Death of Saint Martha, Disciple of the Lord. The date of her death is approximated by historians who claim she, Mary of Bethany and her brother Lazarus traveled to France after the death of Christ to evangelize in Provence. For more on Martha, patron saint of cooks, dieticians and servants, see TODAY'S LITURGY.
Death of Saint Olaf, king of Norway who used his reign to unify and Christianize his subjects, but rebellion among the nobles ended in his being slain at the Battle of Stiklestad. After his death, miracles were attributed to him and an chapel was built which became the Cathedral of Trondheim.
Death of Saint Ladislaus I, king of Hungary who is also known as Laszlo. He joined Pope Saint Gregory VII in his on-going struggles with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. Ladislaus was chosen to lead the first Crusade by Pope Blessed Urban II but died before he could take the helm. It is Ladislaus who is largely responsible for bringing the faith to Croatia which to this day remains largely Catholic. He was canonized by Pope Celestine III in 1192.
Death of Pope Saint Urban II, 159th successor of Peter. This French-born pontiff was elected at the conclave held in Velletri because Rome was in the hands of the antipope Clement III. Urban was actually the inspirer of the First Crusade, declaring war on the infidels. He also instituted the "Truce of God" which was a brief respite from battle to bury the dead.
Death of Pope Urban VIII, 235th successor of Peter whose reign lasted 22 years. During this time he carried out work on the sacred texts - the Pontifical and the Breviary. He celebrated the 13th Jubilee and condemned Galileo Galilei.