1228day.year
Saint Francis of Assisi was canonized.
In 1228, Pope Gregory IX canonized Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order famed for his devotion to poverty and nature.
On July 16, 1228 CE, Pope Gregory IX formally canonized Francis of Assisi, recognizing his life of humility, poverty, and deep devotion to Christ.
Francis had founded the Franciscan Order (Order of Friars Minor), emphasizing a radical embrace of poverty and direct engagement with the poor and marginalized.
His love for nature and all creatures, exemplified in stories of the wolf of Gubbio and the sermon to the birds, endeared him to followers and secular observers alike.
The swift canonization underscored his reputation for miracles, including receiving the stigmata on his body.
Today, Francis of Assisi remains one of Christianity’s most beloved saints and the patron saint of animals and ecology.
1228
Saint Francis of Assisi
canonized
1251day.year
Celebrated by the Carmelite Order–but doubted by modern historians–as the day when Saint Simon Stock had a vision of the Virgin Mary.
Celebrated in 1251 by the Carmelite Order, Saint Simon Stock reportedly received a vision of the Virgin Mary, a tradition honored to this day.
On July 16, 1251 CE, tradition holds that Saint Simon Stock, then Prior General of the Carmelite Order, experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary granting him the Brown Scapular.
This event is commemorated by Carmelites as a sign of Mary’s special protection over their community.
Despite its rich devotional legacy, modern historians debate the historical accuracy due to scarce contemporary sources.
Regardless of its veracity, the vision has inspired centuries of Marian devotion and the widespread use of the scapular as a symbol of faith and comfort.
Each year, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16 celebrates this enduring spiritual tradition.
1251
Carmelite Order
Simon Stock
Virgin Mary
1536day.year
Jacques Cartier, navigator and explorer, returns home to St. Malo after claiming Stadacona (Quebec), Hochelaga (Montreal) and the River of Canada (St. Lawrence River) region for France.
In 1536, Jacques Cartier returned to Saint-Malo after his second expedition, claiming parts of present-day Canada for France.
On July 16, 1536 CE, French navigator Jacques Cartier returned to his home port of Saint-Malo after his second North American voyage.
During this expedition, Cartier ventured up the St. Lawrence River, charting territories he named Stadacona (Quebec) and Hochelaga (Montreal).
He claimed these regions for King Francis I, laying the foundations for France’s colonial ambitions in the New World.
Cartier’s detailed maps and accounts ignited further interest in transatlantic exploration and the lucrative trade opportunities of North America.
His travels significantly expanded European knowledge of the continent’s geography and indigenous cultures.
1536
Jacques Cartier