Saints & Feast Days

Image: Stained glass window of Curé d’Ars | Luant, France | photo by François Goglins Saint of the Day for August 4 (May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859) Saint John Vianney (Saint Jean Vianney), also known as the Curé d’Ars, is considered the patron saint of parish priests. He is known for his deep devotio...

Image: Santo Eusébio Ressuscitando Três Pessoas | Raphael Saint of the Day for August 2 (c. 300 – August 1, 371) Saint Eusebius of Vercelli’s Story Someone has said that if there had been no Arian heresy denying Christ’s divinity, it would be very difficult to write the lives of many early saints. S...

Image: Stained glass window of Saint Alphonse Liguori | Carlow Cathedral | Franz Mayer & Co. (Mayer & Co. of Munich) Saint of the Day for August 1 (September 27, 1696 – August 1, 1787) Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s Story Moral theology, Vatican II said, should be more thoroughly nourished by Scripture,...

Image: St. Ignatius of Loyola | Peter Paul Rubens Saint of the Day for July 31 (October 23, 1491 – July 31, 1556) Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Story The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on ha...

Image: Jesus, Lazarus, Martha and Mary | St. Botolph without Aldersgate Saints of the Day for July 29 (c. 1st century) Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus’ story Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were evidently close friends of Jesus. He came to their home simply as a welcomed guest, rather than a...

Image: Blessed Solanus Casey Shrine | Saint Mary Magdalen Church, Brighton, Michigan | photo by Nheyob Saint of the Day for July 30 (November 25, 1875 – July 31, 1957) Blessed Solanus Casey’s Story Barney Casey became one of Detroit’s best-known priests even though he was not allowed to preach forma...

Image: St. Titus Brandsma | Wikipedia Commons Saint of the Day for July 27 (February 23, 1881-July 26, 1942) Saint Titus Brandsma’s Story Given the birth name Anno, Brandsma and his siblings grew up on their parents’ dairy farm in rural Frisia. As devout Catholics, the family was in the minority amo...

Image: Blessed Stanley Rother | CNS photo/Charlene Scott Saint of the Day for July 28 (March 27, 1935 – July 28, 1981) Blessed Stanley Rother’s Story On May 25, 1963, Stanley Francis Rother, a farmer’s son from Okarche, Oklahoma, was ordained for his home diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. Having flunk...

Image: Detail | Santiago apóstol con donante | Jaime Baço Saint of the Day for July 25 (d. c. 44) Saint James’ Story This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had already called anoth...

Image: Saint Sharbel Makhlouf | unknown Saint of the Day for July 24 (May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898) Saint Sharbel Makhlouf’s Story Although this saint never traveled far from the Lebanese village of Beka-Kafra where he was born, his influence has spread widely. Joseph Zaroun Maklouf was raised by...

Image: Detail | Abrazo de San Joachim and Santa Anne ante la Puerta Dorada | Ambrosius Benson Saints of the Day for July 26 (c. 1st century) Saints Joachim and Anne’s Story In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmina...

Image: Saint Mary Magdalene, Head hands and feet | photo by Simon Webster | flicker Saint of the Day for July 22 (d. c. 63) Saint Mary Magdalene’s Story Except for the mother of Jesus, few women are more honored in the Bible than Mary Magdalene. Yet she could well be the patron of the slandered, sin...