Day: May 7, 2026

Saint of the Day – 7 May – St Benedict II (Died 685) Pope and Confessor. A very short Reign: his Papacy began on 26 June 684, Papacy ended on 8 May 685 but this short Reign was filled with good and holy works. A learned scholar of Sacred Scripture, a Musician and a most avid employer of the beautiful Catholic Chants. He was a nab if great piety and devotion to the Church of Christ and its faithful.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, St Benedict II, Pope and Confessor.”

He was a native of Rome and having been brought up from his infancy in the service of the Church, was well skilled in the holy scriptures and in the Ecclesiastical chanting, of which he was a devout admirer. To sing assiduously the divine praises on earth is a kind of novitiate to the state of the blessed in heaven and an employment the most sweet and comfortable to a soul who truly loves God.

Benedict was always humble, meek, patient, mortified, a lover of poverty, and most generous to the poor. Being Ordained Priest, he had a share in the government of the Roman Church under the Pontificates of Agatho and Leo II.

Benedict was elected Oope upon the death of the latter, in 683 but to obtain the Emperor’s consent, it was necessary to wait almost a year, until the return of messengers sent to Constantinople. On which account the Holy See remained vacant and Benedict was only Consecrated on 26 June 684.

St Benedict II had concurred with Pope Agatho in assembling the 6th General Council at Constantinople, in 680. Pope Leo II, had sent the Decrees of the Council to Spain. After his death, St Benedict II pursued the same course and the Spanish Bishops in a Council at Toledo, approved and received the Definition of Faith published by the said Council.

They despatched a copy of their Decree and Confession of Faith with their subscriptions annexed, wherein they acknowledge the Divine and Human Nature of Christ. Pope Benedict, however, observed in their Confession certain obscure expressions, of which he desired a clearer explanation. For this purpose the 15th Council of Toledo was held, in which they were expounded in a sense entirely orthodox to St Benedict II satisfaction.

The Bishops of Rome were anciently chosen by the Clergy and people of Rome, according to the discipline of those times. The Christian Emperors were the head of the people, on which account their consent was required. But whilst they resided in the East, this condition often produced long delays and considerable inconveniences.

Pope Benedict II represented this problem to Constantine and that pious Prince readily passed a law addressed to the Clergy, the faithful and the army at Rome, allowing that the person elected by them should be forthwith Consecrated.

St Pope Benedict II laboured much for the conversion of heretics and in repairing and adorning Churches. He did not complete eleven months in the Pontificate but filled this short term with good works. He died on 5 May 685 and was buried in St Peter’s Basilica.

The Apparition of the Holy Cross over Jerusalem: The Commemoration of the appearance on 7 May 351, Pentecost that year, of a luminous image of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. It stretched from Mount Golgotha to the Mount of Olives (about two miles / three kilometers), was brighter than the sun, lasted several hours and was seen by the entire City. It led to many conversions and was reported in a letter attributed to Saint Cyril of Jerusalem.

St Stanislaus (1030-1079) Bishop and Martyr, Preacher, – Patron of Cracow, Poland.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/04/11/saint-of-the-day-11-april-st-stanislaus/

St Abba – One of a large group Martyred in Africa.

Blessed Alberto of Bergamo OP (1214-1279) Layman, Widow, Apostle of Charity, Pilgrim, Third Order Dominican. Beatified by Pope Benedict IV in 1748.
His Devoted Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/07/saint-of-the-day-7-may-blessed-alberto-of-bergamo-op-1214-1279/

Bl Antonio de Agramunt
St Augustine of Nicomedia
St Augustus of Nicomedia

St Benedict II (Died 685) Pope and Confessor

St Cerenico of Spoleto
St Domitian of Huy
St Duje

St Flavia Domitilla (1st Century) Virgin Martyr.
The Roman Martyrology states of her today: “At Terracina, in Campania, the birthday of blessed Flavia Domitilla, Virgin and Martyr, niece of the Consul Flavius Clemens. She received the religious veil at the hands of St Clement and in the persecution of Domitian, was exiled with many others to the island of Pontia, where she endured a long Martyrdom for Christ. Taken afterwards to Terracina, she converted many to the faith of Christ by her teaching and miracles. The judge ordered the chamber in which she was, with the virgins Euphrosina and Theodora, to be set on fire and she thus consummated her glorious Martyrdom. She is also mentioned with the holy Martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, on the 12th of this month.”
Her Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/05/07/saint-of-the-day-7-may-saint-flavia-domitilla-of-terracina-1st-century-virgin-and-martyr/

St Flavius of Nicomedia
Bl Francesco Paleari
Bl Gisela of Ungarn

St John of Beverley (Died 721) Bishop of Hexham and then the Bishop of York, Scholar and Teacher, Apostle of the poor, and the sick Ascetic, Miracle-worker., a great friend of St Bede the Venerable. He founded a Monastery at Beverley, Yorkshire from which the Town developed. Today, it is a vibrant market Town of some 31,000 people. It owes its foundation and growth to Saint John of Beverley. The Beverley Cathedral now stands on the site of St John’s Monastery.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At York, in England, St John, Bishop, renowned for his saintly life and miracles.”
A Wonderful Saint from Yorkshire:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/07/saint-of-the-day-7-may-st-john-of-beverley-died-721-of-the-miraculous-banner/

St Juvenal of Benevento
St Maurelius of Voghenza-Ferrara
St Peter (Died c735) Bishop of Pavia
St Placid (Died c675) Abbot of Autun
St Quadratus of Herbipolis
St Quadratus of Nicomedia

St Serenicus of Hyesmes
St Serenus of Hyesmes
Bl Villanus (Died 1237) Bishop of Gubbio