Saints & Feast Days

Image: The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Avila | Gian Lorenzo Bernini | photo by Tybo | flickr Saint of the Day for October 15 (March 28, 1515 – October 4, 1582) Saint Teresa of Avila’s Story Saint Teresa of Avila lived in an age of exploration as well as political, social, and religious upheaval. It w...

Image Courtesy of Associazione Amica di Carlo Acutis Saint of the Day for October 14 (May 3, 1991 – October 12, 2006) Saint Carlo Acutis’ Story Born in London and raised in Milan, Saint Carlo’s wealthy parents were not particularly religious. Upon receiving his first communion at age seven, Carlo be...

Image: Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher | Achona, The Online Newspaper of Academy of the Holy Names, Tampa | photo by Keri Kelly/Achona Online Saint of the Day for October 13 (October 6, 1811 – October 6, 1849) Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher’s Story Canada was one diocese from coast to coast during the firs...

Image: Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, St Magn Basilica, Füssen, Germany | photo by Myke Rosenthal Saint of the Day for October 12 (January 11, 1819 – October 4, 1867) Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos’ Story Zeal as a preacher and a confessor led Father Seelos to works of compassion as well. B...

Image: Saint John XXIII begins the Mass | Saint Peter’s Basilica, October 11, 1959 | photo by Medici con l’Africa Cuamm Saint of the Day for October 11 (November 25, 1881 – June 3, 1963) Saint John XXIII’s Story Although few people had as great an impact on the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, he av...

Image: Carlos V receives a visit from Saint Francis Borgia in Yuste | Joaquín María Herrer y Rodríguez Saint of the Day for October 10 (October 28, 1510 – September 30, 1572) Saint Francis Borgia’s Story Today’s saint grew up in an important family in 16th-century Spain, serving in the imperial cour...

Image: Detail | Louis XII of France Kneeling in Prayer | Jean Bourdichon Saint of the Day for October 9 (d. 258?) Saint Denis and Companions’ Story This martyr and patron of France is regarded as the first bishop of Paris. His popularity is due to a series of legends, especially those connecting him...

Image: Body of Saint John Leonardi | Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli, Rome Saint of the Day for October 8 (1541 – October 9, 1609) Saint John Leonardi’s Story “I am only one person! Why should I do anything? What good would it do?” Today, as in any age, people seem plagued with the dilemma of g...

Image: Our Lady of the Rosary | St. Nicholas Church, Osgood, Ohio Saint of the Day for October 7 The Story of Our Lady of the Rosary Saint Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to thank God for the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to praying the rosary. Pop...

Image: Saint Bruno | Girolamo Marchesi Saint of the Day for October 6 (c. 1030 – October 6, 1101) Saint Bruno’s Story This saint has the honor of having founded a religious order which, as the saying goes, has never had to be reformed because it was never deformed. No doubt both the founder and the...

Image: Saint Faustyna and Jesus, I Trust in You sculpture | Piotrków Trybunalski Saint of the Day for October 5 (August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938) Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska’s Story Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska’s name is forever linked to the annual feast of the Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy c...

Image: Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi (Scene 7) | Benozzo Gozzoli Saint of the Day for October 4 (1181 or 1182 – October 3, 1226) Saint Francis of Assisi’s Story The patron saint of Italy, Saint Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking...