The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Saint Onuphrius was born in Egypt, and in the 4th or 5th century he embraced the radical solitude of the Upper Egyptian desert. Remembered among the Desert Fathers, he first lived as a monk in the Thebaid, then—drawn by a deeper call—went out as a hermit to seek God in silence, prayer, and severe poverty. His life is known chiefly through the account of the ascetic Paphnutius, who wandered for days in search of holy hermits and finally met Onuphrius, a weathered figure clothed only with a girdle of leaves and his own hair. Onuphrius spoke of decades of hidden fidelity, sustained by God’s providence, and he welcomed the traveler with humble charity. After a night of prayer, Onuphrius blessed Paphnutius and peacefully died, asking only to be remembered in prayer. Venerated in both East and West, he is honored as patron in many towns, including Algemesí and Campodimele. His feast day is June 12.

Saint Cunera is remembered as a virgin and martyr, traditionally said to have been born a princess in the Orkney Islands. According to later medieval legend, she was the sole survivor of the company of Saint Ursula after the virgins were massacred at Cologne. Brought for safety under the protection of a king of the Rhine, Cunera was taken to his palace at Rhenen in the Netherlands, where her gentleness and generosity won the love of the people, especially the poor. The king trusted her deeply, even placing in her hands the key to his cellars—an honor that stirred bitter jealousy in the queen. While the king was away hunting, Cunera was murdered, strangled with a scarf and hidden in a stable, until the truth was miraculously revealed. Veneration of Cunera grew in Rhenen, where many sought her intercession for healings, protection from drowning, and help for horses and against animal disease. She is patroness of Rhenen. Her feast day is June 12.