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: Statue of Saint Cyril of Alexandria in Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Sameiro, Braga, Portugal | photo by Joseolgon Saint of the Day for June 27 (378 – June 27, 444) Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s Story Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril of Alexandria, recognized as a great...
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: Stained glass | Saint Dominic sends out the Friars | photo by Lawrence, OP | flickr Saint of the Day for August 8 (August 8, 1170 – August 6, 1221) Saint Dominic’s Story If he hadn’t taken a trip with his bishop, Saint Dominic would probably have remained within the structure of contemplative...
Image: Elizabeth of Portugal| Francisco de Zurbarán Saint of the Day for July 4 (1271 – July 4, 1336) Saint Elizabeth of Portugal’s Story Elizabeth of Portugal is usually depicted in royal garb with a dove or an olive branch. At her birth in 1271, her father Pedro III, future king of Aragon, was rec...
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: 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: 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...
Image: Saint Francis Solanus statue at Howard University School of Divinity | photo by Jim McIntosh Saint of the Day for July 17 (March 10, 1549 – July 14, 1610) Saint Francis Solano’s Story Francis came from a leading family in Andalusia, Spain. Perhaps it was his popularity as a student that enabl...
Image: Saint Giles and the Hind | Master of St. Giles Saint of the Day for September 1 (c. 650 – 710) Saint Giles’ Story Despite the fact that much about Saint Giles is shrouded in mystery, we can say that he was one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages. Likely, he was born in the first hal...
Image: Saint Gregory Grassi, OFM | Whitworth Digital Commons | Whitworth University Saints of the Day for July 8 (February 13, 1823 – July 9, 1900) Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions’ Story Christian missionaries have often gotten caught in the crossfire of wars against their own countries. When th...
Image: Saint Gregory the Great | Jusepe de Ribera, also known as José de Ribera Saint of the Day for September 3 (c. 540 – March 12, 604) Saint Gregory the Great’s Story Saint Gregory the Great was the prefect of Rome before he was 30. After five years in office he resigned, founded six monasteries...
Image: Stained glass window of Saint Henry | photo by Lawrence, OP | flicker Saint of the Day for July 13 (May 6, 972 – July 13, 1024) Saint Henry’s Story As German king and Holy Roman Emperor, Saint Henry was a practical man of affairs. He was energetic in consolidating his rule. He crushed rebelli...
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: Stained glass window of Saint Irenaeus | Église Saint-Irénée, France | photo by Gérald Gambier Saint of the Day for June 28 (c. 130 – c. 202) Saint Irenaeus’ Story The Church is fortunate that Saint Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, we...
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: Stained glass window in Église Saint-Honoré-d’Eylau, Paris | photo by Mbzt’s Saint of the Day for August 12 (January 28, 1572 – December 13, 1641) Saint Jane Frances de Chantal’s Story Jane Frances was wife, mother, nun, and founder of a religious community. Her mother died when she was 18 m...
Image: The Martyrdom of Saint Januarius | Neri di Bicci Saint of the Day for September 19 (c. 300) Saint Januarius’ Story Little is known about the life of Januarius. He is believed to have been martyred in the Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of 305. Legend has it that Januarius and his companions...
Image: Statue of Saint Jeanne Jugan at the Sisters of the Poor in Valladolid | photo by Rodelar Saint of the Day for August 30 (October 25, 1792 – August 29, 1879) Saint Jeanne Jugan’s Story Born in northern France during the French Revolution—a time when congregations of women and men religious wer...