Saint of the Day: Bl. Joan Roig i Diggle

Martyr (1917-1936)

His life

+ Joan was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1917. Educated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers and, later, the Piarist Fathers, he hoped to someday study the law. Because of family difficulties, he worked in various jobs while still a student.

+ As a teenager, he became a member of the Federación de Jóvenes Cristianos de Cataluña in El Masnou and was later asked to start a branch of the organization for children under 14.

+ Joan spent hours in eucharistic adoration and later began to take Holy Communion to the sick in their homes, proving to be a comfort and support for the sick and dying, despite his young age.

+ In March 1936, Joan submitted an article for publication in which he denounced the rise of fascism and communism. When the Spanish Civil War erupted just a few months later, he and some of his friends went into hiding, but he soon decided that it would be better to return to work and move in with his mother.

+ On September 10, as the fury of the persecution against Catholics increased, Joan received permission from his spiritual director to keep the Eucharist in his home, so that he could give communion to those who might need it.

+ That same evening, masked militiamen came to his home to arrest him. His mother was able to distract the soldiers while Joan consumed the consecrated hosts. Kissing his mother goodbye and assuring her that “God is with me,” he was killed near dawn on September 11.

+ Blessed Joan Roig I Diggle was beatified in 2020.

For prayer and reflection

“Joan Roig can be a model of Christian life for both the young people and adults of our society. His testimony can awaken in us the desire to follow Christ with joy and generosity.”--

Cardinal Juan José Omella y Omella at the beatification of Blessed Joan

Spiritual bonus

On this day, the Church honors the memory of five Martyrs of Ireland: the Dominican priests Dominic Dillon and Richard Overton, the Jesuit priest John Bathe, the Augustinian priest Peter Taafe, and Thomas Bathe, a priest of the archdiocese of Armagh. These priests were martyred on September 11, 1649, as part of the persecution that accompanied the English suppression of Irish culture and religious tradition. They were beatified in 1992.

Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Joan to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. 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. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Missionary Martyr)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.