to Emperor Henry III. As bishop of Passau, he installed canons regular at Göttweig, Sankt Pölten and Sankt Florian, and introduced the Cluniac reforms to Kremsmünster. He spent years in exile because of his support of Gregory VII’s decrees against simony and clerical marriage.

In 1909, Blessed Mary MacKillop. She was born in Australia of Scottish parents. With the help of Fr. Julian Tenison Woods, she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, dedicated to Catholic education and care for the poor. The order grew rapidly, but met with many difficulties from certain bishops who wanted diocesan control of the order. These gave her ample opportunity to practice heroic virtue.

In 1905, at Zamora, Blessed Bonifacia Rodríguez. She founded the Servants of St. Joseph, a congregation of religious women which provided work for women and protection for them in the workplace. Her new idea met with opposition, but she persevered with equanimity.

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Our daily martyrology was written by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB. Copyright © 2008 by the Monastery of the Ascension, Jerome, ID 83338.