The great cloud of witnesses — explore the lives, feast days, and patronages of holy men and women who shaped the Church throughout history.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…" Hebrews 12:1
Image: Blessed Claudio Granzotto | photo by Infovalli It | flickr Saint of the Day for September 6 (August 23, 1900 – August 15, 1947) Blessed Claudio Granzotto’s Story Born in Santa Lucia del Piave near Venice, Claudio was the youngest of nine children and was accustomed to hard work in the fields....
Image: Stained glass window in St. Peter Church | Jaffa | photo by yiftah-s Saints of the Day for July 7 (1804 – 1860) Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions’ Story Not much is known of the early life of Emmanuel Ruiz, but details of his heroic death in defense of the faith have come down to us. Born...
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: Blessed Frédéric Ozanam. Frontispiece from Complete Works of Frederic Ozanam, Lecoffre editions, Paris , 1862 ( second edition). Saint of the Day for September 7 (April 23, 1813 – September 8, 1853) Blessed Frédéric Ozanam’s Story A man convinced of the inestimable worth of each human being,...
Image: Massacre à la Salpêtrière, 3 septembre 1792 | Blessed John Francis Burté and Companions | anonymous (Unrelated, but similar incident during the French Revolution.) Saints of the Day for September 2 (d. September 2, 1792 and January 21, 1794) Blessed John Francis Burté’s and Companions’ Storie...
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: CNS-McGivney beatification Saint of the Day for August 13 (August 12, 1852 – August 14, 1890) Blessed Michael McGivney’s Story The eldest son of an immigrant Irish family in Connecticut, young Michael left school at 13 to work in a brass factory making spoons. At 16 Michael J. McGivney began...
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: 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...