St. Titus Brandsma
Feast day: July 27
Born in Bolsward, Netherlands, Titus entered the Carmelites and was ordained in 1905. After earning a doctorate in philosophy in Rome, Titus taught in Dutch universities and lectured on Carmelite spirituality and mysticism. He served as rector at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and was an ecclesiastical adviser to Catholic journalists. His academic and spiritual works were widely read. When the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, Titus was singled out as an enemy because he fought against the spread of Nazism in Europe. Arrested, he was sent to various concentration camps, and in 1942, he was martyred in Dachau. Titus was canonized on May 15, 2022, by Pope Francis. He is patron of Catholic journalists. His feast day is July 27.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose gift Saint Titus fought
for righteousness’ sake even until death,
grant, we pray, through his intercession,
that we may bear every adversity for the sake of your love
and hasten with all our strength towards you who alone are life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
