SS. GREGORY GRASSI, HERMINE GRIVOT (virgin), AND COMPANIONS (+1900)
Friars Minor & Secular Franciscans. Martyrs in China
The Boxer Rebellion in the northern provinces of China took its toll of the Catholic population, some 35,000 being killed in the year 1900 alone. Among them in July were three Franciscan bishops (Gregory Grassi, Francis Fogollo and Antonine Fantosati), four priests and one lay friar. In addition, there were seven Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (Superioress, M. Hermine Grivot), seven Chinese seminarians (all Secular Franciscans) and seven Chinese laymen (four of them Secular Franciscans). Twenty-six of them were cruelly slashed to death on 9th July 1900, the others on the 4th & 7th July. All were canonised with 91 other martyrs in China by John Paul II in 2000.
First Reading: Apoc. 7: 9-17; Gospel: John 15: 18-21