Catholic Saints & Feasts
This podcast offers a dramatic reflection on each saint and feast day of the General Calendar of the Catholic Church. The reflections are drawn from the four-volume book series 'Saints & Feasts of the Catholic Calendar' by Fr. Michael Black. Each episode profiles figures from the liturgical calendar, described vividly as theological bone breakers, verbal flame throwers, ocean crossers, heart-melters, and sweet-chanting virgin-martyrs. It presents the lives and significance of Catholic saints throughout the year.
Episodes
October 15: Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor
October 15: Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor1515–1582Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of headache sufferers and lacemakersA rich, fiery personality purifies herself and the CarmelitesThe call for reform of the Church has rung out through the centuries down to today. However, it is largely misplaced. Reform of Church structures is required periodically for her internal well-run
October 14: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr
October 14: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyrc. Late Second Century–222Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of cemetery workersA slave takes charge of a catacomb and rises to the papacyPopes owned slaves for centuries to row their boats, cook their meals, and care for their horses and carriages. Kings, nobles, and middle-class families owned slaves. Slavery was a ubiquitous instit
October 11: Saint John XXIII, Pope
October 11: Saint John XXIII, Pope1881–1963Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of papal delegatesA smart, fatherly priest becomes a warm-hearted popeThe first Pope John XXIII was an amoral antipope. He was one of three competing popes between 1409–1417, the confusing, final chapter of the Western Schism whose power struggles and political intrigues tore at the fabric of the Chur
October 9: Saint John Leonardi, Priest
October 9: Saint John Leonardi, Priest1541–1609Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of pharmacists“Either Christ or nothing!” was his cure for every illToday’s saint was among that first wave of post-Council of Trent priests and founders whose purification of the Church started with themselves. Saint John Leonardi was a man ardently in love with Christ and Mary and the sacred fie
October 9: St. Denis, Bishop, & Companions, Martyrs
October 9: Saint Denis, Bishop, and Companions, MartyrsThird CenturyOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of ParisA missionary bishop is beheaded and the Church’s eldest daughter thrivesTherapod, Spinosaurus, Ornithopod, Ceratopsid, Triceratops. Creatures with strange names from long ago with three toes, sharp protruding vertebrae, duck heads, three horns and jaws that crushed like
October 9: Saint John Henry Newman (England and Wales)
October 9: Saint John Henry Newman1801–1890Memorial; Liturgical color: WhiteAs mellow as a breeze, as elegant as a swan, he walked alone the path to RomePope Benedict XVI, a professional theologian, did not typically perform beatification ceremonies, instead entrusting them to his Cardinals. But such was Benedict’s immense respect for Cardinal John Henry Newman’s life and thought that the Pope not
October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary
October 7: Our Lady of the RosaryMemorial; Liturgical color: WhitePatroness of Malaga, Spain, and the Archdiocese of VancouverMary comes to the rescue, and the Catholic West avoids the fate of the Orthodox EastIn 1204 Venetian Crusaders traveling to the Holy Land sacked Constantinople. Debts were not being paid, so something had to be done. Relics were packed up and shipped back to Italy, as well
October 6: Saint Bruno, Priest
October 6: Saint Bruno, Priestc. 1030–1101Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Calabria, Italy, and of GermanySolitary confinement is not a punishment when it is voluntary and shared with GodToday’s saint was born in an unknown year. He left his native Cologne to study in Rheims, France, as a young man and was ordained a priest around 1055. Aware of Bruno’s obvious talents, th
October 6: Blessed Rose Marie Durocher, Virgin (U.S.A.)
October 6: Blessed Rose Marie Durocher, Virgin (U.S.A.)1811–1849Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhiteInvoked against the loss of parentsWhen the call came, she was prepared to say “Yes”The story of today’s Blessed is largely one of waiting for the hammer to strike. Years of quiet, humble, and faithful generosity to family, the Church, and students prepared Eulalie (her baptismal name) for the
October 5: Saint Faustina Kowalska, Virgin
October 5: Saint Faustina Kowalska, Virgin1905-1938Optional Memorial: Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of MercyHer humble sail caught a powerful theological windThe martyr Saint Faustino was killed in the second decade of the second century in northern Italy under the emperor Hadrian. Nothing else is known of him. Today’s saint was baptized Helen and, for unknown reasons, was given the martyr’s
October 4: Saint Francis of Assisi
October 4: Saint Francis of Assisic. 1182–1226Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of animals, ecology, and merchants. Co-patron of ItalyA merchant’s son of eccentric sensibilities goes radicalThough originally baptized by his mother as Giovanni (John) in honor of Saint John the Baptist, today’s saint was renamed Francesco, or “Frenchy,” by his father Pietro de Bernardone after Pietro ret
October 2: The Holy Guardian Angels
October 2: The Holy Guardian AngelsMemorial; Liturgical Color: WhiteA personal spiritual bodyguard watches your backIntuition is a fully formed way of thinking. It is more than just the occasional hunch or subtle perception. Native instinct, or “gut,” is used to calculate, discern, and decide on matters big and small throughout daily life. We think we are dryly logical about a decision to trust on
October 1: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor
October 1: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor1873–1897Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of florists, missions, and aviatorsA sensitive country girl wades into the deepThérèse Martin was a weepy child, as emotionally brittle as porcelain. She was easily offended and easily pleased. A furled brow or a sideways glance from her father would dissolve her into tears. A beaut
September 30: Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor
September 30: Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctorc. 345–420Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of archeologists, Biblical scholars, and librariansA prickly scholar translates the Bible into Latin forever and alwaysToday’s saint was living in Antioch in the 370s when he had a vision. Jerome was standing in the presence of the seated Christ, who asked him who he was. “I am a Christian,” Jerome
September 29: Saints Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, Archangels
September 29: Saints Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, ArchangelsFeast; Liturgical Color: WhitePatrons of soldiers (Michael); mailmen (Gabriel); travelers and the blind (Raphael)The air between God and man is thick with mystical beingsIt is a principle of Catholic theology that salvation is mediated, that individual man does not go to God alone, and that God does not come to man alone. This means t
September 28: Saint Lawrence Ruiz & Companions, Martyrs
September 28: Saint Lawrence Ruiz & Companions, Martyrsc. 1600–1637Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saints of the PhilippinesA married father remains unbroken under the cruelest tortureMany lesser-known faces in the deep audience of saints bask in the soft glow of sanctity emanating from the more prominent “marquee” saints standing on stage. In the Church’s calendar of saints, th
September 28: Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr
September 28: Saint Wenceslaus, Martyrc. 907–929Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of the Czech Republic and SlovakiaA young duke is killed by a jealous brother and becomes a Czech iconWhen the famous die young, their unwrinkled faces, dark hair, and youthful vigor are frozen in time, forever vital, forever attractive, forever fresh. Time is not given its chance to run over their
September 27: Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
September 27: Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest1581–1660Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of all charitable societies, hospitals, and leprosy victimsA powerhouse priest organizes multitudes for charity and renews priestly formationToday’s saint was one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of saintly men and women whose light rejuvenated Catholicism in seventeenth-century France. Saint Vinc
September 26: Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
September 26: Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrsc. Late third–early fourth centuryOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saints of doctors, barbers, and pharmacistsHoly twins are honored for their healing, their poverty, and their deathsThe ancient walls of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem enclose the sacred ground where the life of Jesus Christ culminated in His death, burial,
September 23: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest
September 23: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest1887–1968Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of civil defense volunteers and adolescentsA humble friar’s love for Christ burns holes in his handsLong-married spouses often develop similar patterns of speech. A boy might learn to walk just like his father, and a girl might favor the same hairstyle as her mom. Teenagers in the same
September 21: Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
September 21: Saint Matthew, Apostle and EvangelistFirst CenturyFeast; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of bankers, accountants, and money changersA lover of money becomes greedy for God People leave their jobs for all sorts of reasons: more pay, better opportunity, a shorter commute. Today’s saint left his job for a better boss. Matthew was at work in the city of Capernaum, a bustling town with
September 20: Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
September 20: Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, MartyrsNineteenth centuryMemorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saints of KoreaTheir martyrdom for a new faith caused the Christian sun to rise in KoreaCatholicism was not originally brought to the isolated Korean Peninsula by celibate missionaries who trekked over its remote borders or who landed on its far shores fr
September 19: Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr
September 19: Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyrc. 300Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of NaplesAn early bishop martyr is honored due to an enduring miracle of bloodIn every lost corner and hidden valley of the Catholic world is a painting of the Virgin Mary that cries watery tears, a crucifix whose growing hair must be cut with scissors, a white host oozing drops of red blood,
September 17: Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor
September 17: Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor1542–1621Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of catechists and catechumensA learned scholar with a warm personality drives the Counter-Reformation forwardA massive, multi-volume work of Christian theology was published in the 1580s refuting Protestant errors. The volumes were of such encyclopedic and commanding erudition th
September 17: Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor
September 17: Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor1098-1179Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patroness of philologistsA one-woman magisterium orchestrates a life in tune with the CreatorIn the high Middle-Ages, she was New-Age. Before farm-to-table was a term, she lived organically. Before alternative medicine was de rigueur, she catalogued the medicinal benefits of herbs, plants,
September 16: Saint Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr
September 16: Saint Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrc.200–258Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of Algeria and North AfricaThe faithful soak up the blood of their beheaded bishopThe elegantly named Thaschus Caecilius Cyprianus was born in an uncertain year in that buzzing beehive of early Christianity known as Roman North Africa. His biography epitomizes that of many greats of his era: a classical
September 16: Saint Cornelius, Pope, Martyr
September 16: Saint Cornelius, Pope, Martyrc. Late Second, or Early Third, Century–253Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of cattle, domestic animals, and earache sufferersA Pope reigns for two years, excommunicates a schismatic, and dies in exileThe twenty-first pope of the Church, Saint Cornelius, succeeded no one. After the death of Pope Saint Fabian, martyred in January 250, persecutio
September 15: Our Lady of Sorrows
September 15: Our Lady of SorrowsMemorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatroness of SlovakiaA mother is only as happy as her saddest childEvery life climbs its Calvary. Every soul has its quiet sorrow which cannot be shared in full with any other soul. This concealed pain is the very real drama that plays out behind the curtain of the duties and distractions of everyday life. Jesus Christ, fully God an
September 14: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14: Exaltation of the Holy CrossFeast; Liturgical Color: RedPatronal Feast of Cortona, ItalyA torture device is transformed into a universal symbol of hope and peaceIf the Romans had hung criminals from a gibbet, then Catholic churches would display a noose in their sanctuaries instead of a cross. Or a statue of Jesus’ lifeless body would be hanging in the sanctuary from a sturdy branch
September 13: Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor
September 13: Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctorc. 347–407Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of preachers and speakersA great preacher, writer, and intellectual suffers for the faithIn the tug and pull of the theological disputes of the fourth and fifth centuries, today’s saint was a seminal figure. Along with other luminaries such as Saints Ambrose, Athanasius, Hilary, Basil and
September 12: The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 12: The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhiteEvery name begins a relationshipA name doesn’t imply that you know everything about someone, but it does make a person “invocable.” To know that there is a “someone” standing before you is not to know too much. When that “someone” has a name, however, he or she is placed in relationship with you, and re
September 9: Saint Peter Claver, Priest (U.S.A.)
September 9: Saint Peter Claver, Priest (U.S.A.)1580–1654Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of slaves, Colombia, seafarers, and missionaries to AfricaA builder of the Spanish Bridge, he personified respect for human rightsIt is commonly taught that human rights were born in the Anglo-Saxon Enlightenment of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This thesis holds that non-Catholic, no
September 8: Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8: Birth of the Blessed Virgin MaryLate First Century B.C.Feast; Liturgical Color: WhitePatroness of silversmiths, potters, and chefsThe last and greatest figure of the B.C. era causes its endThe birthdates of great men and women are remembered for posterity. The presidents of the United States are commemorated near the February birthday of George Washington. Many nations celebrate their
September 5: Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Religious
September 5: Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Religious1910–1997Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White (Mother Teresa is not on the Church’s universal calendar but is included here due to her renown)Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, IndiaShe equals in generosity the great ‘Teresas’ she emulatedAnjezë (Agnes) Gonxha Bojaxhiu was a tiny Albanian woman whose strong-as-iron faith served as a f
September 3: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor
September 3: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctorc. 540–604Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachersA gifted nobleman serves Rome, becomes a monk, and then a consequential popeWhen your salad is awesome, your car amazing, and your internet connection is great, there’s a problem. Overused superlatives diminish their own meaning and crowd the lin
August 29: The Passion of Saint John the Baptist, Martyr
August 29: The Passion of Saint John the Baptist, Martyr c. 29 A.D.Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedA desert-dwelling, locust-eating, weed-wearing, celibate ascetic dies for marriageSaint John Vianney was so opposed to the dances held routinely in his small town of Ars that he dedicated a small chapel in his parish church to Saint John the Baptist. At its entrance was painted, perhaps somewhat tongu
August 28: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor
August 28: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor354–430Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of theologians and printersA psychologist, theologian, and working bishop is the greatest convert after Saint PaulThe mighty African Saint Augustine climbed the heights of thought, stood upright on their peaks, and turned toward Rome, and thus spread his long, deep shadow over the entire globe. As a C
August 27: Saint Monica
August 27: Saint Monicac. 331–387Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of difficult marriages, homemakers, and mothersWithout her example of persevering prayer, her gifted son would not have convertedMost of the female saints of the first few centuries of the Church are virgins, martyrs, or both. Most of the medieval and modern female saints are nuns, especially foundresses of religious or
August 25: Saint Joseph Calasanz, Priest
August 25: Saint Joseph Calasanz, Priest1556–1648Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Catholic schools and school childrenA visionary implements his plan, is defamed, and forgivesThe star of today’s saint burns less brightly than others in the great constellation of counter-reformation saints. But the educational vision of Saint Joseph Calasanz and the ultimate spread and triu
August 25: Saint Louis
August 25: Saint Louis1214–1270Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of barbers, grooms, and Saint Louis, MissouriA king leads in piety, mortification, and faith, and dies crusading for the King of allJesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24). Today’s saint fulfilled Christ’s commandment in two ways.
August 24: Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
August 24: Saint Bartholomew, ApostleFirst CenturyFeast; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of bookbinders, butchers, and leather workersThe Church conquered an imperfect world due to the heroic witness of the ApostlesLittle is known with certainty about today’s Apostle, and perhaps Saint Bartholomew is just fine with that. If he were like Saint John the Baptist, he would want Christ to increase an
August 23: Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin
August 23: Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin1586–1617Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Peru, florists, and gardenersAmerica’s first saint, she conquered herself by direct attackToday’s saint was born Isabel Flores de Oliva in colonial Spain, today’s Peru, to a middle-class Catholic family. She took the name “Rose” when she was confirmed by Lima’s bishop, the future Saint Turibius
August 22: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 22: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin MaryMemorial; Liturgical Color: WhiteThe mother of a king is a queen who receives honor in her son’s realmMary is both a queen and a mother, but she is more mother than queen. Mary’s Queenship and “mothership,” or motherhood, spark to life simultaneously. In the very moment Mary becomes a mother at the Annunciation, she also becomes a queen. The Archangel
August 21: Saint Pius X, Pope
August 21: Saint Pius X, Pope1835–1914Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of First Communicants and pilgrimsBorn humble and poor, he never forgot his origins while in the Chair of St. PeterIn the long span of three hundred and forty years between the death of Pope Saint Pius V in 1572 and today’s pope-saint, who died in 1914, not one pope is a canonized saint. It is a sign of the Church’
August 20: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor
August 20: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor1090–1153Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of the Cistercian Order, beekeepers, and candlemakersA reformer par excellence, he saved the Benedictine Order and rejuvenated monasticismToday’s saint was like a medieval rock star who never stopped touring Europe. He traveled with an entourage, drew enormous crowds, was wildly popular, a
August 19: Saint John Eudes, Priest
August 19: Saint John Eudes, Priest1601–1680Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of the Diocese of Baie-Comeau, QuébecHis fine education led to a life of deep prayer and identity with JesusMany educated Catholics are familiar with the great Spanish saints of the 1500s: Saints Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier, John of the Cross, Teresa of Ávila, and many more. They are saints of th
August 16: Saint Stephen of Hungary
August 16: Saint Stephen of Hungaryc. 975–1038Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Hungary and of kingsBaptized by his pagan father, made King by the Pope, his heirs demolished his legacySaint Stephen of Hungary was a warrior king whose silhouette stands proud on a far distant horizon as the sun rises behind him at the dawn of the medieval age. His year of birth can only be gu
August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryFirst CenturySolemnity; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of France and LebanonGod wants Mary for HimselfToday’s Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary body and soul into heaven commemorates, liturgically, a dogma. Catholicism celebrates her dogmas like a country celebrates its independence day or its military victories. The Church processes up an
August 14: Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
August 14: Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr1894–1941Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of prisoners, drug addicts, journalists, and the pro-life movementPrisoner 16670 was tough, immersed in God, and ready when the moment cameSaints are made, not born. Even more so martyrs. Maximilian Kolbe was so impressive a man that he may have been canonized even if that oh-so-brief, oh-
August 13: Saints Pontian, Pope; & Hippolytus, Priest: Martyrs
August 13: Saints Pontian, Pope; & Hippolytus, Priest: MartyrsLate Second Century–c. 235Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of Montaldo Scarampi, Italy (Pontian) and prison guards (Hippolytus)An exiled Pope dies along with a learned priestToday’s martyrs died on the island of Sardinia, perhaps from overwork in the mines or perhaps from starvation or neglect rather than executi
August 12: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious
August 12: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious1572–1641Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of widows and parents separated from their childrenAn aristocratic widow’s grief is transformed into love of GodToday’s saint was well born and acted like it. She was educated, refined, beautiful, witty, and wealthy. She married a baron, lived in his castle, and together they raised f
August 11: Saint Clare, Virgin
August 11: Saint Clare, Virginc. 1193–1253Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of embroiderers, goldsmiths, and laundry workersShe heard Francis, left comfort, and slept on the floor for forty-one yearsSilicon Valley is not, topographically, a valley. The name is a contrivance dating from the 1970s and 80s. The actual valley is named after today’s saint. Santa Clara Valley, running southe
August 10: Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
August 10: Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyrc. Early Third Century–258Feast; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of deacons, comics, and cooksA Deacon heads the Church for four days, then perishes like his fellow deaconsThe Church’s liturgy, like all public rituals whether sacred or secular, is inherently conservative. Its form is not easily altered. Its content shapes, more than is shaped by, the C
August 8: Saint Dominic, Priest
August 8: Saint Dominic, Priestc. 1170–1221Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of the Dominican Republic, astronomers, and the falsely accusedA one-man army for God; long practice taught him how to preach the TruthToday’s saint and Saint Francis of Assisi were close contemporaries. They both founded influential religious orders, collaborated with the same popes and cardinals, and were ca
August 7: Saint Cajetan, Priest
August 7: Saint Cajetan, Priest1480–1547Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Argentina, the unemployed, and gamblersA reformer before his timeGaetano di Conte di Thiene, today’s saint, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he spit it out. His father was a count, his family noblemen, and his status and wealth secure. Gaetano studied theology and law and became a senato
August 7: Saint Sixtus II, Pope; and Companions, Martyrs
August 7: Saint Sixtus II, Pope; and Companions, MartyrsEarly Third Century–258Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of Bellegra, ItalyThe Pope is murdered in cold bloodThe sixth pope was named the “Sixth” or, in Latin, “Sixtus.” He reigned from 115–125 A.D. The next Sixtus was today’s martyr, who reigned from one August to the next in 257–258. Sixtus II (or Sixth, the Second) is li
August 6: The Transfiguration of the Lord
August 6: The Transfiguration of the LordFirst CenturyFeast; Liturgical Color: WhiteA preview of coming attractions, our destination is a person more than a placeIt was not a miracle that Jesus Christ transfigured Himself on Mount Tabor before the Apostles. It was a miracle that He maintained His common, earthly appearance for the whole of His life. It was a miracle that His face was not glowing l
August 5: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
August 5: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary MajorFifth centuryOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhiteA venerable basilica preserves its ancient auraA house is more than a building. When it personifies the family within, it is a home. Or at least it should be. That an office building contains businesses; a house—a family; a barracks—soldiers; and a hotel—guests, is merely to cite particul
August 4: Saint John Vianney, Priest
August 4: Saint John Vianney, Priest1786–1859Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of parish priestsA farmer knows God through prayer, not books, and becomes a holy priest“Is Mr. Vianney good?” the Vicar General asked. “He is a model of goodness,” the seminary official responded. “Very well. Then let him be ordained.” And thus the last obstacle was removed from the long and winding path to
August 2: Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest
August 2: Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest1811–1868Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhiteApostle of the Holy EucharistThe Eucharist was the pearl that shone in his eyesThe great artist Auguste Rodin, who sculpted “The Thinker” and other world-famous pieces, met today’s saint in 1862 and joined his Congregation as a lay brother. Rodin was despondent over the death of his sister and wanted to a
August 2: Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop
August 2: Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, BishopEarly Fourth Century–371Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Piedmont, ItalyA bishop suffers exile and abuse for his defense of orthodoxyEusebius was chosen Bishop of the Northern Italian city of Vercelli by popular acclaim in the 340s, even though he was an immigrant from the island of Sardinia. Twenty years after Eusebius’ death, t
August 1: Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor
August 1: Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor1696–1787Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of moral theologians and confessorsA lawyer becomes holyToday’s saint was given the gift of a comprehensive education by his parents from a young age. He finished his university studies with degrees in civil and canon law when he was just sixteen years old. After practicing law for eight year
July 31: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
July 31: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest1491–1556Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of soldiers, retreats, and the Basque countryA soldier reads, becomes holy, and founds a mighty companyLike so many other male saints, today’s saint began his adult life as a knight and soldier. In the service of a local noble, he learned the male sins that armies and royal courts excel in teaching: gam
July 30: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor
July 30: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctorc. 380–c. 450Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Imola, Italy, invoked against fever and mad dogsA golden tongued bishop preaches to a golden cityIn 330 A.D., the Emperor Constantine transferred his capital from Rome to a newly constructed city he named after himself in present day Turkey. The Roman Empire and its ancient tra
July 29: Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
July 29: Saints Martha, Mary, and LazarusFirst CenturyMemorial: Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saints of siblingsJesus, an only child, is attracted to family lifeJesus goes to the home of Zacchaeus to encourage his conversion. He goes to the home of Matthew after the tax collector becomes a disciple. And he goes to other homes to challenge religious elites or to speak strong words of censure. Jesus
July 26: Saints Joachim and Anne
July 26: Saints Joachim and AnneLate First Century B.C.–Early First Century A.D.Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saints of grandparents and of Canada (Anne)God has a family tree, just like all menMany parents think their child is perfect. Only two sets of parents were ever right. Saint Mary and Saint Joseph had a child through grace and raised that perfect God-son to adulthood. The parents
July 25: Saint James, Apostle
July 25: Saint James, ApostleFirst CenturyFeast; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Spain, equestrians, and pilgrimsHerod strikes againThe primary legacy of the Twelve Apostles is silence. Yes, their voices are sometimes heard in the Gospels, briefly. Yes, they traveled, evangelized, and built up the Church, discreetly. And yes, they were martyred, save John, though obliquely. Who went exactly
July 24: Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf, Priest and Hermit
July 24: Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf, Priest and Hermit1828–1898Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of LebanonThe purest cedar of LebanonToday’s memorial was first inserted into the liturgical calendar in the United States in 2004. Prior to that, today’s saint was known primarily among the Christians of Lebanon, either in their homeland or in Lebanese diaspora communities ou
July 23: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious
July 23: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious1303–1373Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Europe, Sweden, and widowsA royal widow’s visions awe the massesUpon entering the baroque Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, on the first pillar to the right, is a fragment of a medieval fresco by the master Giotto. It is incongruous with the style of the rest of the often restored Ba
July 22: Saint Mary Magdalene
July 22: Saint Mary MagdaleneFirst CenturyFeast; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of perfumers, converts, and hairdressersAn Apostle to the Apostles first spreads the Good News“Cherchez la femme“ is a French phrase meaning “Look for the woman.” It is used as a convenient shortcut in movie or literary criticism to discover what is driving a plot, especially in a detective story. Why did the man
July 20: Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
July 20: Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and MartyrFirst or Second CenturyOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of Ravenna, Italy, and invoked against gout and epilepsyAn elusive early bishop’s memory is preserved in artRavenna, a city on Italy’s eastern Adriatic Coast, is a miniature Istanbul. It has perhaps the most impressive groupings of Byzantine churches and mosaics outside of the f
July 18 (U.S.A.): Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest
July 18 (U.S.A.): Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest1550–1614In the U.S.A. this Optional Memorial is transferred to July 18Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of hospitals, nurses, and the sickA one-man Red Cross who burned with love for the sickLike so many saints, Camillus de Lellis ran hard in whatever direction he was heading. When he was a soldier, he ran hard toward the nois
July 16: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 16: Our Lady of Mount CarmelOptional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatroness of the Carmelites, and for deliverance from PurgatoryA Crusader legacy enriches the Church’s inner lifeA few miles from Lebanon near Haifa, a large city in the north of present-day Israel, is the Holy Land’s Masada of Catholic prayer and spirituality. Mount Carmel rises high into the sky, dominating the landscape
July 15: Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor
July 15: Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor1221–1274Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of those with intestinal problemsHe seemed to have escaped the curse of Adam’s sinThe scholarly heft of Saint Bonaventure legitimized the eccentric Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Bonaventure was to the Franciscans what Thomas Aquinas was to the Dominicans. These contemporaries form twin summits of s
July 14: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin (U.S.A.)
July 14: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin (U.S.A.)1656–1680Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Canada and orphansTough as a hide, pure as a fawn Kateri (Iroquois for “Catherine”) Tekakwitha lived a short life of twenty-four years, the same age attained by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux at her death. Kateri’s father was a pagan Mohawk Chief and her mother a Christian Algonquin. The Mohawk peo
July 13: Saint Henry
July 13: Saint Henry973–1024Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of the childless and Benedictine OblatesA king walks the tight path of virtuePassing through the heroic-sized doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the pilgrim walks into a vast interior space, his gaze slowly rising to silently absorb the sublime vaults, criss-crossed by ethereal beams of sunlight. Yet as the pilg
July 11: Saint Benedict, Abbot
July 11: Saint Benedict, Abbotc. 480–c. 550Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of Europe and monksHis Rule helped create Europe, one monastery at a timeBefore the time of today’s saint, to be a monk meant to wander into the Syrian desert and never come back, to climb a rocky summit in the Sinai and never descend, to sit cross-legged atop a pillar, to fast to emaciation, or to remain word
July 9: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Martyrs
July 9: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Martyrs1746–1815Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedNew saints for an ancient land start the Third MillenniumToday’s feast commemorates one hundred and twenty martyrs, eighty-seven native Chinese and thirty-three Western missionaries, killed in a long trail of blood from 1648 to 1930. This roll call of heroes includes lay women, catechists, sem
July 6: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
July 6: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr1890–1902Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: RedPatron Saint of rape victims and teenage girlsA country girl suffers death for knowing right from wrongThe family of today’s saint was so poor that they farmed other people’s fields. They lost their own land and became migrant laborers who ate what they grew and harvested, their rough fingers rarely touc
July 5: Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest
July 5: Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest1502–1539Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of physiciansThe man of the hour for his time and placeIn thirty-nine niches in the nave and transepts of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome are thirty-nine statues of saints who founded religious congregations. Some of these saints are very well known, like Saints Benedict, Ignatius of Loyola, and Tere
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