July 20

Amantius was a high-ranking official in the Byzantine Empire around the early 6th century. As grand chamberlain, he managed the imperial household and court ceremonies under Emperor Anastasius I. A devoted advocate of Monophysitism, he faced opposition from the Chalcedonian Church. His steadfast faith led to his arrest and execution, making him a revered martyr. Accounts of his life highlight his administrative skill and spiritual conviction. His martyrdom inspired Monophysite communities and left a lasting legacy in Byzantine ecclesiastical history.

Ansegisus was a prominent Frankish monk who rose to become abbot of the Abbey of Fontenelle and later of Luxeuil. Known for his piety and devotion to the Benedictine rule, he implemented reforms that strengthened monastic discipline. He promoted scholarship and manuscript preservation within his communities. His leadership revitalized spiritual life in his monasteries and inspired generations of monks. After his death, miracles were attributed to him, leading to his veneration as a saint. His feast day celebrates his enduring legacy in medieval monasticism.

Boniface VII, originally known as Franco, was a central figure in the Saeculum obscurum, a period of papal turmoil. In 974, he seized control of Rome and declared himself pope, forcing the resignation of Pope Benedict VI. Exiled shortly thereafter, he spent years gathering support before returning in 984 to depose Pope John XIV. His reign was characterized by accusations of simony and ruthless political tactics. Pope Boniface VII died in 985 under mysterious circumstances. His controversial rise and fall underscore the intense factionalism within the medieval Church.

Pope Leo XIII, born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci in 1810, led the Catholic Church for 25 years. He is best known for his landmark encyclical "Rerum Novarum," which addressed workers' rights and social justice, laying the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching. Leo XIII promoted intellectual engagement with contemporary science and culture, encouraged biblical scholarship, and opened Vatican archives. His papacy marked a shift toward dialogue with the modern world and set precedents for social and moral teachings. He remains one of the most influential popes in Church history.

Born Tammy Faye LaValley in 1942, she rose to fame co-hosting 'The PTL Club' with her husband Jim Bakker. Her trademark makeup and tearful testimonies endeared her to millions of viewers. Messner was an early advocate for AIDS patients and spoke out against stigma in the 1980s. Following a high-profile scandal and prison sentence, she reinvented herself as a broadcaster and author. She embraced the LGBTQ community, earning admiration later in life for her compassion. Her story was chronicled in documentaries and a 2021 biopic starring Jessica Chastain. Tammy Faye passed away in 2007, remembered for her resilience and faith.