Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest

Saint Raymond of Penyafort was born around 1175 in Santa Margarida i els Monjos near Barcelona, in Catalonia. Gifted in learning and formed in faith, he studied in Barcelona and at the University of Bologna, earning doctorates in civil and canon law and teaching for many years. Drawn by Dominican preaching, he entered the Order of Preachers at about forty-seven, offering his sharp mind to the service of the Church. Summoned to Rome, Raymond became chaplain and grand penitentiary to Pope Gregory IX, who entrusted him with gathering and organizing the Church’s scattered legal tradition. The resulting Decretals of Gregory IX shaped canon law for centuries. As a confessor and counselor, he combined justice with mercy, even advising rulers with courage—most famously reproving King James I of Aragon and, by tradition, miraculously sailing from Mallorca to Barcelona on his cloak. He also promoted missions, language study, and the founding of the Mercedarians for the ransom of captives. Canonized in 1601, he is venerated as patron of canon lawyers and lawyers. His feast day is January 7.

Saint Giuliano, born in 301 on the island of Aegina, is remembered in the Church as a faithful deacon whose life was marked by humble service. Though few details of his story have been preserved, his long witness—ending in 391—speaks of steadfast devotion amid the ordinary duties and hidden sacrifices that often shape a holy life. Honored especially in Gozzano, where he is venerated as patron, Saint Giuliano remains a quiet but enduring presence for those who seek to serve Christ with constancy and reverence. His feast is kept on January 7, inviting the faithful to ask for the grace to imitate his fidelity in prayer, charity, and the daily work of the Church.