Bl. Teresa of St. Augustine and Companions (OCD), Virgins and Martyrs (m)

“These were a community of sixteen Discalced Carmelite nuns from the monastery of the Incarnation at Compiégne in France. When the full terror of the French Revolution began, they offered themselves as sacrificial victims to beg God for peace for the Church and for their country. Arrested and imprisoned on the 24th June 1794, they continued to share their joy and their faith with others. Condemned to death for their loyalty to the Church, to their religious vows and for their devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, they were guillotined in Paris on 17th July 1794 whilst singing hymns and after having renewed their vows to their prioress, Teresa of St. Augustine. They were beatified by Saint Pius X on 13th May 1906.” from The Carmelite website

If you get a chance, listen to the beautifully provocative opera by Poulenc entitled “The Dialogues des Carmelites”…it’s stunning!  The finale makes me cry every single time…(they are singing the Salve Regina, aka the Hail Holy Queen)

Take a look